Racing


Zee James Dominates New Mexican Spring Futurity Trials
Zee James, under jockey Adrian Ramos, wins the last of 11 trials for the New Mexican Spring Futurity(G2) by 3--3/4 lengths at Sunland Park Friday.

© Coady Photography
Zee James Dominates New Mexican Spring Futurity Trials

SUNLAND PARK, NM--MARCH 16, 2018--Under jockey Adrian Ramos, 2-year-old filly Zee James broke her maiden in her first try Friday afternoon with a dominating 3-3/4 length performance to set the fastest qualifying time for the restricted Grade 2 $396,354 New Mexican Spring Futurity at Sunland Park Racetrack Casino and Hotel.

The daughter of leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr completed the 300 yard task in :15.002 seconds to earn a 101 speed index. Robert Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey own the half-sister to former New Mexico great Grade 1 winner Gun Battle.

Trainer Wesley Giles conditions the Driggers bred bay filly from the On A High mare On A Bunny.

Gun Battle won the restricted Grade 1 Zia Futurity and finished second in the Grade 1 All American Futurity as a 2-year-old at Ruidoso Downs. He won nine races and banked $668,781.

Leading third-crop sire Big Daddy Cartel seems to have picked-up where he left off last season, siring three of ten finalists including Cat Daddys Lil Girl who posted the second fastest time of :15.216 seconds, a 93 speed index.

Trainer Donna McArthur saddled the homebred for owners/breeders Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez. The gray filly is out of the Man On The Move mare Girlonthego.

Big Daddy Cartel also sired Rallydownthealley and Igotmybiggirljeanson who finished a neck apart in the 5th trial to get the third and fourth fastest times of :15.239 and :15.264 seconds.

Last season Big Daddy Cartel finished the year as the #2 Leading Second Crop Sire of Money Earners with more than $1.7 million. Currently is the nation’s Leading Third-crop sire of Money Earners.

Jesse James Jr was the only other sire with multiple qualifiers to the New Mexican Spring Futurity, also getting three head into the final.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Sunland Park on Saturday, April 7 to vie for the $186,286 winners purse. The last place horse will pocket nearly $6,000 for their effort.

For a complete list of New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.