All-time leading money earner Kj Desparado headlines the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on Sunday

© Dustin Orona Photography

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM–JANUARY 28, 2025–KJ Desparado, American Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading money earner, will make his 6-year-old season debut in Sunday's 440-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1).

A homebred son of world champion Apollitical Jess trained by Wes Giles for owners John Lee, Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares, KJ Desparado sports a career bankroll of $3,270,109 from 28 races. The brown gelding is coming off of a 5-year-old season during which he won the November 15, 440-yard Refrigerator Invitational Championship (G1) at Lone Star Park.

KJ Desparado was the sport's champion 3-year-old in 2022. The gelding drew post four and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

KJ Desparado's six opponents include Shakers No Secret, a 5-year-old Five Bar Cartel gelding trained by Marc Jungers for owners Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover. Shakers No Secret scored a neck victory in last year's 440-yard, $278,000 AQHA Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs, and he ended his season with a third-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Empressum, in the December 14, $600000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos.

Shakers No Secret drew the rail post and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.

The complete lineup, in post position order, including jockey assignments:
Shakers No Secret (Christian Ramos)
Vegas Trick (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
Jeriko (Francisco Calderon)
KJ Desparado (Adrian Ramos)
Trusty Jess (Jesse Levario)
KJ Wildthang (James Flores)
Hes Judgeandjury (Rodrigo Vallejo)

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

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