Jo Nita Foose Around (#4), under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., edges Good Grief by a nose to win the $40,250 Albuquerque Juvenile Stakes on Saturday evening at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025–After a close finish at the wire, the result came down to a photo with Jo Nita Foose Around getting the nod over post-time favorite Good Grief to capture the $40,250 Albuquerque Juvenile Stakes on Saturday evening at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The Texas-bred gelding completed the 350-yard race in 17.165 seconds with a 99 speed index, earning $19,320 for the win. Under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., Jo Nita Foose Around broke well from post four and closed strongly late to edge his rival by a nose.

The 2-year-old son of Foose is trained by Tammy Kay Johnson for owner and breeder Rockin J Running Horses. Out of Solid Anita Jo by Rock Solid Jess, the sorrel gelding’s victory marked Johnson’s second stakes win of the evening card.

The winning connections of Jo Nita Foose Around accept the Albuquerque Juvenile Stakes trophy at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday. © Coady Media

Jo Nita Foose Around now boasts a record of six starts, two wins, and one third, with total earnings of $33,357. The win also marked his first career stakes victory.

Second-place finisher Good Grief, a brown gelding by The Marfa Lights, fought gamely to the wire after leading early and drifting late. He was bred in Oklahoma by Mr. and Mrs. L. Judd Morse and is out of Good as I Was by Strawfly Special.

Owned by Luis Preciado and Jose M. Montes and trained by David Gomez-Barraza, Good Grief was ridden by Luis Martinez. From six starts, he has recorded one win, three seconds, and one third, earning $57,170. Earlier this year, he finished second in the Four Corners Futurity.

Finishing third was Palm Desert, a California-bred filly by Favorite Cartel out of Dont Pass Bar by A Regal Choice, bred and owned by Steve D. Burns, DVM.

She is trained by Dean Frey and was ridden by Oscar Andrade, Jr. A $47,000 repurchase at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Palm Desert just broke her maiden in September and now has three starts, one win, and one third, earning $17,150 to date.

Rounding out the order of finish was Jess The Train, Whileubeengone, Jezzabelle, The Party Lights, and Caits Oak. The margins were nose, 1½, and 1½ lengths.

****************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.