Full field set to take part in Vista Distaff Quarter Horse Stakes
ALBUQUERQUE – A field of 11 were entered for Saturday night’s $75,000 Vista Distaff Quarter Horse Stakes, the featured event of a 10-race program at Albuquerque Downs.
The 350-yard dash is restricted to New Mexico-bred fillies and mares and is headlined by a pair of recent stakes winners from earlier this year at Sunland Park.
Lovely Josie James (pictured), who captured the Grade 3 Sunburst Stakes at Sunland on February 28, is the 7-to-2 second choice on the morning line for trainer Ramon Mendoza and owners Tungsten Racing Partnership.
Bred in New Mexico by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and a $100,000 purchase at the 2024 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred QH Yearling Sale, Lovely Josie James is a three-time winner from eight career starts.
Lovely Josie James will be ridden in the Vista Stakes by Sergio Becerra, Jr. The pair will break from post seven in the race, which has a scheduled post time of 9:35 p.m.
Jm Famous Wynn, winner of the Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes last January at Sunland Park, has been installed as the 9-to-2 third choice in the Vista. Trained by Tony Sedillo for owner Carlos Carrasco, Jm Famous Wynn will be looking to snap a two-race losing streak when she reaches the starting gate under jockey Luis Martinez and break from post 10 in the contest.
Bred in New Mexico by Ventura M Ranch LLC, has four wins from 13 starts and has amassed more than $148,000 in career earnings.
Morning line favorite Big Jessie is in search of her fourth straight win for trainer James J Gonzales III and owner C. Denis and Julie Schoenhofer.
Bred in New Mexico by Mj Farms and purchased in 2023’s Ruidoso New Mexico Bred QH Yearling for $50,000, Big Jessie most recently won her 4-year-old debut last April, beating allowance rivals at Sunland Park.
The daughter of Jesse James Jr comes into the Vista Stakes with four wins from 12 lifetime starts and earnings topping $134,000. She will be seeking her first career stakes win when she loads into post six under jockey Joseph Belloc, Jr.
The field for Saturday’s $75,000 Vista Distaff Quarter Horse Stakes
1 Merrmaid (6-1) Alfredo Sigala
2 Heart Breakn Blondie (8-1) Jose Enriquez
3 Big Daddy Farr (15-1) Jesse Levario
4 Easily Bella Csj (20-1) Jacob Enriquez
5 Juliana (20-1) Eugenio Navarrete, Jr.
6 Big Jessie (3-1) Joseph Belloc, Jr.
7 Lovely Josie James (7-2) Sergio Becerra, Jr.
8 Flashn Milagro (20-1) Gabriel Medrano
9 Daddys Doll (15-1) Brian Barraza
10 Jm Famous Wynn (9-2) Luis Martinez
11 AE-Lyme Light (10-1) Ricky Ramirez