MJ Farms’ Donelli, a homebred daughter of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Wes Giles, is the fastest qualifier to the September 20, $275,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds.
Sent to post as the 3-10 favorite in the second of three 400-yard trials at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday, Donelli defeated second-fastest qualifier Dark Moon by a neck in :19.635. Alan Hernandez rode the gray filly, who was winning for the sixth time in 10 races and increasing her earnings to $280,244.
Donelli was coming off of a third-place finish in the July 25, 400-yard Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs. The filly’s race record includes a three-quarter length victory as the fastest qualifier in last year’s 400-yard, $386,196 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs.
Dark Moon was ridden by Francisco Calderon for owner Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC and trainer Clint Crawford. The graded stakes placed daughter of First Moonflash and $72,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale has earned $61,433 from nine outs, and she was a finalist in the Zia Derby.
Five of the 10 qualifiers came out of the second heat, including third-fastest qualifier Mi Moonflash. A homebred daughter of First Moonflash, the brown filly was ridden by Alonso Rivera for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy of Albuquerque and Roger K. Beasley, and trainer Jimmy Padgett.
Mi Moonflash has won three of eight outs and has banked $84,354, and her resume includes a third-place finish, one length behind Donelli, in last year’s New Mexico State Fair Futurity.
The complete list of New Mexico State Fair Derby finalists appears below:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| DONELLI F, Big Daddy Cartel-Tres Of Alice by Tres Seis | MJ Farms | MJ Farms (NM) | Wes Giles | :19.635 |
| DARK MOON F, First Moonflash-Special Dark Ivory by Ivory James | Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC | Mike Abraham and Grant Farms (NM) | Clint Crawford | :19.656 |
| MI MOONFLASH F, First Moonflash-Mi Camila (TB) by Southern Halo (TB) | Pierre & Leslie Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley | Pierre & Leslie Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley (NM) | Jimmy Padgett | :19.805 |
| JESS GETAWAY G, Jess A Chicks-Ocean Getaway by Ocean Runaway | Martin C. Ybarra Jr. | Melvin & Mary Neugebauer (NM) | Umberto Belloc | :19.849 |
| DON CHUY C C, First Moonflash-Just Say Bye Bye by Spit Curl Jess | Jesus Carrasco | Mike Abraham (NM) | Joel M. Valeriano Jr. | :19.881 |
| EASTERS REGARD F, Chicks Regard-Jess Might Be Famous by One Famous Eagle | Jimmy Negrete and Dinah Negrete | Jimmy & Dinah Negrete (NM) | Aurelio Valdez | :19.898 |
| APOLLO CHICKS F, Jess A Chicks-Flashing Apollo (TB) by Apollo (TB) | Wallace J. Johnson | Wallace Johnson (NM) | Mike Joiner | :19.900 |
| ANAKENA F, Woodbridge-Starsmith by Tres Seis | MJ Farms | MJ Farms (NM) | Jimmy Padgett | :19.913 |
| LIONESSE F, Winners Version-Lionett by Metallic Lion | Calder Ezzell and Candy Ezzell | Ezze Racing (NM) | James J. Gonzales II | :19.926 |
| FINNLEY C, Chicks Regard-A Scootin Princess by Heza Motor Scooter | RC Racing LLC | J & H/A & D Erickson | Martin Orona Sr. | :19.926 |