Zia Park will feature seven stakes races on Sunday, featuring the Shakers No Secret, who is the early favorite in the Zia Park Chammpionship Invitational(G1)

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By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 9, 2025—Sunday at Zia Park will showcase a packed ten-race program highlighted by seven major Quarter Horse stakes, beginning with first post at 12:05 PM. The afternoon features a combined $700,000 in guaranteed purses across the King Rick Rack Stakes(G2), the New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Distaff Stakes, the Lovington Stakes (G2), the James Isaac Hobbs Stakes(G2), the Southwest Juvenile Invitational(G2), the Hobbs America Derby Invitational, and the Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship Invitational(G1).

Stakes action begins in race four with the 20th Running of the $100,000 King Rick Rack Stakes (G2) at 870 yards. Handin Out Candy, installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite from post four, enters in top form, having won five of six starts this year, all at his preferred 870-yard distance. His 2025 resume includes victories in the GII Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes and the G1 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship.

Bred in Alabama by Paris Wixon, the Jess Good Candy gelding is out of Ole Auntie Em by Dash Ta Fame and races for Emilio Perez after being purchased for $20,000 at Heritage Place. Paul Sedillo trains with Omar Iturralde aboard. Eight graded stakes-winning contenders will head around the hook in the $100,000 event.

Race five brings together New Mexico’s top fillies and mares in the 4th Running of the New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Distaff Stakes at 350 yards with a $100,000 guaranteed purse.

Flashtoglory stands as the 7-5 morning line favorite from post nine. The First Moonflash homebred for David Meridyth has captured two major stakes this year—the Lou Wooten and Sydney Valentini Stakes(G2) and the New Mexico Classic Fillies and Mares Championship Stakes(G1)—elevating her record to seven wins and $496,262 in earnings. Out of JP Glory Be by Feature Mr Jess, she will again team with jockey Christian Ramos.

Race six features the $100,000 Lovington Stakes(G2) for older runners at 400 yards.

Paige, the only mare in the field, has been made the 3-1 favorite. Owned by CNN Breedings, the Tempting Dash mare has won two graded races in 2025—the GII Balloon City Stakes and the G1 AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship—bringing her total earnings to $267,472.

Bred in Oklahoma by Carol S. Smith, she will race from post three for trainer Clinton Crawford with Jacob Enriquez in the irons. Ten multiple graded stakes winners will contest the 400-yard dash.

Race seven spotlights the 20th Running of the $100,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes(G2), going 350 yards for three-year-olds and older.

Bp Moonlight leads the field as the 2-1 favorite from post eight. The four-year-old mare has notched three wins this season and was runner-up in the GII Balloon City Stakes. Purchased for $12,500 at Heritage Place by David Pena-Marrufo, she is trained by Sebastian Gonzales with Joseph Belloc Jr. aboard. Ten starters head to the gate at approximately 2:47 PM.

In race eight, ten juveniles with the highest seasonal earnings will compete in the $100,000 Southwest Juvenile Invitational(G2) at 400 yards.

Unleeshed, the 5-2 morning line favorite, comes off a runner-up finish in the Dash for Cash Futurity(G2) and has three wins in six career starts for $90,222 earned. The Freighttrain B gelding, bred by Bobby D. Cox, was a $78,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and races for Orona Racing, LLC. Eric Valenzuela trains, and Jordy S. Muniz will ride from post two.

Race nine features ten of the nation’s top sophomores in the $100,000 Hobbs America Derby Invitational at 400 yards.

Kj Born to Be Wild, the 9-5 favorite from post two, has enjoyed a standout season, qualifying for the Ruidoso Derby, All American Derby, and Texas Classic Derby—finishing third, third, and second, respectively—and banking $283,387. The Apollitical Jess gelding was bred in Arizona by owners John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares. Wesley T. Giles conditions with Noe Garcia Jr. aboard. Post time is approximately 3:41 PM.

The finale, the $100,000 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship Invitational(G1) at 440 yards, headlines the afternoon.

Shakers No Secret, the 5-2 morning line favorite from post nine, enters with a strong graded-stakes résumé and a victory earlier this year in the G1 Sunland Park Championship. The Five Bar Cartel gelding, bred in Texas by Garlyn O. Shelton, races for Abel, Ethan Lopez, and Manny Dutchover under the guidance of champion trainer Marc E. Jungers. Christian Ramos retains the mount.

Fans can expect a thrilling Sunday slate at Zia Park as elite runners from across the region converge for an action-packed afternoon of championship-caliber racing.

The Zia Park races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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