HOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 20, 2020—Horses bred by MJ Farms won three of four trials Tuesday for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds, while garnering the top four qualifying spots, for the New Mexico Cup Derby(RG2) at Zia Park.

Colby James, under jockey Mario Delgado, defeated Donelli by 1-¼ lengths in the second trial to set the top qualifying time of :19.475 seconds, a 102 speed index into to a 5 mph crosswind, for owner Rex Wells. Trainer James J. Gonzales, II saddled the graded stakes winning MJ Farms bred son of Jesse James Jr, to his fifth career win in 10 starts.

Out of the Blushing Bug mare Sandy June Bug, Colby James has banked $340,014 in two seasons at the track including wins in the Mountain Top NM Quarter Horse Futurity(RG2) at Ruidoso Downs and second in the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity(RG1) and New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2).

Runner-up in that trial, Donelli owned-and-bred by MJ Farms, clocked a :19.699 time, a 96 speed index. The graded stakes winning daughter of Big Daddy Cartel veered in early under jockey Alan Hernandez but still managed to finish with the second fastest time.

Trainer Wesley Giles conditions the $404,501 earner from the Tres Seis mare Tres Of Alice. She has won seven of 12 starts and entered the trials off a win in the New Mexico State Fair Derby on September 20. She was also second in the Shue Fly Stakes (RG3) and third in the Zia QH Derby(RG2) this season.

In the opening trial Close To Crazy, an MJ Farms bred daughter of Jesses James Jr racing for owner LEMA Racing Stables, defeated Big Big Love by half-a-length to establish the third fastest clocking of :19.688 seconds, a 96 speed index with an 8 mph crosswind.

Juan Gonzalez trains the stakes winning filly from the Separatist mare Da Edge. Jockey Adrian Ramos had the call aboard the 2020 Rita Danley Distaff winner who was also second in the Zia QH Derby(RG2) in her last start. She has earned $94,754.

Racing for owner-breeders' MJ Farms, Anakena was a three-quarter length winner in the third trial for trainer James Padgett, II. Ridden by Alonso Rivera, the daughter of Woodbridge posted the fourth fastest time of :19.709 seconds, a 95 speed index with a 4 mph crosswind.

Bred from the Tres Sies mare Starsmith, Anakena was fourth in the New Mexico State Fair Derby in her last start. The three-time winner has earned $31,221.

Another leading breeder in the trials was Mike Abraham who bred the 8th, 9th and 10th fastest qualifiers.

Big Daddy Cartel and First Moonflash led all sires with three qualifiers each while , Jesse James Jr had two.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Zia Park on Monday, November 9th vie for the winner's share of a $145,000-adeed purse going 400 yards.

For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the New Mexico Cup Derby(RG2) CLICK HERE.

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All Zia Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.