KJ Desparado, Miss Beth Dutton Lead Strong Field of Three-Year-Olds Sunday in All American Derby/Oaks Trials at Ruidoso Downs

KJ Desparado, winner of the 2021 All American Futurity, leads a strong field of three-year-old quarter horses in trials this Sunday for the $808,262 All American Derby and the $460,824 All American Oaks at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Both stakes events are at 440 yards with the finals set for Labor Day weekend, September 4th.

The gelding is entered as number three in the 5th race with regular rider Adrian Ramos on board for owners John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares. The even-money morning line favorite , KJ Desparado, will attempt a tenth career win in the trials with hopes of grabbing a spot in the finals.

“He’s been a pleasure to train,” trainer Wes Giles said in the barn area. “It’s not very often that a horse like this comes around. He’s special to all of us that have been associated with the horse.”

‘KJ’ won the Ruidoso Derby here on June 11 and then was upset by a neck in the Rainbow Derby by A Political Candy V and jockey Juan Pulido. That gelding will be number nine in Sunday’s 8th race and is the 9-5 morning line favorite for Valeriano Racing Stables and trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.

The Derby field of horses also includes the 2021 Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurity Champion Jess Savin Candy with jockey Francisco Calderon, who has yet to qualify to a stakes final as a three-year-old for owners A.J. Streelman, Bill Dale, and trainer John Stinebaugh. Jess Savin Candy will be number two in the 7th race and is favored at 3-2 on the morning line.

“We had an unfortunate break in the Rainbow trials, but we’re ready. We wish everyone well and hope to see them in the finals.”

Other top performers expected to start in the Derby trials: Lethal Avenger and jockey Joe Garcia Jr., number eight in the 6th race at 3-2 odds who made the finals of this season’s Ruidoso and Rainbow Derbies; Bomb Cyclone and jockey Eduardo Nicasio, 3-2 favorite as number eight in the 11th race, winner of the Las Alamitos $2 Million last December; and FDD Scout, number nine in the 6th race, who finished second to KJ Desparado in last season’s All American Futurity and is 4-1 on the morning line.

In the All American Oaks trials, Miss Beth Dutton and jockey James Flores is 5/2 in the 4th race as number nine for owners Conda and Judy Maze. The filly upset Kiss the Cartel at 8-1 odds by winning the Rainbow Oaks here on July 23.

“She seems to excel at the 440 distance,” trainer Clinton Crawford said. “That’s been her game—she gets running down the race track late and has shown her talent. She came back fantastic and is ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Kiss the Cartel and jockey Ricky Ramirez will start as number one in the same 4th race and is favored at 2-1 for owners Lonnie and Kody Horwood.

There are four Oaks trials and eight Derby trials on Sunday with first post time schedule for 1 p.m.