Graded stakes winners Over Da Edge (pictured), Big Posies Cartel, and Bella De Ball are three of the 48 New Mexico-bred sophomores entered in Saturday’s 350-yard Mountain Top Derby (R) trials at Ruidoso Downs.
A daughter of Eye Am King racing for Miguel Y. Gallegos and Mauricio Gallegos, Over Da Edge has earned $160,984 from four races this year, and she’s won two graded stakes, including the 400-yard, $193,000 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park on February 4. The filly drew post 5 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. for trainer Eric Valenzuela in the third of six trials.
Big Posies Cartel is a son of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Ricardo Armendariz Jr. for owner Franky B. Hurtado. The gray gelding won two of his four starts during the Sunland Park winter meet, including the 400-yard, $100,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) on April 6.
Big Posies Cartel drew post 6 and will be ridden by Jacob Enriquez in the fifth heat.
Bella De Ball ended her juvenile season with a three-race win streak that included a head victory in the 400-yard, $1.209-million New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG2) at Albuquerque Downs on October 15. The homebred Eye Am King filly is trained by Wes Giles for owner MJ Farms of Veguita, New Mexico.
Bella De Ball drew post 7 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos in the sixth trial.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from Saturday’s trials will meet in the $150,000 Mountain Top Derby final on June 15.