Lovely Josie James, ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr., is set to contest Saturday's $75,000 Vista Distaff Q.H. Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.

© Coady Media

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–JUNE 17, 2026–The Saturday evening card at Albuquerque Downs promises plenty of excitement as a ten-race program builds toward the featured event, the $75,000 Vista Distaff Q.H. Stakes. Scheduled as the ninth race of the evening at approximately 9:25 p.m., the 350-yard sprint will bring together a talented field of ten New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, ages three and up, in one of the state's premier races for female sprinters.

Big Jessie, a mare who has been nearly unstoppable in the early stages of her four-year-old campaign, leads the field as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The daughter of Jesse James Jr. enters the stakes with a three-race winning streak, all against allowance company, and has steadily become one of the most consistent New Mexico-bred mares in training. Her recent success has boosted her career earnings to $134,434 for owners C. Denis and Julie Schoenhofer, who secured her for $50,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.

Bred by MJ Farms, Big Jessie is out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Bigg Alice and will break from post six with jockey Joseph Belloc, Jr. Trainer James J. Gonzales III has guided the mare through her impressive run of form, and another victory on Saturday would further solidify her standing among the state's elite female runners.

Standing directly in her path is the equally accomplished Lovely Josie James, who shares 3-1 favoritism and enters the race looking to turn the tables on her rival. The three-year-old narrowly lost to Big Jessie in their most recent meeting, finishing just a neck behind after entering the race on a three-race winning streak of her own.

Before that setback, Lovely Josie James had established herself as one of New Mexico's brightest sophomore stars, highlighted by her win in the Grade 3 $80,000 Sunburst Stakes. The talented filly has earned $166,437 for Tungsten Racing Partnership, which bought her for $100,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Suspicious Interest, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Lovely Lily Rose, was bred by La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC and will leave from post seven under Sergio Becerra, Jr. Trainer Ramon Mendoza has carefully developed the filly into a stakes-caliber performer, and a victory in the Vista Distaff would provide immediate redemption and add another significant accomplishment to her résumé.

With two accomplished rivals entering in top form and a deep field behind them, the Vista Distaff Q.H. Stakes has all the ingredients for a memorable showdown. As Albuquerque Downs fans gather under the lights Saturday evening, the New Mexico-bred fillies and mares will take center stage in a race that could deliver one of the summer's most exciting finishes.

The races at Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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