Major Bites is among 12 hopefuls entered in the $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park on Saturday.

© Coady Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM--MARCH 1, 2018--Twelve New Mexico-bred sprinters, headed by 129-pound high weight Major Bites, have been entered in Saturday’s 350-yard, $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap (RG2) at Sunland Park.

A 5-year-old son of Jesse James Jr trained by Jesus Carrete for owner Israel Bordier, Major Bites will be shortening in distance off of his convincing 2 1/4-length victory in the 440-yard, $85,000 Dona Ana County Handicap (R) for state-breds on January 28. The gelding is coming off of a 4-year-old campaign during which he earned $161,868 from seven outs, all in New Mexico, and scored a half-length victory in the 440-yard, $170,000 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia Park on October 29.

Major Bites drew post 9 and will be ridden by Jose A. Alvarez.

Other contenders include defending champion Seis Menudos, a 7-year-old Southern Corona gelding who sprinted to a head victory in last year’s Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap. Seis Menudos is owned and trained by Guadalupe Munoz Jr., who claimed the gelding for $12,500 on February 23.

Seis Menudos drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jose Luis Enriquez.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Lady Version (Edgar S. Martinez, 124), 20-1
2. Comin To Your Town (Federico Martinez, 123), 20-1
3. Swiss White Wine (Flavio Lozano, 123), 20-1
4. Frost Dalena (Sergio Becerra Jr., 123), 20-1
5. Magnifico Dragon (Esgar Ramirez, 124), 6-1
6. Frank N Jesse (Alejandro Medellin, 123), 12-1
7. Seis Menudos (Jose Luis Enriquez, 124), 5-1
8. Go Daddy Gone (Alonso Rivera, 123), 8-1
9. Major Bites (Jose A. Alvarez, 129), 1-1
10. Hot Authorization (Raul Herrera, 124), 5-1
11. AE-First Note Medley (Jose Enrique Ortiz, 123), 20-1
12. AE-Willie Flash Me (Adrian Ramos, 122), 30-1