Sunland Park Weekend Stakes Recap

Major Bites prevails in thrilling rendition of Jess Burner Memorial Handicap

Fighting for every bit of ground in the 400-yard affair, jockey Jose Aldavaz got the most from Major Bites who narrowly took top honors in Saturday's 23'rd running of the $100,000 Jess Burner Memorial Handicap. 

Trained by Gerardo Ochoa-Pena for owner Israel Bordier, Major Bites got away from the gate in good order, rallied to get alongside the leaders in the early yards, then battled down the long straightaway, fending off all challengers to prevail by a nose, just ahead of Freedom Flash and jockey Alonso Rivera.

A New Mexico-bred son of Jesse James Jr, the Sunland Park winners circle is a familiar place for Major Bites. Last year, he won the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap for a second consecutive year. Prior to that, he had placed in both the Championship at Sunland (Grade I) and the Dona Ana County Stakes during the 2018-19 season.

The win in the Jess Burner marks the 11th victory in the career of Major Bites, who now sees his lifetime earnings approach $841,000 in his 34-race career.

Major Bites ran the 400 yards in a final time of 19.65 seconds, earning an Equibase Speed Index figure of 85.

Sent off at odds of 8.80-to-1, Major Bites returned a healthy $19.60 to his winning backers. 

Freedom Flash finished just ahead of third place finisher Rime Chimes, completing a $2 exacta payout of $162. Rime Chimes, sent off as the narrow post time favorite under Paul Nieto, crossed the finish line in third, narrowly ahead of Jess A Satin Flash.  

Check out video of Major Bites winning the Jess Burner Handicap right here!

Sent off at odds of 8.80-to-1, Major Bites returned a healthy $19.60 to his winning backers. 

Freedom Flash finished just ahead of third place finisher Rime Chimes, completing a $2 exacta payout of $162. Rime Chimes, sent off as the narrow post time favorite under Paul Nieto, crossed the finish line in third, narrowly ahead of Jess A Satin Flash.  

Tee Em Eye rallies late to win Bold Ego Handicap

Chasing fast fractions early and making up ground with every stride in the stretch, Tee Em Eye and jockey Enrique Gomez scored a longshot victory in Saturday's 28th renewal of the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap.

Owned and trained by Jose Silva, Tee Em Eye was allowed to lope along early as post time favorite Into Mystic was hooked up in a pace battle with Woman At the Well and Cashcheckorcharge through a fast opening quarter mile of 22.08 seconds. Gomez began guiding Tee Em Eye off the rail as she was making up ground on leaders.

She's My Gem, never too far away from the early pace, also threw her hat into the ring as she briefly looked to take command midstretch.

Tee Em Eye continued to chew up ground, getting past She's My Gem in the shadow of the wire, winning by a half length and racing the 5 1/2 furlongs in a final time of 1 minute, 5.8 seconds. 

A California-bred mare by Cyclotron, the 7-year-old has seen more than her share of winners circles in her 36-race career. In her most recent start last month at Turf Paradise, she scored an upset win in the Phoenix Handicap. Last spring, she captured the Prescott Valley Handicap at Arizona Downs. In 2019, Tee Em Eye racked up eight wins from 15 starts.

Check out video of Tee Em Eye winning the Bold Ego Handicap right here!

Tee Em Eye has now won 11 times from 36 career starts. The $39,000 winner's share of the purse increases her total earnings to more than $208,000.   

Sent off as the fifth choice in the field of seven, Tee Em Eye returned $32.20 to her winning backers. She's My Gem, ridden by Ry Eikleberry, narrowly held the place, securing a healthy $150.40 return on each $2 exacta wager. 

Into Mystic held on for the show, with Cashcheckorcharge rounding out the top four.

Ancient Land wins Four Rivers John Deere Stakes

Jockey Luis Contreras put on a dazzling display of skill, rallying between rivals at the head of the lane and putting away his competition aboard Ancient Land in Sunday's 20th running of the $100,000 Four Rivers John Deere Stakes at Sunland Park.

Owned by Martin Riley, D. Carroll, C. Scott and J. Howard and trained by Casey Lambert, Ancient Land got a ground-saving trip under Contreras in the 6-furlong affair, allowing dueling leaders On A Warpath and Franchise Tagged to do battle through an opening quarter mile of 45.56 seconds. Contreras was able to split horses while making up ground around the far turn, assumed position alongside a stubborn Franchise Tagged ridden by Shane Laviolette before eventually putting away his main rival approaching the wire.

Ancient Land scored by a half-length, completing the 6 furlongs in a final time of 1 minute, 11.16 seconds.

Sent off as the second choice at odds of 3.70-to-1 on the toteboard, Ancient Land returned $9.40 to his winning backers.

Ancient Land has now won two stakes in a row, having won the Steve Prather Stakes at Zia Park last month. Saturday's triumph in the Four Rivers John Deere Stakes is the fourth career win from nine starts for the New Mexico-bred son of Monterey Jazz. The $60,000 winners share of the purse pads his lifetime earnings to more than $169,900.

Franchise Tagged held on well for second, completing a $62.80 return for $2 exacta players. He was three-quarters of a length in front of Stormin Fast, who checked in for the third place spot ahead of Jim Edd Who, rounding out the top four.

Cerveza, ridden by Roimes Chirinos, wound up going off as the 2.40-to-1 post time favorite. He raced far back early and was never a factor, finishing ninth in the 11-horse field.

Check out video of the Four Rivers John Deere Stakes below.

Live racing resumes Tuesday at Sunland Park with an all-thoroughbred program which has a first post time of 12:25pm. Next week, racing picks up on Friday and continues through the weekend with Saturday's featured event being the 20th running of the $100,000 Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Handicap, for New Mexico bred quarter horse fillies and mares racing 400 yards. Cat Daddys Little Girl is the 3-to-1 morning line favorite for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez and jockey Mauro Salcedo.  


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