Luxurie enters the Grade 2 $175,000 Zia Quarter Horse Derby final as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after narrowly winning his trial by a nose, posting the fastest qualifying time.

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By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–JULY 17, 2026–Saturday evening at Albuquerque Downs will showcase the best of New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse racing, with a 10-race card starting at 6:05 p.m. The spotlight will be on two prestigious Grade 2 events, the $175,000 Zia Quarter Horse Derby and the $75,000 Zia Quarter Horse Stakes, featuring many of the state's top sophomores and older runners.

The featured Grade 2 $175,000 Zia Quarter Horse Derby will be run as race nine at approximately 9:25 p.m. The field of 10 New Mexico-bred three-year-olds earned their spots in the July 4 trial heats and will sprint 400 yards for one of the state's richest derby prizes.

Luxurie enters the final as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after narrowly winning his trial by a nose, posting the fastest qualifying time. The talented gelding has been flawless in his 2026 derby campaign, winning all three starts, including the Grade 3 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Derby in mid-June. As a two-year-old, he captured the Grade 2 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Futurity and qualified for the Grade 2 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity. With seven wins from nine career starts, he has earned $325,421 for Triple R Racing Stables, LLC, which purchased him for $300,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Luxurie is a son of Big Daddy Cartel, out of the Jesse James Jr. mare Astica. Rudolfo G. Valles trains the standout gelding, who will break from post five with Joseph Belloc Jr. in the saddle.

Pour Me a Drinkk has been installed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line following an impressive trial. Despite being bumped shortly after the start, the gelding rallied strongly, drew away to win by a length, and posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time. He has won two of his three starts this season, including a berth in the Grade 3 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Derby, and was runner-up in this year's Grade 2 Shue Fly Stakes. Throughout his career, he has won six of 11 starts and earned $246,060. His resume also includes a victory in the 2025 Grade 2 New Mexico Classic Futurity.

The son of Prospect to the Top is out of the First Moonflash mare First Cowgirl Flash and was bred in New Mexico by the late, legendary trainer Fred Danley. Racing for partners Bob McClure and Sandra K. Barrett, Pour Me a Drinkk is conditioned by Gerald E. Marr and will leave from post seven with James A. Flores aboard.

The stakes action begins one race earlier with the Grade 2 $75,000 Zia Quarter Horse Stakes in race eight at approximately 9:00 p.m. Seven New Mexico-bred runners, ages three and up, will compete over 400 yards in a highly competitive showdown.

Harken, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, heads the field. The four-year-old gelding enters off a game second-place finish in the Grade 2 Jess Burner Memorial Stakes, where he was beaten by only a neck by KJ Bad Moon Rising, who returns in this field from post six at 9-2 morning-line odds. Harken has consistently faced top competition, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 3 West Texas Derby and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Mountain Top Derby. He has compiled an outstanding record of nine wins and two runner-up finishes in 15 starts, earning $410,453 for Alepony, LLC, which purchased him for $145,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.

Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Harken is by Eye Am King and out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Donelli. Salvador R. Soto trains the talented gelding, who will break from post three with Gabriel Medrano aboard.

Saturday's program brings together many of the premier New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses currently in training. From an outstanding group of sophomores competing in the Grade 2 Zia Quarter Horse Derby to an accomplished field of older runners in the Grade 2 Zia Quarter Horse Stakes, fans can look forward to an exciting evening of championship-caliber racing at Albuquerque Downs.

The races at Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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