Honky Tonk Daddy, a daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Big Daddy Cartel owned by US Alliance Logistics, will make her first official start in eight months in Sunday’s 350-yard, $40,000 Rita Danley Distaff Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares at Ruidoso Downs.
The 3-1 morning-line choice in the full field of 10, Honky Tonk Daddy will be shortening in distance off of her fourth-place finish in the 400-yard, $326,530 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG1) at Zia Park on October 27. Honky Tonk Daddy has earned $230,994 from eight outs, all in New Mexico.
Honky Tonk Daddy was a $14,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The 3-year-old filly drew post 6 and will be ridden by Jose Enrique Ortiz for trainer Juventino Ruiz.
Other contenders include DJs Winner and Jess To Reel. A graded stakes winning 4-year-old Winners Version mare trained by Toby Keeton for owner Double Eagle Ranch of Roswell, New Mexico. DJs Winner has banked $70,090 from three starts this year, and her resume includes a victory in the 350-yard, $100,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park on February 22.
DJs Winner drew post 5 and will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr.
Jess To Reel has won her last three starts, and the gray 4-year-old daughter of Jesse James Jr will be stretching out in distance off of a 1 1/2-length victory in a 330-yard starter allowance-optional claiming ($7,500) dash at Sunland Park on February 20. The mare has won four of her six outs since June 28, 2019, when she was claimed by current owner Benjamin A. Calderon for $6,500 at Ruidoso Downs.
Jess To Reel drew post 3 and will be ridden by Paul Nieto for trainer Umberto Belloc.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Hopey Chick (Carlos A. Guillen Chacon), 10-1
Dolly Cartel (Jose Chavez), 20-1
Jess To Reel (Paul Nieto), 9-2
Fabulous Stylin (Alan Hernandez), 12-1
DJs Winner (Noe Garcia Jr.), 6-1
Honky Tonk Daddy (Jose Enrique Ortiz), 3-1
Fireball Flash (Jaime Parga Leos), 15-1
Wahene Version (Luis Guerrero), 7-2
Jess Girl Blue (Emilio Tapia), 15-1
Close To Crazy (Adrian Ramos), 8-1