SUNLAND PARK, NM—JANUARY 8, 2022—Champion Quarter Horse rider Ricky Ramirez showed why he is regarded as one of the all-time greats Saturday, guiding Colby James to an impressive win in the $100,000 Red Or Green Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Despite a bit of a slow break, Ramirez got busy early aboard Colby James, rushing up between rivals to get into contention and staying aggressive down the stretch, posting a half-length victory over 33-to-1 longshot Perrys Regard.

Colby James, owned by Rex Wells and trained by James Gonzales III, earned his seventh win from 19 career starts, racing the 400 yards on a fast track in a final time of 19.35 seconds, earning an Equibase Speed Index figure of 103.

James Gonzales is the young son of former Sunland Park riding great turned trainer J.J. Gonzales. James finished in a tie for first in the trainer standings at the recently concluded Lone Star Park Quarter Horse meet.

Colby James was coming into the Red or Green Stakes off a disappointing effort at Lone Star Park last time out, finishing ninth over a sloppy racetrack in the Grade 1 Refrigerator Invitational. Prior to that, the New Mexico-bred son of Jesse James Jr was a close second in the Grade 1 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Championship Stakes on Oct. 31 at Zia Park.

Sent off as the third choice in the wagering at odds of 2.80-to-1, Colby James returned $7.60 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with runner-up Perrys Regard returned a healthy $207.40.

Saturday's victory adds $60,000 to the bankroll for Colby James, who has earned over $490,000 in his lifetime. MJ Farms bred the 5-year-old gelding from the Blushing Bug mare Sandy June Bug.

Runner-up Perrys Regard earned $20,000 for second. The 5-yaer-old Chicks Regard gelding put in a gallant effort under jockey Manuel Gutierrez. Casey Lambert owns-and-trains the son of multiple stakes sire Chicks Regard from the Mr Jess Perry mare Ms Perry Mason. Bred by Mike Abraham, Perrys Regard has earned $109,144.

Bigg Dee, a 4-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Big Daddy Cartel, fought gamely under jockey Mario Delgado, to finish a neck back in third. Also from the barn of James J. Gonzales III, Bigg Dee races for Rex Wells and was bred by MJ Farms from the Woodbridge mare Miss Woody Dee. The $10,000 third-place purse brings the multiple graded stakes winner's earnings total to $357,154.

Fly On Down Spiritonthemountain, Cartel Drunk Playboy, No Mires A La Luna, Marcus Medallion, Hatchi Zulu and Your Easy Jess completed the official order of finish.

* * * * * * * * *

A stakes doubleheader headlines Sunday's nine-program, highlighted by the 21st running of the $100,000 Corralito Steak House Stakes, featuring a field of 11 New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds racing 6 furlongs.

Two-time stakes winner Wheres Brayden heads the field, coming off back-to-back triumphs in the New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship Stakes and most recently, the Steve Prather Stakes at Zia Park.

Trained by Greg Green and slated to be ridden by Enrique Gomez, Wheres Brayden will break from the far outside post.

An earner of more than $168,000 in his career, Wheres Brayden is the 5-to-2 morning line favorite in the Corralito Steak House Stakes, which goes as the eighth race scheduled to go to post at 3:31 p.m. (MDT).

Just prior to that event, a field of talented older filly and mare sprinters will race 5 1/2 furlongs in the 29th running of the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap. Five Pics Please is the 2-to-1 morning line favorite in the Bold Ego coming off a solid second place effort last time out in the Sun Devil Sprint on the grass at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jockey Karlo Lopez has the mount aboard Five Pics Please for trainer Robertino Diodoro. The Bold Ego goes as the seventh race on the Sunday card with a scheduled post time of 3:04 p.m.

First post time on Sunday is 12:25 p.m.(MDT).

* * * * * * * * *

The 2021-22 racing season, which features both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, runs from December 31 through April 3. Live racing is traditionally offered four days each week on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Year-round Simulcast wagering is also available on racetracks across the country.