Alamos surged late under jockey Mauro Salcedo to capture Saturday’s $201,725 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred QH Derby at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JUNE 14, 2025–Alamos, a sorrel gelding by leading New Mexico sire Eye Am King out of Anakena by Woodbridge, surged late under jockey Mauro Salcedo to capture Saturday’s $201,725 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Quarter Horse Derby at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

The three-year-old, bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms and purchased for $185,000 at the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale is trained by Tony Sedillo for owner Tungsten Racing Partnership.

Alamos stopped the clock in 17.458 seconds for the 350-yard test over a fast track, earning a speed index of 95 in the effort. Battling a headwind at 9 mph, the gelding overcame a fifth-place break to close with authority and score by a half-length margin. The win was worth $86,675 to his connections boosted his bankroll to more than $109,000.

Last season he was a finalist in the restricted Grade 1 Zia Futurity at Ruidoso.

The winning connections of Alamos accept the Ruidoso Mountain Top QH New Mexico Bred Derby stakes trophy on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.
© Coady Media

Finishing second was Eye For Cambria, a sorrel filly also by Eye Am King, out of Fdd Cambria by FDD Dynasty. She is bred by MJ Farms and owned by the partnership of Ellison Carter, and Jeff Bourquin. Trained by James Gonzales III and ridden by champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, Eye For Cambria earned $37,146. The filly, purchased for $15,000 purchase from the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale has earned $104,035.

Third place went to Row By Row, a gray gelding by Big Daddy Cartel out of Anakena by Woodbridge. Also bred by MJ Farms and racing for Tungsten Racing Partnership, the colt is trained by Ramon Mendoza and was piloted by Luis Flores-Garcia.

RowBy Row, a $60,000 buy from the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, showed early speed but bore out late and weakened, settling for $20,637 in earnings. Second in the New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) and fourth in the recent New Mexico Breeders' Stakes(RG3) has earned $144,299.

The official margins were a half-length from first to second, a nose from second to third, and a neck back to fourth.

Alamos, under Jockey Mauro Salcedo, returns to the winner's circle after capturing Saturday's Mountain Top New Mexico Bred QH Derby. © Coady Media

Pari-mutuel payoffs for the race reflected Alamos' status as a mid-range contender at 11.10-to-1. He returned $24.20 to win, $9.40 to place, and $7.00 to show. Eye for Cambria paid $8.20 and $4.80, while Row by Row returned $5.20 to show. The $1.00 exacta (10-8) paid $74.90, the $1.00 trifecta (10-8-4) returned $654.00, and the $0.10 superfecta (10-8-4-1) yielded $150.84.

The complete order of finish included Eye Im Flashin (4th), Harken (5th), Myy Flashn Denali (6th), Bout Damn Time (7th), Two Macho for You (8th), and Youlovemetoo (9th). King Seis was scratched by the veterinarian prior to post time.

The stewards reviewed a foul claim lodged by the trainer of Myy Flashn Denali alleging interference in the late stretch by Eye For Cambria, but the result was not altered after review.

Saturday’s Derby concluded before a crowd of 2,729 on a cloudy 88-degree afternoon. Total wagering handle reached $444,625, with $136,439 from intrastate betting and $308,186 wagered from out-of-state locations.

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