Bigg Picture head the New Mexico Classics Derby (RG2) at Zia Park on Sunday.

© Ernesto Salinas/StallioneSearch

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELL

HOBBS, NM–OCTOBER 31, 2024–Twenty-three state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses, led by Uno Menos’ Bigg Picture, are entered in Sunday’s 400-yard New Mexico Classics Derby (RG2) at Zia Park.

A $120,000 purchase at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Bigg Picture has earned $148,510 from seven races this year, and he is coming off of a second-place finish, one length behind winner Miss Hi Tide, in the October 13, $442,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs. The gray Big Daddy Cartel gelding also was a finalist in the sport’s richest race for sophomores, the September 2, $1.041-million All American Derby (G1).

Bigg Picture drew post 7 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Wes Giles in the first of three trials.

Rancho El 448’s Wood Be Bad, a gelded son of Woodbridge trained by James Gonzales III and an $80,000 buy at the ’22 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, drew post 4 and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon in the second heat. Wood Be Bad’s season record includes a second-place finish, one length behind winner Miss Hi Tide, in the June 15, 350-yard Mountain Top Derby (R) at Ruidoso Downs. He ended his juvenile campaign with a half-length victory in the October 15, 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the November 24, $225,000-est. New Mexico Classics Derby final.

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