Eighteen state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses are entered in Monday’s 400-yard New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2) trials at Zia Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $145,000-est. New Mexico Cup Derby final on October 31.

Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee (pictured, white cap headlines the second of two trials. A bay son of Big Daddy Cartel and a $30,000 yearling purchase at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the gelding brings in a four-race win streak that includes the 400-yard, $203,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 31, and the 400-yard, $238,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 19.

Bigg Dee has won eight of 13 starts — including five of seven at the 400-yard distance — and he has earned $324,560. The gelding drew post 8 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer James Gonzales II.

Other prominent sophomores entered in the second heat include Mark and Annette McCloy’s Hollyn Bootie and William and Mary Robertson’s Icy Morning Breeze. A homebred daughter of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Trey Wood, Hollyn Bootie will be facing New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds off of her fourth-place finish, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Apollitical Daizies, in the 440-yard, $440,000 All American Oaks at Ruidoso Downs on September 5.

Hollyn Bootie has earned $226,744 from 10 outs. The filly drew post 3 and will be ridden by Tanner Thedford.

Icy Morning Breeze is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which the homebred Winners Version filly banked $56,551 from four races and scored a half-length victory in the inaugural 350-yard, $91,000 Mountain Top Derby (R) on June 19. Icy Morning Breeze drew post 6 and will be ridden by Hector Aldrete for trainer Jackie Riddle.

Trainer Larry Chavez will send out Chicky Chicky Kai in the first heat. A chestnut daughter of Jess A Chicks owned by Mike G. Parker, the filly is coming off of a second-place finish, one length behind Bigg Dee, in the New Mexico State Fair Derby.

Chicky Chicky Kai drew post 9 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr.