Pour Me a Drinkk Captures $430,627 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby at Albuquerque
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—October 11, 2026
Pour Me A Drinkk added another major stakes victory to his record Sunday afternoon, delivering a three-quarter-length victory in the $430,627 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (R) at The Downs at Albuquerque.
Ridden by champion jockey James A. Flores for trainer Donald Guynes, the three-year-old brown gelding covered the 400 yards in 19.610 seconds, earning an 89 speed index over a fast racing surface while facing an 18-mph headwind.
Pour Me A Drinkk broke sharply, took command early, and maintained his advantage before drawing clear late to secure the $215,314 winner's share of the lucrative New Mexico-bred derby.
Owned by Bob McClure and Sandra K. Barrett, the son of Prospect To The Top is out of First Cowgirl Flash, a daughter of First Moonflash. Fred Danley bred the gelding in New Mexico.
The victory improved Pour Me A Drinkk's career record to seven wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts, with earnings climbing to $478,658.
Previously, Pour Me A Drinkk captured the New Mexico Classic Futurity (RG2) and finished second in the Shue Fly Stakes (RG2). He was also a finalist in the Zia Derby (RG2), establishing himself among the state's leading New Mexico-bred runners.
Eddy Cartel, the 2025 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG1) winner, rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, earning $86,125. The three-year-old gelding finished a neck ahead of Hez Rio Trouble in third.
Ridden by Francisco Calderon for trainer Rodolfo G. Valles, Eddy Cartel races for owner Paul Blanchard. The son of Big Daddy Cartel is out of Em Bodacious Chick, by Bodacious Dash, and was bred in New Mexico by Eduardo P. Mendoza.
Eddy Cartel entered Sunday's race with four victories from seven starts, including his Grade 1 futurity triumph. His runner-up finish improved his career record to four wins, one second, and one third from eight starts, boosting his lifetime earnings to $727,684.
Hez Rio Trouble completed the trifecta with a third-place finish, another neck behind Eddy Cartel, earning $51,675. The three-year-old gelding finished a head ahead of fourth-place Sya Narra.
Trained by Wesley T. Giles and ridden by Noe Garcia Jr., Hez Rio Trouble races for Robert Driggers and Ben Ivey. Bred in New Mexico by Ivey Cattle Co., the son of Jet Black Patriot is out of Riverside Babe, by First Moonflash.
Hez Rio Trouble previously finished third in the New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG1) and the Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Juvenile. He was also a finalist in the Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Derby (RG3).
His third-place finish Sunday improved his career record to two wins, one second, and five thirds from 12 starts, increasing his lifetime earnings to $220,057.
Sya Narra finished fourth, followed by post-time favorite King Estate in fifth. Luxurie was sixth, Ima Gonna B Famous seventh, Woodcutt eighth, and Mi Capitan completed the order of finish in ninth. Mw Bcause Im First was scratched.
Pour Me a Drinkk returned $6.60 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.80 to show.
The $430,627 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Derby (R) was contested over a fast track under cloudy skies and featured some of the state's leading three-year-old New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses.
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