White Lightenin (#1) gets up over stablemates White Night (#4) and Pick Your Pour (#6) in the $228,550 New Mexico Classic Derby(RG2) Sunday afternoon at Zia Park.

© Coady Photography

HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 26, 2023–Fastest qualifier White Lightenin returned to defeat his brother and stablemate White Knight by a head in the $228,550 New Mexico Classic Derby(RG2) Sunday afternoon at Zia Park. Another stablemate, Pick Your Pour was a neck back in the blanket-finish to take third.

Ridden by jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., White Lightenin covered the 400 yards in :19.054 seconds, equaling a 107 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind. Trainer James J. Gonzales, II saddled $32,000 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale graduate for owners Denis and Julie Schoenhofer.

MJ Farms bred the son of leading second-crop sire Eye Am King in New Mexico from the AQHA Racing champion and champion producer Alice K White by First Down Dash. The $111,990 winner's purse swells White Lightenin's earnings total to $286,023 with four wins in 12 starts.

The winning connections of White Lightenin accept the New Mexico Classic Derby stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

A $45,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate full brother White Knight races for owner Jose Moreno and trainer Gonzales II. Daniel Torres had the riding call on the multiple graded-placed earner of $144.401.  He earned $38,854 today.

Pick Your Pour made it a trainer and breeder trifecta for Gonzales, II and MJ Farms with his third-place finish under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez. The son of multiple stakes sire Jesse James Jr races for owners Orlando Granillo, Azucena Mendoza and Rene Mendoza.

Pick You Pour won the Mountain Top QH Futurity(RG2) as a 2-year-old at Ruidoso Downs. Out of the Dash Ta Fame mare Tangled Vines, the gelding has earned $309,261 in 11 starts.

Flash Divine, Jenavi, Vintage Bourdeaux, Codex, Rc Jessa Flashn, Flashtoglory and Dash Flash completed the field.