Fastest qualifier Rc Corona King surged late to capture the Grade 3 $98,598 West Texas Maturity at 400 yards on Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SUNLAND PARK, NM–MARCH 28, 2026– Fastest qualifier Rc Corona King surged late to capture the Grade 3 $98,598 West Texas Maturity at 400 yards on Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park, defeating Bigg Picture by a neck with Paradise Pete another neck back in third.

Ridden by Sergio Dominguez, Rc Corona King covered the distance in :19.290 over a fast track, earning a 95 speed index while rallying strongly through the final strides.

Trained by Gerardo Quinonez for owner Jose R. Riojas, and bred in New Mexico by Baldemar Parra, the 6-year-old gelding is by leading sire Eye Am King, sire of more than $13.4 million in earners, including All American Futurity(G1) winner King Of The Tide ($1,595,087).

The winning connections of RC Corona King accept the $98,598 West Texas Maturity (G3) trophy at Sunland Park on Saturday. © Coady Media

Rc Corona King is out of the Deefirst mare Classyoddsofdeefirst. With the victory, he improved his record to 30 starts, 10 wins, 6 seconds and 4 thirds, and the $46,341 winner’s share boosted his lifetime earnings to $757,880.

The West Texas Maturity score marked the fifth stakes victory of his career, adding to wins in the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship(G1), New Mexico Classic Championship(G1), Red Or Green Stakes(G2), First Moonflash Maturity(G2), and the 2024 West Texas Maturity(G3).

Bigg Picture finished second under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr. for trainer Wesley Giles and owner Uno Menos. Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, the gelding is by Big Daddy Cartel and out of champion Astica.

Bigg Picture is a full brother to stakes winners Fanncee ($207,078) and Wente ($149,779), and a half-brother to world champion Asscher ($489,674), out of champion Alice K White ($276,837). He now holds a record of 24 starts, 6 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds with earnings of $476,137.

Paradise Pete finished third with Luis Martinez aboard for trainer David Gomez-Barraza and owner/breeder Stephen M. Harris. The gelding is by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Fire Specialist, a winner and graded stakes finalist.

Paradise Pete’s record now stands at 16 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds with earnings of $113,838. He is a stakes winner of the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby.

Kj Born To Be Wild finished fourth, followed by Boot Scoots, Naughty Politics, Paramounte Streakin, A Dream Fulfilled, Macdara and Walk It Back to complete the order of finish.

A Dream Fulfilled, who crossed the wire fourth, was disqualified and placed eighth following a stewards’ inquiry for interference in the early stages of the race.

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

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