Lethal Avenger, KJ Desparado top qualifiers for upcoming Ruidoso Derby

Lethal Avenger and 2021 All American Futurity Champion KJ Desparado are the top two qualifiers for the $850,000 Ruidoso Derby after this weekend's trials at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.

The Ruidoso Derby is set for June 11.

On a day where windy conditions dominated, Lethal Avenger romped home a three-length winner in the fourth race under a 16-mile-per-hour headwind. The gelding won for the fifth consecutive time including a victory in the West Texas Derby on Feb. 5 at Sunland Park.

“My horse got away good and when that happened he gets rolling and all cranked up,” trainer Fred Danley said. “It takes a lot to ask these horses to run in such a headwind, but you can’t do anything about mother nature. It didn’t seem to bother him today.”

Lethal Avenger is sired by Volcom out of the mare Lethal Class by Tres Seis. The gelding is owned by J & SM Inc. (Sue May), and Don and Lane Reynolds. The public made Lethal Avenger a heavy favorite paying $3.80, $3.20 and $2.40 in the fastest time of the day, 19.946 seconds for 400 yards.

KJ Desparado, who had not raced since winning the Texas Futurity at Lone Star Park in November, broke sharply and came home a two-length winner in the eighth race in a 20-mile-per-hour headwind on Sunday.  His second-fastest time of the day was 20.024 seconds with jockey Adrian Ramos on board.

It was a fifth consecutive win for the gelding dating back to his trial race for the All American Futurity last August at Ruidoso Downs.

KJ Desparado is owned by John and Kathy Lee and Reuben Mares and has career earnings of more than $2.1 million.

Other horses that qualified for the June 11 final include: The Big Favorite in 20.181 seconds; Muy Peligrosito in 20.315 seconds; Mperativ in 20.318 seconds; Mr Apollo Jess in 20.354 seconds; Tommie Eagle in 20.357 seconds; Double Duty in 20.357 seconds; and Kiss the Cartel in 20.362 seconds.

There will be a shake in the racing office on Monday to determine the final qualifier as Throwin Sumoke and Six Shaker were clocked with the exact same time of 20.374 seconds.

Ruidoso Futurity trials Day 1

On Friday, Chasing AJ Becomes Top Qualifier on the first day of trials of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity.

Chasing AJ broke sharp and won by 1 and 1/2 lengths in the fourth race Friday.

“He was acting a little crazy warming up,” jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo said after the race. “But as soon as we went into the gate the horse settled down and did everything perfectly.”

“That’s the way he’s been from the start,” trainer Health Taylor said. “It’s something to do with his mouth — he doesn’t want anyone messing with it and that’s why he acts that way. He’s a bit of a fighter and will give back when he’s tested.”

Chasing AJ, sired by Apollitical Jess out of the mare Eye On This Candy, ran the 350-yards in a time of 17.797 seconds.

The other qualifiers on Friday include: BV Higher Power in 17.881 seconds (Eddie Lee Willis trainer, Ruben Castro jockey), Laveen Eagle in 17.885 seconds (Rigoberto Guillen trainer, Emilio Tapia jockey), Getthere Fast in 17.889 seconds (Toby Keeton trainer, Bryan Candanosa jockey) and Powerful in 17.906 seconds (Eric Valenzuela trainer, Sergio Becerra, Jr. jockey).

Chasing AJ also had the fastest time during training races on May 11 at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is owned by Steve Holt.

Ruidoso Futurity trials Day 2

Otts Boy, a two-year-old gelding that was homebred by his owner Luke Goebel, ran the fastest qualifying time of the day Saturday during the second day of trials for the Ruidoso Futurity.

It was a second straight career win for the youngster that was named after Luke’s father Otto Goebel who raced horses for decades and owned Otts Boy’s sire, Mr Ottyes. Otto passed away in 2014, and when the horse was born, Luke decided to name it in honor of his father.

“I knew this horse might be special when he was born,” said Luke, who raised the horse on his ranch in Three Rivers, Texas. “We’ve never been in a stakes final like this before—this is a big deal to our family.”

Otts Boy won the 13th race covering the 350-yards in a time of 17.846 seconds with Jockey Ramon Sanchez on board for Keeton.

“The horse was very quiet warming up and going into the gate,” Sanchez said. “He was very professional about his business.”

A strong headwind was a factor in both days of qualifying for the Ruidoso Futurity, especially on Saturday which impacted the race times. Taylor qualified a second horse for the June 12 final, Hes Judgeandjury as did Valenzuela who qualified Beneficial. Other second day qualifiers for the Ruidoso Futurity were Lota Hot Mess for trainer Gerald Ree and Ride Around for trainer Xavier Rodriguez.

The final for the Ruidoso Futurity is June 12.

More: Horse racing set to begin at Ruidoso Downs

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Lethal Avenger, KJ Desparado top qualifiers for Ruidoso Derby