Lethal Avenger, KJ Desparado Top Two Qualifiers for the $850,00 Ruidoso Derby On Windy Day at Ruidoso Downs

Ruidoso Downs, NM—Lethal Avenger and All American Futurity Champion KJ Desparado are the top two qualifiers for the $850,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby to be run June 11 at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

On a day where windy conditions dominated the trials, Lethal Avenger romped home a three-length winner in the fourth race under a 16-mile-per-hour headwind. The gelding won for the fifth consecutive time including a victory in the West Texas Derby February 5 at Sunland Park.

“My horse got away good and when that happened he gets rolling and all cranked up,” trainer Fred Danley said. “It takes a lot to ask these horses to run in such a headwind, but you can’t do anything about mother nature. It didn’t seem to bother him today.”

Lethal Avenger is sired by Volcom out of the mare Lethal Class by Tres Seis. The gelding is owned by J & SM Inc. (Sue May), and Don and Lane Reynolds. The public made Lethal Avenger a heavy favorite paying $3.80, $3.20 and $2.40 in the fastest time of the day, 19.946 seconds for 350-yards.

KJ Desparado, who had not raced since winning the Texas Futurity at Lone Star Park in November, broke sharply and came home a two-length winner in the eighth race in a 20-mile-per-hour headwind on Sunday.  His  second-fastest time of the day was 20.024 seconds with jockey Adrian Ramos on board

            “I was very proud of him being that it was his first race back,” trainer Wes Giles said. “That’s what fast horses do—they find a way to win and qualify.” It was a fifth consecutive win for the gelding dating back to his trial race for the All American Futurity last August at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 as the strongest favorite of the day.

            KJ Desparado is owned by John and Kathy Lee and Reuben Mares and has career earnings of over $2.1 million. The gelding is sired by Apollitical Jess out of the mare Tres Veses by Tres Seis.

            Other horses that qualified for the June 11 final include: The Big Favorite in 20.181 seconds; Muy Peligrosito in 20.315 seconds; Mperativ in 20.318 seconds; Mr Apollo Jess in 20.354 seconds; Tommie Eagle in 20.357 seconds; Double Duty in 20.357 seconds; and Kiss the Cartel in 20.362 seconds. There will be a shake in the racing office on Monday to determine the final qualifier as Throwin Sumoke and Six Shaker were clocked with the exact same time of 20.374 seconds.

            Racing continues on Monday at Ruidoso Downs with ten races scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. For more information about the racing season, visit www.raceruidoso.com