Kj Flying Cowgirl, ridden by Emilio Tapia, wins the $101,990 West Texas Maturity on Sunday in a photo finish over half-sister Kj Wicked Wanda.

© Coady Media

SUNLAND PARK, NM–MARCH 30, 2025–Trainer Wes Giles achieved an impressive feat on Sunday by saddling the top three finishers, all owned by owners John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares, in the $101,990 West Texas Maturity. Kj Flying Cowgirl emerged the victor in the 400-yard stakes at Sunland Park.

Kj Flying Cowgirl won the 400-yard stakes race, with her stablemates Kj Wicked Wanda and Kj Wildthang following closely behind in second and third place, respectively.

Bred by Lee and Mares in Arizona, Kj Flying Cowgirl and Kj Wicked Wanda are half-sisters. They are out of Kj Hotflash by First Moonflash and from the family of 2024 leading first-year-sire Kj Mucho Macho Man.

The half-sisters burst out of the gates in sync, running a thrilling nose-to-nose race that resulted in a photo finish at the wire for a double upset over the favorite Kj Wildthang.

The connections of Kj Flying Cowgirl accept the $101,990 West Texas Maturity trophy at Sunland Park on Sunday.
© Coady Media

Neither Kj Flying Cowgirl nor Kj Wicked Wanda had yet to win a race this year when they entered the Maturity finals. Kj Flying Cowgirl won by a nose, returning $33.40 for a 15-1 upset, while Kj Wicked Wanda yielded $13.80 to place on 21-1 odds.

Jockey Emilio Tapia rode Kj Flying Cowgirl to her fourth-place finish in the trials, returning for the mount in the finals. The four-year-old filly clocked a 101-speed index in 19.094 seconds with a 16 mph tailwind.

The $48,955 winner’s share of the purse increased Kj Flying Cowgirl’s earnings to $170,303 and improved her record to 3-5-4 from 17 starts. This is the first stakes victory for the daughter of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123.

Kj Flying Cowgirl placed third in the West Texas Futurity [G2] from her two-year-old campaign. She was a finalist in the All American Oaks [G1], All American Juvenile, and Rainbow Juvenile.

Christian Cardenas got the leg up aboard Kj Wicked Wanda. The five-year-old daughter of Apollitical Spirit clocked a 101-speed index in 19.096 seconds.

Kj Wicked Wanda has four wins from 23 starts with $213,165 in the bank, including the Four Corners Futurity from her freshman year.

Second fastest qualifier from the trials, Kj Wildthang was the wagering favorite before the start of the Maturity, paying $3.00 to show on 7-2 odds. Ridden by Christian Ramos, the six-year-old gelding broke first from the gates but fell back to the sisters by a 1/2 length at the wire for third.

The son of leading sire Apollitical Jess won the Zia Park Invitational Championship [G1] last December. Kj Wildthang has a record of 7-3-6 from 29 starts with $244,435 in earnings.

Lee & Sherwood Racing bred Kj Wildthang in Arizona out of the Tres Seis mare Wild Six.

Rc Corona King, Yippee Ki Yey, The Swamp, Jess Mr Mayito and Ajs Little Champ complete the order of finish.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.