Field Set for June 15, $175,258 Mountain Top QH Derby at Ruidoso Downs

At Ruidoso Downs on Saturday, the field was set for the June 15 Mountain Top Derby (R) for New Mexico-bred sophomore Quarter Horses, and Copy Of Jess (pictured) is the fastest qualifier to the $175,258 final.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio and aided by a reported 12-mph tail wind, Copy Of Jess won the third of six 350-yard trials by 1 1/4 lengths in :17.407. James Gonzales III trained the sorrel daughter of Jesse James Jr for owners Denis and Julie Schoenhofer.

Copy Of Jess was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms, and she was a $77,000 purchase at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The filly is out of Fast Copy Miss, a winning and graded stakes placed Heza Fast Man mare, and she is a half sister to New Mexico Classics Futurity (RG2) winner Woodys Copy Cat.

Copy Of Jess has won three of eight starts and has banked $54,667.

Rancho El 48’s Wood Be Bad, the second-fastest qualifier, won the first heat by a neck in :17.465, a clocking aided by a reported 7-mph tail wind. Eduardo Nicasio rode the Woodbridge gelding for trainer James Gonzales III.

Wood Be Bad was an $80,000 buy at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The gelding was bred by MJ Farms, and he is out of Start Somethin Bad, a daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Pappasito who won the 2017 La Primera del Ano Derby (G3) at Los Alamitos.

Wood Be Bad was making his first start since October 15, when he scored a neck victory in the 400-yard, $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs. All told, the gelding has won four of five races and has earned $116,039, and he ran third, a neck behind winner Crispyn, in last year’s 300-yard, $366,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.

Horses bred by MJ Farms earned the seven fastest qualifying times. Trainer James Gonzales III prepped the four fastest qualifiers.

The complete list of qualifiers appears below: