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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Bob Matney looks to strengthen his position among New Mexico’s leading thoroughbred owners when he sends Bye Bye Vicki to the starting gate for Sunday’s $75,000 Sierra Starlet Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.
Hailing from Lubbock, Texas, Matney is currently the leading owner with three wins at the current Ruidoso at Albuquerque Downs season. He is coming off back-to-back titles as leading thoroughbred owner at the most recent seasons at Sunland Park and SuRay Park and Casino.
Bye Bye Vicki, a two-time winner from four starts trained by Todd Fincher, will be looking for her first stakes win she breaks from the rail in the 6-horse field for the Sierra Starlet Stakes under Aldo Arboleda.
Matney has started more than 730 horses since becoming an owner in 2019. His runners have won nearly 130 races including stakes winner Barossa, with total earnings approaching $2.3 million.
Fincher will also send out Equity Search in the Sierra Starlet Stakes, looking for her third career win. Owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, the daughter of Sporting Chance has finished no worse than second in four career starts and will break from post five under Oscar Andrade, Jr.
The lone proven stakes winner in the field for the 5 1/2-furlong Sierra Starlet Stakes is Masino Racing Stable’s Holy Miss, who captured the New Mexico Breeders Oaks at Sunland Park last March.
Trained by Bart Hone, the daughter of Holy Lute has earned more than $118,000. Her win in the NM Breeders’ Oaks is her only career win from six starts.
Holy Miss will break from post four under Alberto Amparan in the Sierra Starlet Stakes, the 10th race of an 11-race card that has a scheduled post time of 5:15 p.m.