KJ Desparado Comes Out Strong Winner in Ruidoso Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

KJ Desparado broke sharply and coasted home a winner in the $669,025 Grade-1 Ruidoso Derby Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Last season’s All American Futurity champion won for the sixth consecutive start for jockey Adrian Ramos, trainer Wes Giles, and owners John and Kathy Lee and Reuben Mares. The gelding now has career earnings approaching $2.5 million.

“He seems to be improving even more now as a three-year-old,” Ramos said in the winner’s circle. “He was alone in front but I kept him to the task—there were plenty of nice horses behind us.”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” trainer Giles said. “I thought hisperformance was awesome especially coming back so quick from the trials and the strong headwind the he qualified in. His race today was exceptional.”

Owner John Lee said for fans to expect KJ Desparado to return for the Rainbow Derby mid-summer with trials scheduled for July 10. “We’d like to keep him going as long as he’s healthy and tells us he’s ready.”

KJ Desparado won by more than two-lengths over Muy Peligrosito who finished second and Kiss The Cartel who finished third. Lethal Avenger, the second betting choice, broke in the air out of the starting gate to finish seventh. The gelding paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.40 in a winning time of 19.344 seconds for 400-yards. KJ Desparado is sired by Apollitical Jess out of the mare Tres Veses by Tres Seis.

Racing continues on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs with the running of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity. First post time is 1 p.m.