Zia Park will host 12 stakes races on Sunday, including the James Isaac Hobbs-G2, King Rick Rack-G2, Lovington Stakes-G2, Zia Park Invitational-G1, Southwest Juvenile Invitational-G2 and Hobbs America Derby.

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI
HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 10, 2024–A total of 12 stakes will be contested on Zia Park’s all-Quarter Horse program on Sunday. Post time for the first race is set for 11:05 a.m. (MST). Following is a preview of the six open stakes, listed in the order they will be run.

James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2)
Double Bar S Ranch’s Cuz Lightyear heads a field of a dozen sprinters entered in Sunday’s 350-yard, $100,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes.

A homebred son of Corona Cartel trained by Toby Keeton, Cuz Lightyear will be shortening in distance off of his fifth-place finish, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Dashing Tres, in American Quarter Horse racing’s richest race for sophomores, the 440-yard, $1.041-million All American Derby (G1) at Albuquerque Downs on September 2. The colt was also a finalist in the sport’s richest race, last year’s $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Cuz Lightyear drew post 8 and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa.

King Rick Rack Stakes (G2)
A field of 10 distance specialists, led by reigning distance champion The Grand Legend and Grade 1 winner Volcoms Favorite, are entered in Sunday’s 870-yard, $100,000 King Rick Rack Stakes.

The Grand Legend is coming off of a clear 2 1/4-length victory in the November 2, $50,000 Let ‘Er Rip Lip Chip Stakes at Lone Star Park. The 8-year-old FDD Going Grand gelding won six of his eight outs during his ‘23 championship campaign, including the King Rick Rack Stakes. Adan Guzman trains The Grand Legend for owner James C. Whitener LLC.

The Grand Legend drew post 2 and will be ridden by Noe Villatoro.

Volcoms Favorite is a 5-year-old Jess Good Candy gelding trained by James Gonzales III for owner Nove Racing LLC, and he will be making his first lifetime start at Zia Park. Volcoms Favorite is coming off of a neck victory in the October 26, $119,000 Lip Chip Distance Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Volcoms Favorite drew post 3 and will be ridden by Irwin Rosendo.

Lovington Stakes (G2)
Aurelio Juarez’s FDD Cloud drew post 5 for Sunday’s 400-yard, $100,000 Lovington Stakes.

A 4-year-old son of FDD Going Grand trained by Omar Vargas, FDD Cloud will be shortening in distance off of his third-place run, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Out Of The Way, in the October 5, 440-yard Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

FDD Cloud will be ridden by Jose Enriquez.

Other contenders include Alepony LLC’s Arlie, a 4-year-old Corona Cartel gelding trained by Salvador Soto. Arlie made his local debut with a half-length victory in a 400-yard, $60,000 allowance dash on November 29.

Arlie drew post 4 and will be ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr.

Zia Park Invitational Stakes (G1)
Champion KJ Desparado, the sport’s all-time leading money earner, is scheduled to make his next start in Sunday’s 440-yard, $125,000 Zia Park Invitational Stakes.

A 5-year-old son of world champion Apollitical Jess trained by Wes Giles for owners John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares, KJ Desparado is coming off of a half-length victory in the November 16, 440-yard Refrigerator Invitational Championship (G1) at Lone Star Park, a race that he also won last year. This race will mark the gelding’s first career start at Zia Park, but he boasts a lifetime bankroll of $3,245,359 from 27 races, and he has won nine of his 15 outs at the classic quarter-mile distance.

KJ Desparado drew post 4 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

Southwest Juvenile Invitational Stakes (G2)
Eleven 2-year-olds, led by Hocksareback and Electrifying Cowboy, are entered in Sunday’s 400-yard, $100,000 Southwest Juvenile Invitational Stakes (G2).

Hocksareback is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Kiss My Maruska, in the October 5, $433,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G2) at Lone Star Park. A 65,000 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale, the gelded son of Kiss My Hocks drew post 10 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido for owner Cindi Keeton and trainer Toby Keeton.

Electrifying Cowboy will be making his first start since October 20, when the Flying Cowboy 123 colt dominated his competition with a four-length victory in the 400-yard, $386,000 La Fiesta Futurity (G3) at Albuquerque Downs. Ramon Mendoza trains Electrfiying Cowboy for owners Tungsten Racing Stables and Ronald Sugamosto.

Electrifying Cowboy drew post 3 and will be ridden by Luis A. Flores-Garcia.

Hobbs America Derby Invitational Stakes
A three-time Grade 1 finalist this year, Shoeless is one of a dozen sophomores entered in Sunday’s 400-yard, $100,000 Hobbs America Derby Invitational Stakes.

Shoeless is a gelded son of champion FDD Dynasty racing for Griffin Tiff Partnership from the barn of trainer Toby Keeton. Shoeless has banked $190,648 from seven starts this year, and he was a finalist in the Rainbow (G1) and All American (G1) derbies at Albuquerque Downs, and the Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Shoeless drew the rail post and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa.

All Zia Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

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