KJ DESPARADO FLASHES FASTEST TIME OF THE DAY IN FINAL TRIAL RACE FRIDAY AT RUIDOSO DOWNS RACE TRACK
KJ Desparado, a two-year-old gelding, broke sharply and dominated the field of quarter horses in the fifteenth and final race of the day to win and record the fastest time during qualifying trials for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
The race time was 21.452 seconds for 440-yards to win by a solid three-lengths. Bettors made KJ Desparado the favorite at ten-cents on the dollar paying $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10.
The gelding has made the finals of all three major stakes races this summer at Ruidoso Downs, the Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurities previously, and now will compete in the All American Futurity on September 6.
"I knew we had a fast time, but didn't realize it would be that fast," Jockey Adrian Ramos said In the winner's circle. "The horse had been working exceptionally well and when we left the gates I could tell that we were going to excelerate."
KJ Desparado is an Arizona homebred for owners John and Kathy Lee along with partner Ruben Mares, and trained by Wes Giles. His sire Is Apollitical Jess out of the mare Tres Veses by Tres Seis.
"This horse Is like one of those old-fashioned runners that were extremely durable and could run maybe twelve races in a year," Giles said. "He's very durable--and likes to make things easy on himself--although we really haven't seen a completely clean trip out of him yet."
Other All American Futurity qualifiers from Friday include: Slippin Hayden In 21.510 seconds; Kat Eye Kylie In 21.572 seconds; Jess Dream of Me In 21.651 seconds; and Favorite Blues Man in 21.651 seconds. Here is a complete listing of the horses from Friday's trials along with their race times:
Racing continues Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track with the second day of trial races for the All American Futurity. First Post is scheduled for Noon.