Lil Newt Gets Fourth Consecutive Victory And Clocks Fastest Time To NMSF Derby [RG3]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–SEPTEMBER 21, 2024–Against 30-plus mph headwinds, 43 three-year-old New Mexico state-breds vied for a spot in the $500,000-estimated New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby [RG3] on Saturday at the Downs at Albuquerque.

Jockey Noe Garcia Jr piloted Lil Newt to victory, setting the fastest qualifying time in trial four of five. The son of One Handsome Man led the field from wire to wire, defeating Marismo by 2 1/2 lengths. The post-time favorite clocked a 90-speed index in 19.577 seconds, and the 400-yard effort paid $3.00 to win on 1-2 odds.

The trial win is the fourth consecutive for Lil Newt, who upped his bankroll to $123,197 after cashing in the $5,900 winner's check. The gray gelding has a record of 5-2-1 from 12 starts, including a fifth-place finish in the New Mexico HBA Stakes [G2] in April.

Trained by Andres Gonzalez, he was also a finalist in last year's Shue Fly Stakes [G2] and New Mexico Classic Futurity [G2]. Noe Amaya bred and owns Lil Newt, who is out of Go Baby Gone by Famous Lane.

Coming off of a ninth-place finish in the All-American Derby [G1], Bigg Picture broke his maiden in style with a 2 1/4-length victory, setting the second-fastest time in trial one against a 33 mph headwind. Jockey Adrian Ramos piloted the son of Big Daddy Cartel to victory in 19.623 seconds, clocking an 89-speed index.

The $5,800 winner's share of the trial increased Bigg Picture's earnings to $66,190, and the first-place finish paid $5.80 to win at 9-5 odds. The gray gelding placed second in the Ruidoso Maind Stakes this season and was a finalist in the New Mexico Stakes Fair Juvenile Stakes last year.

Wes Giles trains Bigg Picture for owner Uno Menos, who purchased him from breeder MJ Farms for $120,000 in the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He is out of the Jesse James Jr mare Astica.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $500,000 estimated New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby [RG3] trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be run on October 13, 2024.