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KJ Bad Moon Rising Rallies to Capture $80,700 Jess Burner Stakes at Albuquerque Downs
Kj Bad Moon Rising, under jockey Luis Valenzuela, won the $80,700 Jess Burner Stakes for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday.

© Coady Media
KJ Bad Moon Rising Rallies to Capture $80,700 Jess Burner Stakes at Albuquerque Downs

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—MAY 30, 2026—KJ Bad Moon Rising surged late to defeat Harken by a neck in the $80,700 Jess Burner Stakes for New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday.

Covering 400 yards in :18.962 over a fast track, the 4-year-old gelding earned a 106 speed index and collected the winner’s share of $46,806.

Owned-and-bred by John and Kathy Lee and trained by Wesley Giles, KJ Bad Moon Rising was ridden by Luis Valenzuela. The bay gelding is by leading third-crop sire KJ Mucho Macho Man out of KJ Kiss Me Goodbye, by First Moonflash.

The winning connections of Kj Bad Moon Rising accept the Jess Burner Stakes trophy on Saturday. © Coady Media

KJ Bad Moon Rising rallied from just off the pace and finished strongly to secure the stakes victory. A multiple graded winner, the bay gelding has banked almost $1.38 million off eight wins in 17 starts.

Harken, a 4-year-old gelding by leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Donelli, finished second and earned $16,140. Owned by Alepony LLC, trained by Salvador Soto and ridden by Jesse Levario, Harken was bred by MJ Farms.

Another nose back in third was Alamos, a 4-year-old MJ Farms' bred gelding by Eye Am King out of the Woodbridge mare Anakena. Owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, trained by Tony Sedillo, and ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr., Alamos earned $8,070.

Pavel finished fourth, followed by The Calling, Da Edge of Gray, RC Corona King, Lookin For Cartel, Woody Rocks and Real Runaway Rime.

The Jess Burner Stakes carried a purse of $80,700 and was contested under clear skies with a crosswind and temperatures of 84 degrees. KJ Bad Moon Rising returned $13.00 to win as the third wagering choice in the field of 10.

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