Kj Bad Moon Rising, under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., won the $75,000 Zia Quarter Horse Stakes on Saturday at the Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — JULY 18, 2026 —Homebred KJ Bad Moon Rising dug in through the final strides to hold off a determined Pavel by a head in Saturday's Grade 2 $75,000 Zia Quarter Horse Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque, giving owners and breeders John and Kathy Lee another marquee victory with their standout New Mexico-bred gelding.

The 4-year-old covered 400 yards in 19.073, earning a 103 speed index over a fast track with a 5 mph headwind while collecting the winner's share of $45,000.

Trained by Wesley Giles and ridden by Noe Garcia Jr., KJ Bad Moon Rising broke alertly from the gate, seized command early, and refused to yield despite sustained pressure from Pavel throughout the stretch. The son of leading third-crop sire KJ Mucho Macho Man out of KJ Kiss Me Goodbye, by First Moonflash, improved his career record to 18 starts with nine wins, four seconds, and one third, while boosting his lifetime bankroll to $1,424,856. He entered the race off a win in the Jess Burner Memorial Stakes (RG2) in his last start May 30.

The winning connections of Js Kj Bad Moon Rising accept the Zia Quarter Horse Stakes trophy at The Downs at Albuquerque. © Coady Media

Pavel finished a game second, just a head behind the winner, earning $15,000. The 4-year-old bay gelding by Czar Cartel MV out of Camelia, by Tempting Dash, was bred in New Mexico by MRB Racing LLC and races for Francisco Hernandez. Trained by David Gomez-Barraza and ridden by Luis Martinez, Pavel was close throughout before falling just short at the wire. A $6,000 purchase at the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico Sale, he increased his career earnings to $449,878 with the runner-up effort.

Another head back in third was Alamos, who closed willingly to finish just a nose behind Pavel while earning $7,500. The 4-year-old sorrel gelding by Eye Am King out of Anakena, by Woodbridge, was bred by MJ Farms and races for Tungsten Racing Partnership. Tony Sedillo conditions the gelding, who was ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr. Alamos was a $185,000 graduate of the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico Sale and now sports career earnings of $199,291.

Completing the order of finish were Harken (4th), Pick Your Pour (5th), RC Corona King (6th), and Streakin Eye Effort (7th).

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