Karmalites is the early favorite set to run in the first of two trials to the West Texas Maturity on Saturday at Sunland Park.

© Coady Media

By Eric Alwan

SUNLAND PARK, NM–MARCH 2, 2026–An impressive group of older quarter horses are scheduled to compete in a pair of trial races Saturday at Sunland Park in preparation for the $65,000-added West Texas Maturity to be held Saturday, March 28.

As part of Saturday's 10-race program, the fourth and fifth races will feature some of the top region's top shortliners racing the distance of 400 yards. The 10 fastest qualifiers from the two trial heats will be entered back for the finals.

Karmalites, trained by Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr. for owner Fabian Muniz Porras, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the first trial heat. An 8-time winner from 19 starts with earnings topping $700,000, the daughter of The Marfa Lights won a pair of stakes races last year including the Grade 1 All American Oaks and the Texas Classic Oaks.

Last time out, Karmalites finished sixth in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park. She will break from post 5 in the trial heat and will be ridden by Luis Martinez.

In the second and final trial heat, trainer Wes Giles will send Bigg Picture to the starting gate as the 7-2 morning line favorite with Noe Garcia, Jr. scheduled to ride.

The son of Big Daddy Cartel is a 6-time winner from 22 starts with more than $456,000 in his bankroll for owners Uno Menos. He scored a pair of stakes wins last year including the Zia Park Championship and the New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Championship.

First post time for Saturday's program is 12:25 p.m.

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