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KJ Desparado’s winning connections include owners John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares, trainer Wes Giles and jockey Adrian Ramos.
AQHA’s No. 1 all-time leading money earner. He surpassed Ochoa earlier this year following an allowance score at Ruidoso Downs in his seasonal debut in August. Ochoa had amassed earnings of $2,781,365. KJ Desparado now boasts earnings of $3,042,599.
“It’s never easy. We’re always hopeful that he is going to run his race,” said John Lee.
“If he runs his race, he outruns everybody. Sometimes, horses don’t run their race. You just never know. He is one of those horse that doesn’t come around very often.”
KJ Desparado, a two-time AQHA Champion in 2022—Champion 3 Year Old and Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding, has shined brightest in the biggest races, having won such events as the All American Futurity-G1, the All American Gold Cup-G1, Ruidoso Derby-G1, and the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 in a stellar racing career. Bred by the Lees’ L&L Land and Cattle, KJ Desparado is out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Vesses. The dam has produced six winners from eight starters, including stakes placed Hardtokiss who finished second in the New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby. KJ Desparado is her only stakes winner.
“He’s never been beaten at Lone Star,” Lee said. “He’s won all his races there by daylight. He likes that track a lot. It’s incredible (to have a horse like KJ Desparado). I never expected it. You just don’t ever expect to have one like him.”
Runner-up Hesa Party Wagon (Hes Relentless-Lil Miss Party Doll) finished a determined second under jockey Noe Garcia Jr. The 5-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Juan Manuel Baeza. A three-time
stakes winner, Hesa Party Wagon has eight career wins. He was bred in Oklahoma by Buddy Albin and was purchased by Baeza for $8,000 at the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The horse has now earned more than $300,000 for Baeza.
Getthere Fast (Tempting Dash-Get There) and jockey Bryan Candanosa finished third, just a nose behind the runner-up. Simmons Racing owns the 3-year-old gelding who is trained by Toby Keeton. A four-time winner, Getthere Fast finished second in last year’s Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and was third in the
Rainbow Futurity-G1. Getthere Fast was bred in Texas by JCJ Racing.
Jess The Leader (Jess Louisiana Blue-Cartel Leader), One Fabulous Boy (One Fabulous Eagle-Check Out Kaelie), Shakers No Secret (Five Bar Cartel-Shaker Secret), Tic It To The Dance (Mr Jess Perry-Double Down Darling), Uncle Eds Idea (Dominyun-Mystical Eye),
Jet Black Grace (Jet Black Patriot-Thrill And Grace), and Lil Pete El Soruyo (Lil Kool Wagon-Pistolpaknprincess) completed the order of finish. A Famous Ribbon and Won Famous Dash were scratched.
KJ Desparado is pictured in the winner’s circle.
SPEEDHORSE
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RACING NEWS
Mryiam Maynard, Speedhorse Dustin Orona Photography