RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 12, 2019—Robert Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey's Zee James professionally pulled away from her rivals and set the fastest-qualifying time to the $190,937 Zia Derby on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The horses with the 10-fastest times from the five 400-yard trials return to race in the Zia Derby on July 28. The Zia Derby is part of the Zia Festival celebrating New Mexico-bred racing during the final weekend of July.

Zee James broke alertly from the second post position and immediately engaged the leaders. The Jesse James Jr daughter was in front at the halfway point of the race and then increased her advantage under jockey Adrian A. Ramos to win by a comfortable three quarters of a length while being timed in :19.540.

It was the first win for Zee James since she won her New Mexico Classic Futurity trial back in October at Zia Park.

"She had always been a little unsettled," trainer Wes Giles said. "We bought her a goat and worked with her and she's calmed down."

Daniel Ramirez's Cd Mamas Boy stepped up in the first trial to win by one length and record the second-fastest qualifying mark of :19.598. The gelding by First Moonflash took control of the race in the final 100 yards to gain his first win from five 2019 starts.

Jose Enrique Ortiz was the jockey.

Cd Mamas Boy was making his first start since a fifth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap at Sunland Park.

"He hadn't run in a while so he was a little rusty," trainer Juan Esquivel said. "But, he picked it up pretty well at the end (of the race)."

The complete unofficial list of Zia Derby(RG2) qualifiers CLICK HERE.

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