First-crop sire Suspicious Interest sired his first stakes winner on Saturday at Sunland Park.

© La Feliz Montaña Ranch

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HONDO, NM–FEBRUARY 28, 2026– Suspicious Interest, an unraced son of multiple stakes sire Separate Interest, recorded his first stakes winner Saturday at Sunland Park.

His first stakes winner, Lovely Josie James, captured the $80,000 Sunburst Stakes (G3). Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the gray filly broke cleanly and settled in third before tracking the early leaders. She responded in the final strides to get up by a head at the wire, covering 350 yards in :17.217 seconds over a fast track while posting a 95 speed index.

Lovely Josie James (#8) under jockey Jose Ortiz winning the Sunburst Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Sunland Park.
© Coady Media

Owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and trained by Ramon Mendoza, Lovely Josie James is a 3-year-old filly out of the winning Mr Jess Perry mare Lovely Lily Rose. She was bred in New Mexico by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and sold for $100,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.

With the victory, Lovely Josie James becomes the top earner for Suspicious Interest. From only three crops to race, the young sire has sired nine winners with more than $417,000 in progeny earnings.

Lovely Josie James is a half-sister to Suspicious Runner ($94,640), who finished third in the New Mexican Spring Fling.

Separate Interest, the sire of Suspicious Interest, has sired more than 200 winners with progeny earnings in excess of $7.3 million. His top earner is Delight Interest ($303,522), winner of the Sam Houston Derby (G3) and West Texas Derby (G3).

Suspicious Interest is out of the Super Duper Couper mare Super Perla Negra, a multiple winning mare and graded stakes finalist. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 stakes winner and New Mexico Hi-Point Aged Mare Jenuine Joy ($382,230), the dam of champion and All American Futurity (G1) winner Imperial Eagle ($1,852,897). He is also a half-brother to the dam of Canadian Champion Snow Moose ($136,002 US).

His second dam, stakes-placed Red Tag Sale by Young Beduino, is a half-sister to New Mexico Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Filly Real Easy Celadon ($101,332), winner of the Manuel Lujan Handicap.

Suspicious Interest stands at La Feliz Montaña Ranch for a 2026 fee of $3,500. For additional information or a breeding contract, contact Megan Petty, DVM, resident farm veterinarian, at (575) 921-3937.

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