Fifty-six New Mexico-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses are entered in Saturday’s six 400-yard Zia Derby Trials at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Saturday’s heats will meet in the July 22, $175,000 Zia Derby final.

KJ Daddys Money (pictured), a homebred daughter of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Wes Giles for owners John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares, drew the rail post and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos in the first trial. The filly has earned $287,682 from 10 races, and her two graded stakes wins include last year’s 400-yard, $380,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Other prominent state-bred 3-year-olds entered in this year’s Zia Derby trials include Major Game, Talbott, and Cruzin For Chickz. A chestnut son of the Walk Thru Fire stallion Gronkowski, Major Game is coming off of a 2-year-old campaign during which the colt won the 350-yard, $246,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park.

Major Game drew post 2 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. in the second heat.

Talbott made his season debut with a fifth-place finish in a 350-yard Mountain Top Derby (R) trial on June 3. However, the gray son of Big Daddy Cartel ended his juvenile season with a half-length victory in the September 25, $626,000 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs.

Talbott drew post 6 and will be ridden by Tanner Thedford for owner Manuel Camacho and trainer Juan M. Gonzalez in the third trial.

Cruzin For Chickz is coming off of a victory in the 350-yard, $205,000 Mountain Top Derby (R) on June 17. The homebred Jess A Chicks gelding is trained by Wes Giles for owners Curtis Crenwelge, Jim Laird, and Jose Espinosa.

Cruzin for Chickz drew post 4 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos in the sixth trial.