Out N Gone, a bay son of Jesse James Jr owned by Cream of the Crop Inc., is the fastest qualifier to the July 31, $203,478 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
On July 17, Out N Gone won the fifth of six 400-yard trials by 2 1/4 lengths in :19.647. Rodrigo Vallejo rode the gelding for trainer Heath Taylor.
Out N Gone was bred by Mark and Annette McCloy. Cream of the Crop Inc. purchased the gelding for $10,000 at the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Sale. Out N Gone has won two of eight starts and has earned $28,752 while racing in New Mexico and Texas.
“This horse raced as well as he could have, and he showed he is on the upswing,” said Taylor. “He’s blossomed into a very nice horse.
“I understand that this qualifying field has some exceptional state-bred talent, so he’ll have his work cut out for him coming back,” the trainer added.
Second-fastest qualifier Fanncee won the fourth heat by one length from fifth-fastest qualifier Roll Big River. Alan Hernandez rode the homebred gray Big Daddy Cartel filly for owner MJ Farms of Veguita, New Mexico, and trainer Wes Giles.
Fanncee covered 400 yards in :19.712 while scoring her second win in eight outs and increasing her bankroll to $105,959. The filly was coming off of a second-place finish in the inaugural Mountain Top Derby (R) on June 19.
Fanncee is out of Astica, a homebred daughter of Jesse James Jr and the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly in 2015.
Following is a list of Zia Derby qualifiers:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| OUT N GONE G, Jesse James Jr-Volcom Flame by Volcom | Cream of the Crop Inc. | Mark & Annette McCloy (NM) | Heath Taylor | :19.647 |
| FANNCEE F, Big Daddy Cartel-Astica by Jesse James Jr | MJ Farms | MJ Farms (NM) | Wes Giles | :19.712 |
| BIGG DEE G, Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Woody Dee by Woodbridge | Rex Wells | MJ Farms (NM) | James J. Gonzales II | :19.731 |
| EAGLES AND DRAGONS G, Zulu Dragon-Effortless Eagle by One Famous Eagle | Joe Rios | Nahum Prieto (NM) | Juan M. Gonzalez | :19.742 |
| ROLL BIG RIVER G, Rock Solid Jess-Fabulous Brook by Brookstone Bay | Twin Spires Farm | Randy & Linda Schalla (NM) | Jackie Riddle | :19.841 |
| LEADING CARTEL G, Big Daddy Cartel-Leading Diva by Special Leader | Reliance Ranches LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Mike Robbins | :19.845 |
| HOLLYN BOOTIE F, Big Daddy Cartel-Datona Doll by Jesse James Jr | Mark & Annette McCloy | Mark & Annette McCloy (NM) | Trey Wood | :19.846 |
| YOUR EASY JESS G, Jess A Chicks-Easy Your Honor by Mr Jess Perry | Armando Alamos | Mike Abraham (NM) | Armando Alamos | :19.889 |
| WOODYS GOLD G, Woodbridge-All About Gold (TB) by Gold Case (TB) | Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Clint Crawford | :19.900 |
| ICY MORNING BREEZE F, Winners Version-Icy Storm (TB) by Attila’s Storm (TB) | William R. & Mary Robertson | William or Mary Robertson (NM) | Jackie Riddle | :19.940 |