Staff report
Hestan and jockey Jose Enriquez grabbed an early lead and held off heavily favored Baby Daddy Cartel by a neck to win the $375,000 Zia Futurity for New Mexico-bred two-year-olds on Sunday at Downs of Albuquerque.
The gelding covered 400-yards in 19.087 seconds for Tungsten Racing Partnership (Marcelino Gonzalez) and Rancho El 48 LLC. The winning trainer is Omar Vargas. Hestan is sired by Eye Am King out of the mare Donelli (Big Daddy Cartel) and was purchased at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $200,000. Heston has won three of four career starts, and paid $56.80, $26.60 and 8.00.
Jockey Jose Enriquez rides atop Hestan during the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity on Saturday, July 19.
The $50,000 Zia Juvenile was won by Big Ted and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. by two-and-a-half lengths, running 400-yards in 19.256 seconds. Big Ted is also owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and trained by Vargas.
Big Ted is sired by Tf Im That Guy out of the mare Shez Jessa Scooter (Heza Motor Scooter), and paid $3.40, $3.20 and $2.20.
Sunday’s $75,000 Zia 870 Championship was won by West Tx Rain and jockey Christian Cardenas by a half-length in a time of 44.769 seconds for 870-yards.
The five-year-old thoroughbred gelding is owned by Kathy Grine and Gene and Reyes Garcia, and paid $26.00, $6.40 and $4.00. Eugene Garcia is the winning trainer.
On Saturday, King Estate and Jockey Cardenas won the $200,000 Zia Derby for three-year-old quarter horses at 400-yards in a time of 19.219 seconds.
King Estate pushes hard to take first at the Zia Quarter Horse Stakes on Saturday, July 18.
King Estate is owned by Lifes A Dream Farm and Racing LLC, and trained by Rudy Valles. The gelding is sired by Eye Am King out of the mare Curlie Cue (First Down Dash) and paid $11.80, $5.60 and $5.20.
Saturday’s running of the $75,000 Zia Stakes for quarter horses three-year-olds and older was won by KJ Bad Moon Rising and jockey Noe Garcia Jr., by a head in a 400-yards time of 19.073 seconds.
KJ Bad Moon Rising is owned by John and Kathy Lee and trained by Wes Giles. The gelding is sired by KJ Mucho Macho Man out of the mare KJ Kiss Me Goodbye (First Moonflash) and paid $7.40, $4.80 and $3.80.
Those associated with Hestan gather in the winner’s circle after the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity on Sunday, July 19.
Those associated with King Estate gather in the winner’s circle after the Zia Quarter Horse Stakes on Saturday, July 19.
Jockey Christian Cardenas celebrates on top of King Estate after the Zia Quarter Horse Stakes on Saturday, July, 18.
