A trio of stakes winners during the 2022 Sunland Park winter meet — Wish Bigg, Wente, and Daddys Mony (pictured) — are among the dozen state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses entered in Sunday’s 400-yard, $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park.
A gelded son of Big Daddy Cartel owned by Sebastian Gonzales and a $13,500 yearling purchase at the 2020 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Wish Bigg brings in a two-race win streak that includes a 1 1/4-length victory in the 400-yard, $100,000 New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association Stakes (RG2) on March 12. Wish Bigg will be making his first career start at SunRay Park on Sunday.
Wish Bigg drew post 2 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer James Gonzales III.
Wente won two of his three outs at Sunland Park, including the 400-yard, $262,000 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) on January 29. A $36,000 yearling buy at the 2020 New Mexico-Bred Sale, the Big Daddy Cartel gelding is trained by Eric Valenzuela for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez.
Wente drew the rail post and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr.
Daddys Mony also won two of her three starts at Sunland, including the 400-yard, $100,000 Sunburst Stakes (RG3) for New Mexico-bred sophomore fillies on March 5. Eric Valenzuela trains the sorrel daughter of Big Daddy Cartel for owners Julie A. Schoenhofer and Maricela Vasquez, who purchased the filly for $34,500 at the 2020 New Mexico-Bred Sale.
Daddys Mony drew post 5 and will be ridden by Luis Flores-Garcia.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
Wente (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
Wish Bigg (Mario Delgado)
River Flash (Adrian Ramos)
HS Golden Eagle (Carlos Guillen Chacon)
Daddys Mony (Luis Flores-Garcia)
Romeos Ransom (Noe Garcia Jr.)
Long Pour (Hector Aldrete)
RZ Richy (Gerardo Vera)
Dashin Approach (Jaime Leos)
JC New Dawn (Albert Medrano)
AE-Papi Grande Cartel (Jose D. Ruiz)
AE-Cat Got A Diamond (Elliot Bachicha Jr.)