Miss Hi Tide, piloted by Christian Cardenas, defeats stablemate Bigg Picture by a length in the $250,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby [RG3] on Sunday at the Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

ALBUQUERQUE–OCTOBER 13, 2024–Miss Hi Tide defeated stablemate Bigg Picture by a length in the $442,075 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby [RG3] on Sunday at the Downs at Albuquerque.

Lil Newt and Bigg Picture bumped while coming out of the gates. Bigg Picture regained his composure and tried to chase down his stablemate Miss Hi Tide but came up short at the wire for second.

Jockey Adrian Ramos qualified both Miss Hi Tide and Bigg Picture in the trials, but he chose to go with the latter in the finals. Christian Cardenas got the leg up aboard Miss Hi Tide on the outside post for her gate-to-wire victory. Noe Garcia Jr piloted Lil Newt to his third-place finish.

With a slight five mph headwind, Miss Hi Tide clocked a 97-speed index in 19.280 seconds. Sent off on 5-2 odds, the 400-yard victory paid $7.60 to win.

The $221,038 winner's share of the purse rocketed Miss Hi Tide's bankroll to $641,384, and the win improved her race record to 4-3-3 from ten starts. The daughter of Woodbridge also won the Mountain Top Derby and placed second in the All American Oaks [G1] this season.

The winning connections of Miss Hi Tide accept the $50,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby [RG3] trophy at the Downs at Albuquerque on Sunday. © Coady Media

In her freshman campaign, Miss Hi Tide won one race from four starts, placed second in the NM Spring Futurity and third in the NM State Fair Futurity [RG2].

Bigg Picture earned $88,415 for his second-place finish, boosting his lifetime earnings to $154,605. The son of Big Daddy Cartel only has one win from 11 starts, which was his trial heat to the NMSF Derby. He placed second in the Ruidoso Maiden Stakes and was a finalist in the All American Derby [G1] and NM State Fair Juvenile.

Trainer Wes Giles conditions the stablemates Miss Hi Tide and Bigg Picture for owner Uno Menos. They were both bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms.

Uno Menos purchased both horses from the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. They paid $80,000 for Miss Hi Tide, out of Ms Riptide by Ocean Runaway, and $120,000 for Bigg Picture, whose dam is Astica by Jesse James Jr.

Noe Amaya bred and owns third-place finisher Lil Newt. Conditioned by Andres Gonzalez, the son of One Handsome Man had won his last four consecutive wins and qualified with the fastest time from the trials.

The post-time favorite has lit the board nine of 14 starts with five wins and $176,246 in the bank. Lil Newt is out of Go Baby Gone by Famous Lane.

Henoshesjumpn, Marisma, Jumpn Runn, Bad King, Mr Jess Effort, Bloodredandgoingdown and Crispyn round out the order of finish.