Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ricky Ramirez rode fastest qualifier Sammy James to a wire-to-wire, two-length victory in the $286,609 Mountain Top Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday.
Saddled by Blane Wood for owner Isbell Charolais, Sammy James covered 350 yards in :17.844 against a 35-mph head wind, earning an 82 speed index and scoring his first stakes win. The sorrel colt was sent to post as the 2-1 favorite in the full field of 10, and he returned a $6 win mutuel.
Sammy James was bred by Linda Joiner and MJ Farms. The colt's sire, Jesse James Jr, is a 10-year-old stakes-winning son of 1994 AQHA champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry and a full brother to Grade 1 winner Jesstified.
Racing in New Mexico and California from 2003-06, Jesse James Jr earned $167,275 from 21 starts, and his five wins included the 2005 First Down Dash Handicap at Los Alamitos. He also ran second in the '04 Golden State Derby (G1) and third in that season's Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1).
Jesse James Jr's runners include Osbaldo, the winner of this year's New Mexican Spring (RG2) and New Mexico Breeders' (RG2) futurities. The stallion stands for a $1,500 fee at Mac Murray and Janis Spencer Murray's MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico.
Sammy James' dam, Lagaria, is a winning 8-year-old daughter of Blushing Bug. In 2006, Lagaria ran second, a neck behind winner Dash Ta Moon, in the $86,000 New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Sammy James has won two of his three races, and the $142,773 winner's share of the Mountain Top Futurity purse increased his earnings to $145,273. The colt was coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the fifth of eight trials on June 3.
Two Shine ran second and was followed by Caught On Tape, Fleurs Corona, Bridgestone, Blazin Flyer, Perfect Crime, Fysta, Call Me A Blazn Chic, and Phantom Storm.
A sorrel gelding by Corona Caliente racing for Beda Prieto from the barn of Juan M. Gonzalez, Two Shine has banked $48,288 from four outs. Two Shine ran third, three-quarters of a length behind Sammy James, in his Mountain Top trial.
Caught On Tape is a sorrel gelding by Jesse James Jr campaigned by Gary W. Harstack and trained by Jackie Riddle, who teamed up to win the June 12,$500,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) with the Corona For Me gelding Silver For Me. Caught On Tape has $29,100 from five races, and he was coming off of a one-length win in the sixth Mountain Top Futurity trial.