StallioneSearch.com

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 1, 2025–Under a hand ride from jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., Harken got up at the wire a half-length over his half-brother Daou in the $158,060 61st running of the Grade 3 West Texas Derby Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Trained by Jesus Soto, the New Mexico-bred son of Eye Am King broke well from the starting gate, was joined on the front end to his inside by railsitter Karmalites as well as Daou midway down the stretch.

Becerra got busy aboard Harken in the final yards and pushed him to the finish line, winning by a half-length in a final time of 19.45 seconds for 400 yards. The winner earned a $74,288 paycheck for the winning owners Alepony, LLC led by Nancy Islas.

Harken earned his way into the starting gate for the West Texas Derby when he won his trial heat here by a length on February 8.

Harken, a six-time winner from 10 career starts, picked up his second career stakes win. Last summer, as a 2-year-old, he won the Grade 2 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Zia Futurity last summer at Albuquerque Downs. Saturday's win in the West Texas Derby pads his career bankroll to more than $340,000.

Sent off as the 8-to-5 post-time favorite, Harken returned $5.20 to his winning backers.

MJ Farms bred the multiple graded winning gelding in New Mexico from their graded stakes-winner and stakes-producing Big Daddy Cartel mare Donelli. He is a $145,000 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale graduate.

His half-brother, Daou, was a $270,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate in 2023 for MJ Farms. Fred Danley conditions the FDD Dynasty gelding out of Donelli for owner J and SM, Inc. Daou posted the fastest time from the five trials for the West Texas Derby(G3).

Christian Cardenas was aboard the multiple stakes-placed runner-up to earn $28,451 for the effort. Also bred in New Mexico Dau has earned $97,195 In 10 career starts. The $2 exacta with the top pair returned $15.40.

Graded stakes winner Karmalites finished a half-length back to earn $17,387 for third place. Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr. trains The Marfa Lights gelding for owner Fabian Muniz Porras. Bred in Oklahoma by Paris Wixon, Karmalites is out of the Corona Cartel mare Cartel Karma.

Last season, she won the Ruidoso Downs Juvenile Challenge Stakes(G3) and the Four Corners Futurity. Karmalites pushed her earnings record to $252,889.

Eye Believe In Blood, Celtic Wonder Boy, Beach Fire, Wiskey Cowboy, Running Over All, Haughty Vaquero and Toastin Heros completed the field.

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

Live racing at Sunland Park resumes Sunday with a 12:25 first post time. Sunday's featured race is the 14th running of the $90,000 Sunburst Stakes, which will be run at a distance of 350 yards. The restricted Grade 3 event for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies will go as the eighth race on the nine-race card.

Proven stakes winner Bv Brigette Cartel is the mild 7-2 morning line favorite with Sergio Becerra, Jr. riding. The $1,000 Sunday Sunland Pick 6 will be a live, on-track promotion.