Kj Bad Moon Rising has been set as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $234,015 New Mexico Classic Derby(RG2) at Zia Park Sunday.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

HOBBS, NM–NOVEMBER 19, 2025—The Sunday card at Zia Park will be loaded with top New Mexico-bred talent, as six of the ten races on the program are dedicated stakes events.

The lineup includes the $60,000 added New Mexico Quarter Horse Juvenile Stakes, the $150,000 guaranteed New Mexico Classic 870 Championship Stakes, the RG1 $200,000 New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Filly and Mare Championship Stakes, the RG1 $200,000 guaranteed Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Quarter Horse Championship Stakes, the RG2 $234,015 added New Mexico Classic Derby, and the RG2 $313,943 added New Mexico Classic Futurity.

The first post is scheduled for 12:05 PM (MST).

The ninth race, the 400-yard RG2 $234,015 New Mexico Classic Derby finals, is scheduled for approximately 3:41 PM and features the ten fastest sophomores from the November 2 trial heats.

John and Kathy Lee’s homebred Kj Bad Moon Rising leads the field as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The gelding finished second in his trial to Alamos by a neck, securing the fifth fastest qualifying time. Prior to the trials, he captured the G2 $420,000 State Fair Derby and has yet to miss the board in his Derby campaign, amassing $1,325,279 in earnings.

Sired by Kj Bad Moon Rising and out of Kj Kiss Me Goodbye by First Moonflash, he is trained by Wesley T. Giles and will break from post two under Noe Garcia, Jr.

The 7-2 second choice is the third fastest qualifier, Alamos. A two-time graded qualifier, he won the RG3 $202,000 Mountain Top Derby and finished fifth in the RG2 $420,000 State Fair Derby behind Kj Bad Moon Rising. The three-year-old gelding has won five races and earned $58,121.

Sired by Eye Am King and out of Anakena by Woodbridge, he was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms and purchased by Tungsten Racing Partnership for $185,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Tony E. Sedillo conditions Alamos, who will start from the rail with Christian Ramos aboard.

This Derby field is deep with proven sophomores, and the 400-yard final is poised to produce a tight and dramatic finish in the RG2 $234,015 New Mexico Classic Derby.

Closing out the card is the tenth race, the 350-yard RG2 $313,943 New Mexico Classic Futurity, set for approximately 4:08 PM. The field features ten of the quickest juveniles from the November 1 trial heats.

Fastest qualifier Pour Me a Drinkk, a homebred for Fred I. Danley, leads the group and is also trained by his breeder. The gelding qualified to the RG2 $1,158,000 State Fair Futurity, though a troubled trip compromised his effort in the finals. A two-time winner, he has earned $30,980 and enters the Futurity from post nine with James A. Flores aboard.

Sired by Prospect to the Top and out of First Cowgirl Flash by First Moonflash, he continues to show promise in his young career.

Jingle Wood appears at 4-1 on the morning line following a close and troubled second-place finish in his trial behind Luxurie. A three-time stakes qualifier, he previously finished second in the $50,000 New Mexico Spring Fling and qualified for the RG2 $346,000 Mountain Top Futurity. With six starts, he has hit the board in all outings, holding a 2-2-2 record and earnings of $58,991.

Sired by Woodbridge and out of Ms Jingles by Bigtime Favorite, he was bred by MJ Farms and purchased for $77,000 at the Ruidoso, New Mexico Yearling Sale. Clinton Crawford trains the gelding for Downtime Enterprises LLC., Christopher J., and Melody Lykins. He will race from post ten with Jacob Enriquez in the irons.

The state’s top juveniles will battle in the finale, aiming to secure a prestigious graded stakes victory in the RG2 $313,943 New Mexico Classic Futurity.

The Zia Park races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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