Highly Lethal V sets a new track record while winning the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque on June 7.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JUNE 7, 2026— Fastest qualifier Highly Lethal V delivered a championship performance Sunday afternoon, drawing clear late to capture the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque and establish a new track record in the process.

Ridden by Francisco Calderon, Highly Lethal V broke sharply, tracked the early pace and surged to the front before drawing away to a one-length victory. The gelding covered the 350 yards in a track-record time of :16.886 while earning a 107 speed index.

The winning connections of Highly Lethal V accept the $1,000,000 Ruidoso Futurity trophy at the Downs of Albuquerque on Sunday. © Coady Media

The Oklahoma-bred homebred races for Valeriano Racing Stables LLC and is trained by Raymond Valerio. Sired by all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess and out of the stakes-placed Tres Seis mare Lethal Class, Highly Lethal V is a half-brother to stakes winner Lethal Avenger ($470,745).

His female family is among the sport's most accomplished, featuring champions Volcom Bay ($426,023), Relentless Eagle ($316,935), Volcoms Favorite ($209,443), and world champion Lethal Cowboy 123 ($1,271,529).

The victory was his second consecutive win and improved his record to 3-2-0-0 while boosting his earnings to $426,300.

Lethal Wind and jockey Noe Garcia Jr. finished second after breaking outward and being bumped shortly after the start before continuing to battle throughout. The gelding stopped the clock in :17.034 and earned a 103 speed index.

Owned by Whos N And Out and trained by Wesley Giles, Lethal Wind was bred by Stone Chase Stables LLC and sold for $105,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The son of champion Dulce Sin Tacha is out of a full sister to stakes winner Lethal Avenger ($470,745), tracing to the same powerful female family that produced champions Relentless Eagle ($316,935), Volcoms Favorite ($209,443), and world champion Lethal Cowboy 123 ($1,271,529).

Lethal Wind now owns a record of 3-0-3-0 with earnings of $187,160.

Third-fastest qualifier Ask Her To Fly completed the trifecta under Ramiro Garcia. The filly rallied with a steady bid through a clear path to finish third, covering the distance in :17.121 while earning a 101 speed index.

A homebred for Randy Geiselman, Ask Her To Fly is trained by Jason Olmstead. The daughter of champion Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the winning Teller Cartel mare Ask The Questions. She now holds a record of 4-2-0-1 with earnings of $122,275.

Happy Flying Bird finished fourth and was followed by Tell A Scout, Heatseeker V, Dulce Dreams, My Golden Boy, AJ Invictus Player and Nine Degrees. Nine Degrees lost his rider and fell during the running of the race.

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