RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 7, 2022–Third times charm for the Quarter Horse 2-year-old Kj Daddys Money. 

The daughter of leading sire Big Daddy Cartel made her third stakes appearance this year a winning one today when she defeated post time favorite Pick Your Pour by threequarters in the $379,527 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity(RG1) at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

Under jockey Cordarelton Benn, Kj Daddys Money edged away as she avoided some bumping going on in the middle of track. The bay filly was clocked in :19.724 seconds, a 93 speed index, into a 5 mph crosswind, for the 400 yard distance. 

"She put the peddle to the metal," jockey CJ Benn said in the winner's circle. "She was a little edgy in the gates but when they opened she was focused and had plenty of speed to get the job done."

Trainer Wesley Giles saddled Kj Daddys Money to her second in win six starts for owner-breeders John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares.  She earned $163,070 for today's winning effort. At 14-1 odds Kj Daddys Money rewarded backers with a $29,60 win payoff, $11.20 to place and $6 to show.

Bred from the First Moonflash mare Kj Kiss Me Goodbye, Kj Daddys Money was third in the New Mexico Spring Fling Stakes in April and a finalist in the RG2 Mountain Top QH Futurity at Ruidoso last month. She has banked $186,542 this season.

KJ Daddys Money is expected to head to Albuquerque Downs for a futurity event in the fall for his next start.

After reviewing the tape, stewards swapped places with the second and third place finishers. Doing Something Good, who bumped Pick Your Pour repeatedly, was moved to the show position.

Post time favorite Pick Your Pour earned $69,337 after moving up to second-place. Trainer James Gonzalez, II named Mario Delgado to ride the $25,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate for owners Orlando Granillo, Azucena Mendoza and Rene Mendoza.

MJ Farms bred the son of multiple stakes sire Jesse James Jr from the Dash To Fame mare Tangled Vines. It was the first loss in four starts for the sorrel gelding who won the Mountain Top QH Futurity(RG2) on July 15th.  He has earned $223,974 this year.

Doing Something Good had to settle for $38,826 after getting moved back to third-place for interference. Jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., who walked away from a spill in the Zia QH Juvenile earlier in the card, had the riding call aboard the Big Daddy Cartel gelding for owner J and SM, Inc.

Trainer Fred Danley saddled the $110,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. MJ Farms bred the two-time winner from the Pappasito mare Start Something Bad. He has earned $57,501 in six starts this year. Doing Something Good was third in the Mountain Top QH Juvenile and a finalist in the New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) earlier this year.

Codex, Reef Ridge, Elisas Esperance, Demi Leigh, Verstappen and Jess A Response completed the field.

Racing continues next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Ruidoso Downs with first post at 1 p.m. (MDT). Next weekend is the Chile the Kid Beer and Wine Festival in the Santa Fe Furniture Event Center. For more information visit www.raceruidoso.com.