KJ Bad Moon Rising leads trials for NM Classic Derby at Zia Park
HOBBS – John and Kathy Lee’s homebred KJ Bad Moon Rising (pictured above) is one of 19 prospective starters which will go to the post Sunday at Zia Park which will host a pair of trial heats for the New Mexico Classic QH Derby.
Trained by Wes Giles, KJ Bad Moon Rising has already captured two of the state’s biggest prizes while winning seven of 13 lifetime starts. In addition to winning the New Mexico State Fair QH Derby last month at Albuquerque Downs, the son of KJ Mucho Macho Man won last year’s NM State Fair QH Futurity and was a narrow second in the Grade 1 All American Futurity at Albuquerque Downs.
With more than $1.3 million in career earnings, KJ Bad Moon Rising will be a prohibitive favorite in Sunday’s ninth race, the first of two trial heats for the NM Classic Derby which will be run on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Out of the First Moonflash mare KJ Kiss Me Goodbye, KJ Bad Moon Rising was bred by John and Kathy Lee and has won six times from eight starts at the 400-yard distance. Sunday’s trial heat marks the first start in his career at Zia Park. He has been installed as the even money favorite from post four in the first trial and will be piloted by Noe Garcia, Jr.
Perhaps the biggest challenger to KJ Bad Moon Rising will be stakes winner Woody Rocks, owned by CHR Racing and trained by Tony Sedillo. The son of Woodbridge, out of the Fantastic Corona mare Jr Rock Star, Woody Rocks has earned more than $320,000 while winning three stakes races, including last year’s Zia Futurity at Albuquerque Downs.
Woody Rocks enters Sunday’s trial heat on a four-race losing streak. His last trip to the winners circle came on April 5 at Sunland Park when he won the New Mexico HBA Stakes under Luis Martinez.
Listed as the third choice on the morning line at odds of 6-to-1, Woody Rocks was bred in New Mexico by Mj Farms and was purchased at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred QH Yearling Sale in 2023 for the cost of $25,000.
The tenth race on Sunday’s card is the second and final trial heat of the day, featuring morning line favorite Row By Row, owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Fierro EJ Racing Stables.
Trainer Ramon Mendoza will saddle Row By Row, a 3-year-old gelded son of Big Daddy Cartel out of the Woodbridge mare Anakena. A winner of more than $246,000, Row By Row finished second in both the Mountain Top Derby and the NM State Fair QH Derby this year. Row By Row, bred by MJ Farms, is listed as the 9-to-5 early choice in the second trial heat of the day and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra, Jr. from post eight in the 10-horse field.