American Futurity(G1) winner King Of The Tide will bypass the open Ruidoso Derby(G1) trail this season as connections point millionaire New Mexico-bred toward the state bred derbies.

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By Greg Thompson, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–MAY 20, 2026– 2025 All American Futurity(G1) winner King Of The Tide was a noteworthy omission on entry-day for the 2026 Ruidoso Derby(G1) trials, as his connections have opted to target the state-bred route in his three year-old campaign.

The MJ Farms-bred gelding by Eye Am King found the winners circle just one more time after his Labor Day triumph in the classic event in Albuquerque during his two-year-old career. Trainer Trey Wood conditions King Of The Tide for owners Gene and Tod Bradley and Ware Brown. The gelding, ridden by jockey Ricky Ramirez,  clinched victory in his trial for the New Mexico State Fair Futurity, but failed to qualify into the field for the event. (I broke this sentence up, it was a run on)

Since then, King Of The Tide, who has earnings of $1,595,087 was taken to the farm in Ranger, Texas to be freshened in preparation for the upcoming New Mexico-bred Derbies. These may include both the Mountain Top Derby and the Zia Derby this summer.

“It was a decision we made for him about which route we were going to take in 2026,” said trainer Blane Wood. “We are more likely to run him against other New Mexico-breds in the Mountain Top and the Zia Derby, as opposed to just going after the Ruidoso or the Rainbow (Derby) and then on to the All American (Derby). The ultimate goal this year is to make a run at getting into the field for the All American Derby.”

The $130,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate of 2024 is out of the Ocean Runaway mare Ms Riptide, who as a runner won the 2011 Sam Houston Distaff Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park. King Of The Tide has reached the winner’s circle four times from six starts during his career, finishing second and third in the other two races.

The trials for the 2026 Mountain Top NM Bred Derby are scheduled for May 30, 2026 at The Downs Of Albuquerque, with the finals to follow on June 13, 2026.

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