White Lightenin (pictured), a gelded son of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Eye Am King owned by Denis and Julie Schoenhofer, is the fastest qualifier to the June 17, $205,265 Mountain Top Quarter Horse Derby (R) for state-bred sophomores at Ruidoso Downs.
Racing in the sixth of seven 350-yard trials on Saturday, White Lightenin defeated ninth-fastest qualifier Moon Jumpn Jessica by 1 1/2 lengths in :17.429. Mario Delgado rode the sorrel gelding for trainer James Gonzales II.
White Lightenin was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was purchased as a yearling by the Schoenhofers for $32,000 at the 2021 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is out of Alice K White, a homebred First Down Dash mare and the sport’s 2009 champion 3-year-old filly, and he is a half brother to ’15 champion sophomore filly Astica.
White Lightenin has won two of seven starts and has banked $156,938. The gelding was making his first start since September 25, when he ran second, a half of a length behind winner Talbott, in the 400-yard, $625,689 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG3) at Albuquerque Downs.
RC Corona King recorded the second-fastest qualifying time with his head victory from third-fastest qualifier Nolans Moon in the second heat. Ridden by Damian Corral for owner Jose H. Rodriguez and trainer Gerardo Quinonez, the sorrel Eye Am King gelding went 350 yards in :17.5522 while earning his second win in four outs and pushing his bankroll to $30,552.
RC Corona King was bred by Baldemar L. Parra. The gelding is out of Classyoddsofdeefirst, a unplaced homebred 10-year-old daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Deefirst.
Third-fastest qualifier Nolans Moon is a homebred son of champion First Moonflash trained by Fred Danley for owner Bob McClure. The gelding has won one of seven races and has earned $14,635.
Following is a complete list of Mountain Top Derby qualifiers. Note that there will be shake for the 10th and final spot between Vintage Bourdeaux and Fine Am Eye.
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| WHITE LIGHTENIN G, Eye Am King-Alice K White by First Down Dash | Denis and Julie Schoenhofer | MJ Farms (NM) | James Gonzales II | :17.429 |
| RC CORONA KING G, Eye Am King-Classyoddsofdeefirst by Deefirst | Jose H. Rodriguez | Baldemar L. Parra (NM) | Gerardo Quinonez | :17.552 |
| NOLANS MOON G, First Moonflash-Sissys Cartel by Corona Cartel | Bob McClure | Bob McClure (NM) | Fred Danley | :17.567 |
| KJ DADDYS MONEY F, Big Daddy Cartel-KJ Kiss Me Goodbye by First Moonflash | John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares | John and/or Kathy Lee (NM) | Wes Giles | :17.578 |
| JESSES WISH G, Jesse James Jr-Wish You Had One To by Stel Corona | Javier M. Chavez and Heysol Howlet | MJ Farms (NM) | Jose Ignacio DeHerrera | :17.602 |
| CODEX G, Big Daddy Cartel-Astica by Jesse James Jr | Uno Mas | MJ Farms (NM) | Wes Giles | :17.603 |
| CRUZIN FOR CHICKZ G, Jess A Chicks-Zoobie Cartel by Corona Cartel | Curtis Crenwelge, Jim Laird, and Jose R. Espinosa | Crenwelge, Laird, and Espinosa (NM) | Wes Giles | :17.603 |
| WOOD DEE QUEEN F, Eye Am King-Miss Woody Dee by Woodbridge | J and SM Inc., Don Reynolds, and M. Lane Reynolds | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley | :17.638 |
| MOON JUMPN JESSICA F, Jumpn Chic-Le Mishka Jess by Mr Jess Perry | Barbara H. Saunders and Kim Saunders | Barbara Saunders and Kim Saunders (NM) | Jimmy Collier | :17.641 |
| *VINTAGE BOURDEAUX G, Eye Am King-Bridgette Bordeaux by Blushing Bug | Marcelino Gonzalez and Fabian Muniz Porras | MJ Farms (NM) | Marco A. Flores | :17.670 |
| *FINE AM EYE F, Eye Am King-Starsmith by Tres Seis | Backdoor Thoroughbreds LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley | :17.670 |