Cristom (pictured), a son of Jesse James campaigned by J & SM Inc., Don Reynolds, and M. Lane Reynolds, is the fastest qualifier to the September 19, $200,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (R).
At Albuquerque Downs on Saturday, Cristom won the last of three trials by three-quarters of a length while covering 400 yards in :19.424. Noe Garcia Jr. rode the colt for trainer Fred Danley.
Cristom was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico. The colt is out of Alice K White, a daughter of First Down Dash and the AQHA champion 3-year-old filly in 2009, and he is a full brother to 2015 champion sophomore filly Astica.
A $150,000 purchase at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Cristom has won four of eight starts and has earned $41,624. He was a finalist in last year’s Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.
The three fastest qualifiers came out of the third heat. Second-fastest qualifier Chicky Chicky Kai ran second to Cristom in the third heat, as the chestnut daughter of Jess A Chicks stopped the timer in :19.539. Sergio Becerra Jr. rode the filly for owner Mike G. Parker and trainer Larry Chavez.
Chicky Chicky Kai was bred by Dirk Jones. The filly is out of Wahene Kai, an unplaced daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Brookstone Bay. She traces back to her fourth dam, Rule The Deck, a daughter of the Bold Ruler (TB) stallion Scout Leader (TB) who won the 1981 New Mexico State Fair Derby.
Chicky Chicky Kai has won three of eight outs and has banked $46,488, of which $38,502 has been pocketed from five races this year.
Third-fastest qualifier Im Jess Sixy finished third, one length behind Cristom, in the first trial. Ridden by Adrian Ramos for owners Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin, and trainer Albert Valles, the Jess A Chicks gelding went 400 yards in :19.570.
Im Jess Sixy was bred by W.L. and Dee Mooring. He has won one of 10 races and has earned $24,398.
Following is a list of New Mexico State Fair Derby qualifiers:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| CRISTOM C, Jesse James Jr-Alice K White by First Down Dash | J & M Inc., Don Reynolds, and M. Lane Reynolds | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley | :19.424 |
| CHICKY CHICKY KAI F, Jess A Chicks-Wahene Kai by Brookstone Bay | Mike G. Parker | Dirk Jones (NM) | Larry Chavez | :19.539 |
| IM JESS SIXY G, Jess A Chicks-Subtly Sexy by Streakin Sixes | Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin | W.L. & Dee Mooring (NM) | Albert Valles | :19.570 |
| BIGG DEE G, Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Woody Dee by Woodbridge | Rex Wells | MJ Farms (NM) | James J. Gonzales II | :19.597 |
| WOODYS GOLD G, Woodbridge-All About Gold (TB)by Gold Case (TB) | Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Clinton Crawford | :19.701 |
| EZZE OFF F, Zulu Dragon-One Famous Fling by One Famous Eagle | Calder Ezzell and Candy Ezzell | Calder & Candy Ezzell (NM) | Mike Joiner | :19.704 |
| FAMOUS CLYDE G, Winners Version-Miss Dash Ta Dial by Mark My Dial | Drew Swasey | Brad Jensen (NM) | Wes Giles | :19.712 |
| TUCO SALAMANCA G, TF Featured Effort-The Rainbow Rea by Dash Ta Fame | Jennifer Lopez | Jill Giles (NM) | Anthony Montoya | :19.770 |
| RUN POTION F, TF Featured Effort-Thirty Fourth Street by Dean Miracle | Bauer Farm LLC | Bauer Farm LLC (NM) | Mike Joiner | :19.829 |
| WESTERN SANDMAN G, Saturday Nite Romeo-Queen Lavita by Dean Miracle | Lonnie H. Vaughn | Lonnie H. Vaughn (NM) | Lonnie Vaughn | :19.940 |