Racing


35-1 long shot Marcus Medallion Leads Jesse James Jr Tri-fecta In $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap
Marcus Medallion (35-), under jockey Adrian A. Ramos, easily winning the $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

© Coady Photography
35-1 long shot Marcus Medallion Leads Jesse James Jr Tri-fecta In $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap

SUNLAND PARK, NM—JANUARY 19, 2019—Dismissed at 35-1 odds, Marcus Medallion pulled off a huge upset to win the $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

The six-year-old gelding turned the tables on heavily favored Major Bites to win the 440-yard test for older New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses. Mr Klee finished third to make the top three horses sired by leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr.

Under jockey Adrian A. Ramos, Marcus Medallion produced a spirited rally in the final 200 yards to spring clear and win by one length in a fast time of :21.183 seconds. The upstart earned $51,000 for owner Karina Aldavaz of Dexter, New Mexico and claimed his first career stakes win in 14 outs and brought his earnings total to $133,648. His fourth career win was a definitive one over Major Bites.

The winning connections of Marcus Medallion accept the Dona Ana County Handicap stakes trophy at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. © Coady Photography
The winner, trained by Jaime Aldavaz, earned a 101-speed index. Carl Jason Bailey bred the Jesses James Jr gelding from the Mr Houston mare Houstons Medallion.

Marcus Medallion returned $72.40 on a $2 win ticket. Major Bites, the 4-5 favorite, broke on top but could not stall the winner. Esgar Ramirez rode the runner-up. The accomplished New Mexico-bred stakes winner was coming off a third place finish behind Jessies First Down in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (Gr. 1) on Dec. 30. He had won 5 of 7 stakes races in 2018.

Trainer Jimmy Guerra conditions the Jesse James Jr 7-year-old for owner Israel Brother. Carlos Paez bred the gelding from the Major Rime mare Dyna Mo Rime. He has banked over $720,000 in his career.

Mr Klee, a 5-year-old son of Jesse James Jr from the Heza Fast Man mare Ms Klee,d tried hard and finished third, a nose in front of Rime Chimes. Ricardo Marmendariz saddled the multiple stakes-placed gelding for owner Sergio Holguin. Bred by Phil Chess, Mr Klee has earned $74,444. Alan Hernanez had the riding call.

Percyjones bobbled at the break and never threatened in fifth place.

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Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The featured 8th race is the $85,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap at one mile and one sixteenth. Johnie Jamison Stakes winner Thunder is the 8-5 morning line favorite for trainer Dallas Barton. Alfredo Juarez, Jr. will the probable choice. The 9-horse field has combined lifetime earnings of nearly $3 million. Go for a Stroll, Hute and defending champion Shining Source are some of the other leading contenders in the route feature.