Mister Bigg, piloted by Mark Jasso, scores a wire-to-wire victory in the $25,500 Desert Classic Derby at Turf Paradise on Saturday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

PHOENIX, AZ–NOVEMBER 12, 2022–Mister Bigg defeated the competition with a gate-to-wire win the $25,500 Desert Classic Derby at Turf Paradise on Saturday afternoon. 

With Mark Jasso in the irons, Mister Bigg crossed the wire in :17.930 seconds clocking a 90 speed index a neck ahead of Heartache Tonite and jockey Raul Valenzuela. The post-time favorite paid $6.00 to win on a $2.00 wager. 

Heartache Tonite was bumped at the start but kept on and dueled for the finish placing second 1 1/4-lengths ahead of Bh Free Drop Billy and rider Henry Lopez.

Conditioned by Botello Heraclio, the 350-yard derby is the second consecutive stakes win this year for Mister Bigg, including the Arizona Downs Derby won back in August. The son of Big Daddy Cartel has four career wins and the $15,178 winner's share from the derby brings his lifetime earnings to $78,495.

The winning connections of Mister Bigg accept $25,500 Desert Classic Derby trophy on Saturday at Turf Paradise.
© Coady Photography

Breeders Butch and Stephanie Webb of Colorado sold Mister Bigg to his current owner Diego Creus for $17,000 in the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The three-year-old gelding is out of the Jesse James Jr mare Sandys Jesse who is a Grade 2 winners and won over $250,000 on the track. 

Runner-up Heartache Tonite has three career wins with $51,174 in the bank, including the AQRA Futurity at Turf Paradise last year. Trainer Matthew Fales saddles the son of Texas Icon for owners/breeders Ralph and Carrie Fales of Arizona. He is out of Heart An Soul by Good Reason SA.

Third place finisher Bh Free Drop Billy has yet to break his maiden but has placed in three stakes races with $35,612 in career earnings. Trained by Eloy Navarro, the son of Bodacious Dash is owned by Jose Aguilar Mendoza. Bred by Bill Hoburg of Oregon, the three-year-old gelding is out of Apollo Snowbound by Snowbound (TB).

Completing the order of finish is Ill Be Gone, Rockin Jo Kool, Moxies Dynasty, La Panama West, Hw One Sweetstreaker and Myst It.

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About Turf Paradise
With more than 50 off-track-bettting locations across Arizona and Turf Paradise able to be wagered on many platforms across the country, Turf Paradise will be increasing its social media presence and interaction with fans on their Facebook page and Twitter account. (@turf_paradise). The track's Grand Canyon Pick-6 jackpot wager will begin with a pool of $28,009.06, which will be carried over from the end of the 2019-20 season.