Lightly Raced Solid Sets Top Mark in $167,171 Zia QH Derby Trials

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JULY 6, 2024–Making only his third career start, Solid posted the fastest qualifying time for the restricted Grade 2 $167,171 Zia QH Derby on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest 3-year-old New Mexico-Bred qualifiers from four 400-yard trial races contested today will return to the mountain-top racetrack on Saturday, July 20, to vie for a $70,112 winner's purse.

Under jockey Adrian Ramos, Solid dueled to a nose win over Bad King in the third trial to set the top qualifying time of 19.782, an 87-speed index with a 12 mph tailwind.

After breaking his maiden in his career debut last November Zia Park, Solid was second in a trial for the Shue Fly Stakes at Sunland Park in January.

Trainer Wesley Giles conditions the New Mexico homebred for owner-breeders Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, Jr. The son of multiple stakes sire Big Daddy Cartel, from the First Moonflash mare, Paint your Moon, has earned just over $11,000.

Runner-up Bad King scored the second-fastest time of 19.787, also an 87 speed index. James J. Gonzales III trains the restricted Grade 2-placed son of leading third-crop sire Eye Am King for owners Nove Racing LLC, Triple Racing Stables LLC, Antoinette Gonzales, and Patricio Venzor.

Champion jockey Francisco Calderon had the riding call on last year's New Mexico State Fair Futurity(RG2) runner-up. MJ Farms bred Bad King from the Pappasito mare Start Somethin Bad. He has earned $253,734 in seven career starts.

CLICK HERE for the Zia QH Derby qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

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Live racing at Ruidoso Downs resumes on Sunday, July 7, with a 13-race card featuring five trials for the Grade 1 Rainbow QH Oaks (races 9-13). The first post is at 12:30 p.m. (MDT).