All-time leading money earning Quarter Horse Kj Desparado and jockey Adrian Ramos in the post parade for the 2023 $250,000 All American Gold Cup(G1) at Ruidoso Downs Monday.

© Speedhorse Magazine

THATCHER, AZ–SEPTEMBER 6, 2023–Lorretta Brasher, Executive Director of the Arizona Quarter Horse Racing Association, sent us a "fun fact" today about this photograph taken Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs.

Shot on Monday during the post-parade for the $250,0000 All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs, the photo is of eventual winner and all-time leading money earner Kj Desparado.

Owned by Arizona residents John and Kay Lee and Ruben Mares, the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess was also bred in Arizona by L&L Land & Cattle from the Tres Seis mare Tres Veses.

The "fun fact" about this photo, courtesy of Speedhorse Magazine, is the horse ponying Kj Desparado is also an Arizona Bred named Party Crashin and the pony girl is Arizonan Kristi Herbig.

Matt Fales bred Party Crashin, a son of Royal Shake Em from the Takin On The Cash mare Watchin The Rain.  

Kj Desparado has won 14 for 20 lifetime starts and earned $2,906,599.  The two-time champion is a five-time Grade 1 winner included the All American Futurity, Texas Classic Futurity, Ruidoso Derby, Texas Classic Derby and All American Gold Cup.

Susan Bachelor, Linda Earley Myriam Mayna were on hand at Ruidoso Downs last weekend shooting coverage of the 2023 All American Futurity weekend for Speedhorse Magazine. Entire coverage can be found on the Speedhorse Facebook page.