Shakers No Secret (#1) holds of Kj Deparado in the Grade 1 $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon.

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SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 2, 2025–Multiple Grade 1 winner Shakers No Secret took the lead from Kj Deparado, then held off the all-time leading money earner by a neck to win the 23rd running of the Grade 1 $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon.

Under jockey Christian Ramos, Shakers No Secret completed the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards in 20.994 seconds, equaling a 103-speed index with a 5 mph tailwind.

Trainer Marc Jungers saddled the son of champion Five Bar Cartel to his 10th career win in 28 starts.  The $210,000 winner's purse boosted the 5-year-old's earnings to $712,414. 

"He's just an impressive racehorse," said Jungers after the festivities concluded in the winner's circle. "He just gets better and better every race."

Racing for owners Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez, and Manny Dutchover, Shakers No Secret entered the race off a runner-up effort in the Champion of Champions (G1) on December 14 to world champion Empressum. Prior to that start, he won the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship(G1) in Albuquerque last October.

Garlyn O. Shelton bred the gray gelding in Texas from the No Secrets Here mare Shaker Secret.

Runner-up Kj Desparado dueled throughout, just missing taking home $70,000 and increasing his all-time earnings record to $3,340,109. Wesley Giles trains the two-time AQHA Racing champion for owners Kathy Lee, John Lee, and Ruben Mares. L&L Land & Cattle bred the Apollitical Jess 6-year-old in Arizona from the Tres Seis mare Tres Veses.

Bumped at the start, Vegas Trick and jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., chased the leaders to pick up $35,000 for third. Racing for owner Marcelino Cuanda, the Oklahoma-bred son of champion Jess Good Candy entered the race off a win in the Hobbs America Invitational Derby on December 15 at Zia Park. Jesus Cuanda trains the gelding from the FDD Dynasty mare Mavara Vegas. Brid Ranch & Oil LP bred the $207,149 earner.

Shakers No Secret was sent off at odds of 3-to-1 and returned $8 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Kj Desparado paid back $27.20. 

Hes Judgeandjury, Kj Wildthang, and Jeriko completed the field. Jeriko sent off as the 4-to-5 post-time favorite, hopped a bit and was bumped just strides out of the starting gate.

Live racing returns Thursday at Sunland Park with a nine-race thoroughbred card. The first post is at 12:25 p.m. (MST).