Under jockey Christian Cardenas, Bad King won the $90,000 Pepsi Cola Stakes (RG3) at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino on Saturday.

© Coady Media

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 15, 2025–Let go at odds of 18-1, restricted G2-placed Bad King got his first career stakes win on Saturday when he defeated Flash Devine by a half-length in the $90,000 Pepsi Cola Stakes (RG3) at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Jockey Christian Cardenas rode the son of leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King to a wire-to-wire win while completing the 350 yards in 17.101 seconds, a 101-speed index with a 15 mph tailwind.

Trainer James J. Gonzales III saddled the 4-year-old to his fourth career win in 14 starts for the partnership of Nove Racing LLC, Triple R Racing Stables LLC, Antoinette Gonzales, and Patricio Venzor.

The winning connections of Bad Kin accept the Pepsi Cola Stakes trophy at Sunland Park on Saturday.© Cody Media

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, from the Pappasito mare Start Somethin Bad, Bad King used the $54,000 winner's purse to increase his earnings to $340,890. Bad King was second in the New Mexico State Fair Futurity(RG2) at 2.

Multiple restricted RG2-placed Flash Devine, ridden by jockey Luis Martinez, earned $18,000 for finishing second. Ricard Sedillo conditions the son of champion First Moonflash for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez. Vasquez co-bred the 5-year-old horse with Jimmy Negrete from the Man On The Move mare Girlonthego. Flash Devine has earned $190,922 in 19 career starts.

Multiple restricted graded stakes winner Jesses Wish, under champion jockey James Flores, finished a nose back to earn $9,000 for third. Trainer Jose DeHerrera saddled the son of Jesse James Jr for owners Javier Chavez and Heysol Howlet. MJ Farms bred the $291,767 earner in New Mexico from the Stel Corona mare Wish You Had One To.

Bad King rewarded his backers with a $38.80 win payoff, $19 to place, and $11.80 to show. The 2-10 Exacta paid $149.40 and the 2-10-4 Trifecta returned $1,533.50.

The Calling, White Lightenin, Big Crush Bb, Just En King, White Knight, Jesses Dinero, and Doing Something Good completed the field.

Sunday is Sunland Park's biggest day. The $400,000 Sunland Derby will be the 9th of 10 races. The Kentucky Derby prep race is one of the best ever. Bob Baffert's Getaway Car is the 9-5 morning line favorite. He comes with Grade 1 stakes experience. In total, 5 big stakes will be carded.

Post time is 12:25 p.m. (MST) for the all-Thoroughbred program.