Cartel Quick, under jockey Tanner Thedford, winning the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday afternoon.

Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO, NM—JUNE 10, 2013—Sad news in the world of Quarter Horse racing today as Sergio Enriquez’s Cartel Quick was euthanized early this morning due to kidney failure, according to his trainer Alonso Orozco.

The two-year-old son of Teller Cartel had won the first leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown on Sunday by pulling off the upset win in the $750,000 G1 Ruidoso Futurity. Due to the win, Cartel Quick was eligible for the $4 Million All American Triple Crown Bonus.

“He did not come out of the race in good shape at all,” said winning trainer Alonso Orozco. “The veterinarians drew blood on him, and the results came back that he was having massive kidney failure, and the decision to humanely put him down was made. It is a huge loss to us. He is without a doubt the best horse I have ever been around, as well as the best horse I have ever trained."

An autopsy is reportedly being performed to figure out why this has happened.

It was reported that after the Grade 1 victory, that the colt did not make it back to the winners enclosure after pulling up due to stress and exhaustion. In accordance to New Mexico racing rules and procedures, he was vanned off the racetrack for the horse's welfare. If was also reported that he was cooled down with buckets of water before walking into the van.

Cartel Quick was a $10,000 2012 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase. His dam is the stakes-place Royal Quick Dash mare Beccas Quick Six, who was a finalist in the 2000 edition of the All American Futurity(G1).