Rc Corona King, guided by jockey Sergio Dominguez, wins the Grade 1 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship on Saturday.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 4, 2025–Rc Corona King returned to familiar territory in the winner’s circle on Saturday night after taking command early and refusing to yield in the $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Quarter Horse Championship Stakes-G1.

The 5-year-old gelding covered 440 yards in 21.108 seconds and earned a 99 speed index, collecting the $175,000 winner’s share and his second stakes win of the season for owner Jose R. Riojas.

Breaking cleanly from the rail under Sergio Dominguez, the New Mexico-bred son of Eye Am King dug in through the final yards to hold off his challengers by a neck. He is conditioned by Gerardo Quinonez and was bred by Baldemar L. Parra from the Deefirst mare Classyoddsofdeefirst.

The connections of Rc Corona King accept the trophy after winning the Downs at Albuquerque Fall QH Championship Stakes-G1 on Saturday. © Coady Media

Rc Corona King’s entire 2025 campaign has come against stakes competition. Earlier this season, he captured the Red or Green Stakes-G2, finished second in the First Moonflash Maturity, and was third in the Jimmy Drake Stakes-G3.

He also competed in the West Texas Maturity-G3, the Jess Burner Memorial Stakes-G3, and now adds another graded title to a record that already includes the NM Classic Championship-G1, West Texas Maturity-G3, and First Moonflash Maturity in 2024. From 26 career starts, he’s put together 8 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds with total earnings of $622,199.

Runner-up Kj Wildthang never backed down from the fight, pressing the leader every step of the way before coming up just a half-length short. The 6-year-old gelding was piloted by Jacob Enriquez for trainer Wes Giles and the partnership of John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares.

A proven competitor, the son of Apollitical Jess has been a fixture in major stakes across the Southwest, hitting the board this season in the La Plata Stakes, West Texas Maturity-G3, and was a finalist in the Championship at Sunland Park-G1.

Bred in Arizona by Lee & Sherwood Racing LLC & Mineer, Kj Wildthang is out of Wild Six, by Tres Seis. From 32 lifetime starts, he’s compiled 7 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds, and pushed his bankroll to $330,419 with Saturday’s finish.

Third-place finisher Kj Flying Cowgirl, also trained by Wes Giles, launched a late bid under Emilio Tapia to earn another graded placing for the same ownership group of John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares. The 4-year-old filly by Flying Cowboy 123 is out of Kj Hotflash, by First Moonflash, and was bred in Arizona by John and Kathy Lee.

Kj Flying Cowgirl’s resume is already decorated with major efforts this year. She scored a key victory in the West Texas Maturity-G3, defeating both Rc Corona King and Kj Wildthang, finished second in the John Andreini Memorial Stakes, and was a finalist in the Balloon City Stakes-G2. The consistent mare has now made 21 starts, earning $235,863 with 4 wins, 6 seconds, and 5 thirds.

The remaining order of finish includes Nori, Lookin for Cartel, The Calling, Carters Kissin Cindi, Apollitical Boogie J, Macdara, and Set the Edge.

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