Cristom, a sorrel son of Jesse James Jr and the fastest qualifier from three trials run on August 28, drew post 3 for Sunday’s 400-yard, $245,632 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (RG3), part of Sunday’s closing-day program at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Cristom (pictured) made his first ever start at Albuquerque Downs with a three-quarter length victory in the first heat. A $150,000 purchase at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the colt is out of Alice K White, the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly in 2009, and he is a full brother to 2015 champion sophomore filly Astica.

Cristom has won four of eight starts and has earned $41,624. The colt will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. for owners J & SM Inc., Don Reynolds, and Lane Reynolds, and trainer Fred Danley.

Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee, a Big Daddy Cartel gelding trained by James Gonzales II, drew post 6 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado. A $30,000 yearling purchase at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale, Bigg Dee has banked $112,329 from five outs this season, and his three wins include a nose victory as the 2-1 favorite in the 400-yard, $203,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on July 31.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
Woodys Gold (Francisco Calderon)
Run Potion (Benito Baca)
Cristom (Noe Garcia Jr.)
Famous Clyde (Emilio Tapia)
Tuco Salamanca (Porfirio Cano)
Bigg Dee (Mario Delgado)
Chicky Chicky Kai (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
Ezze Off (Jose Enrique Ortiz)
Im Jess Sixy (Adrian A. Ramos)
Western Sandman (Marcelo Barraza)