Harken races his way into role of fastest qualifier for NM State Fair QH Derby
ALBUQUERQUE – Alepony LLC’s Harken will look to add another prestigious stakes race victory to his impressive resume after racing his way to the role of fastest qualifier for next month’s New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby when trials were held Saturday at Albuquerque Downs.
Trained by Salvador Soto and ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr., Harken rolled to a 2 3/4 length win in the fourth of five trial heats, stopping the timer in 19.289 seconds over 400 yards on a fast track. The son of Eye Am King, already a two-time stakes winner with earnings of more than $374,000, now has a lifetime record of nine wins from 14 starts.
Harken captured the Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs last year, and also owns a stakes win at 3, having won the West Texas Derby at Sunland Park. Bred by MJ Farms, Harken was purchased at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred QH Yearling Sale in 2023 for a cost of $145,000.
The New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby will be run as part of a gigantic stakes program at Albuquerque Downs on Sunday, October 12, and will be run for a purse estimated at $500,000.
Harken is one of three finalists for the Derby who are offspring of Eye Am King. Alamos, the fourth fastest qualifier, as well as eighth fastest qualifier Eye Im Flashin, both hailing from the barn of trainer Tony Sedillo, also found their way into the prospective starting gate for the rich stakes race.
Eye Am King has been one of the state’s most productive stallions in recent years, producing several Grade 1 stakes winners including recent All American Futurity winner King of the Tide. Eye Am King also sired 2023 New Mexico State Fair Futurity winner Bella De Ball, as well as RC Corona King, winner of the New Mexico Classic Championship, and Just En King, who captured the New Mexico Classic Cup Championship.
Alamos, owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, narrowly prevailed in Saturday’s first trial heat and has won three of his last four starts. Eye Im Flashin, also owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, earned a spot in the starting gate when finishing fifth in the third trial heat of the day behind KJ Bad Moon Rising.
Trainer Wes Giles will have as many as three starters in the NM State Fair QH Derby, leading with KJ Bad Moon Rising, who won the third trial heat on Saturday’s card in a time of 19.421 seconds, earning the role as second fastest qualifier.
Giles will also be represented by BF Mucha Divine and Two Macho For You, who finished the day as the ninth and tenth fastest qualifiers respectively.
Owned by John and Kathy Lee, KJ Bad Moon Rising has earned more than $1.1 million while winning six times from 12 career starts. The son of KJ Mucho Macho Man won the NM State Fair QH Futurity last year and was a narrow second in the All American Futurity, both over this course as a 2-year-old.
KJ Bad Moon Rising is still in search of his first stakes win as a 3-year-old. His win on Saturday improved his record at Albuquerque Downs to four wins, a second and third from seven starts over the track.
BJ Mucha Divine, a narrow winner in Saturday’s second trial heat, is seeking the first stakes win of her career. She finished fifth in last year’s NM State Fair QH Juvenile Stakes in her only prior stakes competition.
Two Macho For You, winner of last year’s NM State Fair QH Juvenile, finished third behind Alamos in the first trial heat on Saturday. He will enter the starting gate hoping to snap a seven-race losing streak.
For a full list of qualifiers for the New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby, check out stallionesearch.com.