First Cartel Powwer (#2) fended off a late surge from Thrillah (#8) to set the fastest qualifying time for the $94,421 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes (not black type) at Ruidoso Downs Sunday.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 1, 2025—First Cartel Powwer posted the fastest time from six trials held Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino for the $94,421 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes (not black type), securing his spot in the June 14 final with a gutsy nose victory in the opening heat.

The son of Favorite Cartel out of Girl Powwer by Mr Jess Perry was aided by the only tailwind (14 mph) of the day, stopping the clock in :17.508 seconds for the 350-yard distance. Ridden by champion jockey Ricky Ramirez for trainer James J. Gonzales III, the Oklahoma-bred gelding races for Rancho El 48 LLC and was bred by Los LLC.

First Cartel Powwer broke sharply from the rail and fended off a late surge from Thrillah to win by a nose in Trial 1, earning a 93 speed index.

A son of leading sire Kiss My Hocks, Thrillah posted the second fastest time of 17.516 seconds. Wesley Giles trains the Texas homebred for owner-breeder Curtis Crenwelge. Noe Garcia, Jr. was aboard the gelding out of Braggin Bout My Zoom by Shazoom.

Also emerging from Trial 1 was Makin Him Famous, who turned in the fourth-fastest qualifying time of :17.573. The gelded son of Kvn Corona out of Famous Little Reba by One Famous Eagle is owned by Cream Of The Crop, Inc. and trained by Marco A. Flores. Luis Flores-Garcia had the riding assignment on the McColee Land & Livestock LLC (Utah)-bred runner.

Makin Him Famous broke cleanly and stayed in contention throughout, finishing a game third to secure his spot in the ten-horse final.

Also impressive on the day was Eye Am Tempting, who turned in the third-fastest qualifying time of :17.546 in a decisive Trial 6 win. The Utah-bred filly by leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King out of Tempting Love by Tempting Dash powered clear by three-quarters of a length under jockey Brian Cobos Barraza.

Trained by Emilio Cadena Jr. for owner Francisco Lazcano, Eye Am Tempting was bred by Samantha and Lilly Leyba and earned a 92 speed index for her commanding performance.

Trainer James Gonzales III will be doubly represented in the final as he also sent out Fdd Jess Speed, who delivered a professional performance to win Trial 5 and qualify sixth fastest with a time of :17.658.

Owned by Rancho El 48 LLC, Fdd Jess Speed is a $95,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate by four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty and out of Jess Sass Me by Mr Jess Perry.

Bred in Oklahoma by Speed LLC, the gelding was guided to a three-quarter length victory by Christian Cardenas. It was his first start since finishing third in a Remington Park maiden trial last month.

A total of six trials were conducted Sunday, with the ten fastest times from the 3-year-old maiden division determining the field for the Ruidoso Maiden Stakes final on Saturday, June 14, at Ruidoso Downs. The final will be contested at 350 yards and carries a total purse of $94,421.

CLICK HERE for the ten fastest qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

Finalists will return on June 14 to vie for the winner's share of the nearly $95,000 purse in what promises to be a competitive and evenly matched final.

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