KJ Desparado, piloted by Adrian Ramos, wins the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap [G1] by a1 1/4-lengths at Lone Star Park on Saturday evening.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–NOVEMBER 18, 2023–Heavy favorite KJ Desparado breaks first from the gates on the extreme outside building momentum to the wire for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap [G1] at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

With jockey Adrian Ramos in the saddle, KJ Desparado set sail for his wire-to-wire victory keeping the lead as they came deep into the stretch for a 98 speed index in :21.345 seconds. With 1/5 odds at post-time the victory paid $2.60 to win on a $2.00 wager.

Lighting the board 19 of 22 starts, the son of Apollitical Jess has an impeccable record with 15 career wins and tonight's $55,000 victory check topped his earnings to over $3 million. KJ Desparado maintains the title of AQHA's #1 All-Time Leading Money Earner surpassing Ochoa this year after an Allowance win at Ruidoso Downs.

The winning connections of KJ Desparado accept the $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap [G1] trophy at Lone Star Park on Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

His long list of accolades also include two-time AQHA champion honors in 2022 and six Grade 1 victories, including the All American Futurity, All American Gold Cup Stakes, Ruidoso Derby and Texas Classic Futurity and Derby. KJ Desparado also placed second in three other Grade 1 events, including the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship Stakes, the Championship at Sunland Park and Rainbow Derby.

KJ Desparado is bred and owned by John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares. The Arizona-bred gelding is out of Tres Veses by Tres Seis.

Hesa Party Wagon, with Noe Garcia Jr in the irons, won the nod for second in a photo finish over Getthere Fast. The three-time stakes winning son of Hes Relentless has eight career wins and $317,885 in the bank.

Current owner/trainer Juan Baeza purchased Hesa Party Wagon for $8,000 in the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Bred by Buddy Albin in Oklahoma the five-year-old gelding is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Lil Miss Party Wagon.

Getthere Fast, piloted by Bryan Candanosa, ran a good game towards the wire but lost the bid by a nose for third. The four-time winner trained by Toby Keeton has competed for five graded stakes titles, including second in last year's Ruidoso Futurity [G1] and third in the Rainbow Futurity [G1]. 

The son of Tempting Dash has earned $382,319 for owner Simmons Racing, who repurchased him for $100,000 in the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Bred by JCJ Racing in Texas, Getthere Fast is out of Get There by Fantastic Corona Jr.

Jess The Leader, One Fabulous Boy, Shakers No Secret, Tic It To The Dance, Uncle Eds Idea, Jet Black Grace and Lil Pete El Soruyo complete the order of finish.