Luxurie (#4 inside) holds off Cq Coyame Jessy (#1) as the pair of New Mexico Bred's post the top two times for the $203,548 Zia Derby (RG2) Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 4, 2026—Leading the way into the $203,548 Zia Derby (RG2) final is Luxurie, the $300,000 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale graduate who turned in the fastest qualifying time Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The son of leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel narrowly defeated fellow Big Daddy Cartel gelding Cq Coyame Jessy by a nose in the second of five trials, stopping the clock in 19.198 for 400 yards to headline the July 18 final.

Racing for Triple R Racing Stables LLC, Wallace Lynn Landrum, Ted Rushing, and Rancho El 48 LLC, Luxurie earned a 99 speed index under jockey Joseph Belloc Jr. Trained by Rodolfo G. Valles, the bay gelding by Big Daddy Cartel out of Astica, by Jesse James Jr., broke sharply, opened a narrow advantage, and held off a late charge to secure the fastest qualifying mark.

S Super King, under Oscar Andrade, Jr., posted the third fastest time in Saturday's opening trial. © Coady Media

A multiple graded stakes winner, bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Luxurie sold for $300,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale. He has rewarded his owners by winning seven of nine starts, including the Mountain Top NM Bred Futurity(RG2) and the Mountain Top NM Bred Derby(RG3), his last start on June 13. He has earned over $325,000.

Just a nose behind the top qualifier was Cq Coyame Jessy, who also earned a 99 speed index while stopping the timer in 19.201. Owned by Israel Bordier, the gelding is also from the first crop of qualifiers sired by Big Daddy Cartel and is out of Runaway Leonarda, by Jesse James Jr..

Bred in New Mexico by Carlos Paez and Israel Bordier, the graded stakes-placed gelding is trained by Wesley T. Giles and was ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. His determined rally in the stretch fell just short but easily secured the second-fastest qualifying berth.

A four-time winner, Cq Coyame Jessy was third in the New Mexico Classic Futurity (RG2) last year and has earned $196,511.

The third-fastest qualifier came in the opening trial when S Super King recovered from a bobbled start to draw clear by three-quarters of a length in 19.234, earning a 98 speed index.

Winner of last year's New Mexico Breeders' Futurity (RG2), the CHR Racing-owned gelding is by Eye Am King out of Sukis Super Chic, by Jess A Chicks, and was bred by Meluking Ranch LLC. Tony E. Sedillo trains the sorrel gelding, who was piloted by Oscar Andrade Jr. He has earned $118,073.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to The Downs at Albuquerque on July 18 to contest the $203,548 Zia Derby (RG2) for accredited New Mexico-bred 3-year-olds. For a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and trainers, CLICK HERE.

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