Harken, under jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., posted the fastest time in the $201,420 Mountain Top QH Derby trials on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—May 31, 2025—Harken emerged as the top qualifier during Saturday’s trials for the $201,420 Mountain Top QH Derby, posting the fastest time from six 350-yard trials for New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs. The finals are set for June 14, 2025.

Owned by Alepony, LLC and trained by Jesus M. Soto, Harken stopped the clock in :17.343, a 98 speed index with six mph tailwind on muddy (sealed) track while winning the sixth and final trial by 1-1/4 lengths.

The gray gelding is by leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King and out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Donelli. Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Harken was a $145,000 purchase at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He was ridden to victory by Sergio Becerra, Jr.

Harken entered the race off a win in the Grade 3 West Texas Derby at Sunland. Park in his last start, March 1.  He also won the Mountain Top QH Futurity(RG2) at Ruidoso last season and has earned $346,377 with 7 wins in 11 starts.

The second-fastest qualifier of the day was Eye For Cambria, who posted a time of :17.414, a 96 speed index with an 11 mph tailwind on a muddy (sealed) track in the fourth trial.

The daughter of Eye Am King out of Fdd Cambria by FDD Dynasty) is owned by Ellison Carter and Jeff Bourquin. She was bred by MJ Farms, trained by James J. Gonzales III, and ridden by Ricky Ramirez. Eye For Cambria was purchased for $15,000 at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

With three wins in seven starts, the $55,889 earner was a finalist in the Mountain Top QH Juvenile last year. She has won three consecutive races.

Both of the top two qualifiers hail from the powerful Eye Am King sire line, which dominated the trials by producing seven of the ten finalists.

MJ Farms, long regarded as a leading breeder in New Mexico Quarter Horse racing, was responsible for producing seven of the ten derby finalists, further cementing its influence on the state-bred ranks.

CLICK HERE for the Mountain Top QH Derby finalists, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

Finals for the 2025 Mountain Top QH Derby will be contested at 350 yards on June 14 at Ruidoso Downs.

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