New Mexico State Fair Derby Winner Pour Me A Drinkk Headlines New Mexico Classic Derby Trials At Zia Park

Fresh off a victory in the Restricted Grade 2 $431,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby, Pour Me a Drinkk returns to competition on Sunday, November 1, at Zia Park, leading 19 New Mexico-bred three-year-olds entered in two trials for the Restricted Grade 2 Est. $225,000 New Mexico Classic Derby.

The 22nd running of the New Mexico Classic Derby is set for Sunday, November 22. Sunday's two qualifying trials will be run at 400 yards in races two and three, with the opening heat scheduled for 12:32 p.m. (MST).

Pour Me a Drinkk enters the opening trial in race two as the 9-5 morning-line favorite, following a successful 2026 season that included four wins in eight starts. The son of Prospect to the Top has compiled seven wins, two seconds and two thirds from 14 career starts, earning $478,658 for owners Bob McClure and Sandra K. Barrett.

Trained by Donald Guynes, Pour Me a Drinkk captured the Restricted Grade 2 $431,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby at Albuquerque on October 11, defeating Eddy Cartel by three-quarters of a length. The win came after a third-place finish in the September 19 qualifying trials.

Earlier this season, Pour Me a Drinkk won the qualifying trials for the Mountain Top Derby and Zia Derby, establishing a strong record against New Mexico-bred competition. James A. Flores returns aboard the gelding from the inside post.

Hez Rio Trouble, the 9-2 second choice, will renew a recent rivalry with Pour Me a Drinkk after finishing third in the New Mexico State Fair Derby final.

Hez Rio Trouble, owned by Robert Driggers and Ben Ivey, has earned $220,057 from 12 career starts, including two victories. The Wesley T. Giles trainee won a September 19 New Mexico State Fair Derby trial before advancing to the final. Noe Garcia, Jr. will ride from post two.

Also entered in the opening heat is Jet Black Eagles, the winner of the Restricted Grade 2 $187,000 Shue Fly Stakes at Sunland Park in February. The Richard D. Sedillo trainee has earned $135,138 for owner Mike G. Parker and will break from post seven with jockey Christian Ramos aboard.

Jingle Wood, the 5-2 third choice, enters the trial with $136,205 in career earnings. Trainer Renee K. Wilson will saddle Jingle Wood from post three, with Jacob Enriquez named to ride.

The second and final trial, scheduled as race three, features Sya Narra as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after a competitive campaign that includes a third-place finish in the Restricted Grade 2 $204,000 Zia Derby.

Owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, Sya Narra has won four of 11 career starts, earning $97,558. The David M. Gomez-Barraza trainee captured a Zia Derby qualifying trial by 1 3/4 lengths in July, then returned to finish second in a September 19 New Mexico State Fair Derby trial.

Sya Narra will break from post three, with jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr., aboard.

Cq Coyame Jessy enters the second trial as the 3-1 second choice and brings one of the stronger stakes records into Sunday's competition.

The son of Big Daddy Cartel finished second in the Restricted Grade 2 $204,000 Zia Derby in July and fourth in the Restricted Grade 3 $190,000 Mountain Top Derby in June.

Owned by Israel Bordier and trained by Lauren McQueen, Cq Coyame Jessy has won five of 15 career starts, earning $253,825. The gelding most recently captured an allowance on October 4 at Albuquerque and will break from post six with jockey Francisco Zamora aboard.

Highcardforapoke, the 5-1 third choice, also enters in recent winning form. The Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez trainee captured an October 18 allowance at Albuquerque and previously finished second in a September 19 New Mexico State Fair Derby trial.

Owned by Bert Eldridge, Highcardforapoke has recorded three wins, four seconds, and one third in 12 starts, earning $135,494. Luis Martinez will ride from post five.

With a recent graded stakes winner, established derby finalists, and several improving three-year-olds entered, Sunday's trials bring together a competitive field vying for qualification for the Restricted Grade 2 Est. $225,000 New Mexico Classic Derby final on November 22.

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

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