John and Kathy Lee, co-owners of All American Futurity champion KJ Desparado, were on their way home to their ranch in Chandler, Arizona today. That’s a long-enough drive to think about what happened this summer at the races and also time to talk about the immediate and long-term future for their new racing star.

Kj Desparado got up in the final strides to win the $3 million All American Futurity Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track before a crowd of thousands who attended the final day of the 2021 racing season.

Instygator, a three-year-old gelding, turned the tables on triple crown hopeful Empressum and won the $929,225 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Sunday.

AQHA Reigning World Champion Whistle Stop Café will be retired following her appearance on Sunday in the $439,884 All American Oaks according to her owner Lainie Whitmire of Whitmire Ranch.

Thousands of racing fans are expected to witness this year’s $3 Million All American Futurity live at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Monday, Sept. 6th when Jess Savin Candy attempts to win the quarter horse racing triple crown.

Both Jess Savin Candy and Empressum, the two quarter horses that will be attempting to win a triple crown in the All American Futurity and Derby, both made appearances on the race track this morning at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurity champion Jess Savin Candy will wear the number-seven blanket in the gelding’s attempt at winning the first two-year-old triple crown in forty years in the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Labor Day, Sept. 6.

Wascallywittlewabbit, a six-year-old gelding, powered home a three-and-a-quarter-length winner in the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Saturday.

Handicapping Saturday's three Bank of America Racing Challenge qualifying races at Ruidoso Downs this Saturday becomes a bigger challenge than normal since weather forecasters are predicting a 60 percent chance of thundershowers.

Jess Savin Candy, quarter horse racing’s newest sensation, is getting plenty of rest and feed in the first few days following his victory and successful effort at qualifying for a triple crown attempt last Saturday in trials for the $3 million All American Futurity.

Empressum, a three-year-old gelding, withstood an off-track and stormed home a three-length winner in the eighth race Sunday to qualify for the $929,225 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Jess Savin Candy, a two-year-old gelding, will attempt to become only the second quarter horse in racing history to earn the two-year-old triple crown when he goes to post In the $3 million All American Futurity on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

KJ Desparado, a two-year-old gelding, broke sharply and dominated the field of quarter horses in the fifteenth and final race of the day to win and record the fastest time during qualifying trials for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Ruidoso and Rainbow Derby champ Empressum, a three-year-old gelding with six consecutive wins, has been entered in trials next Sunday for the $929,225 All American Derby as number-six in the eighth race of the day.

Mark’s Warrior, a two-year-old gelding, came from sixth place in the stretch to get up in time and win the $116,386 Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Sunday. Bella Dona paid $4.20, $3.00 and $3.00 in a winning time of 1:05.06 seconds for five-and-a-half furlongs. The filly is undefeated in three starts with earnings of approximately $75,000.

Here Comes Candy, a two-year-old filly, was the top qualifier Saturday in trials for the $84,243 John Deere Ruidoso Downs Quarter Horse Juvenile Trials.

Contender broke on top and led all the way in the sixth race Saturday afternoon to win and become the top qualifier in the $55,726 Adequan Derby Challenge Trials at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurity champ Jess Savin Candy was entered today in trials for the $3 million All American Futurity at 440-yards next weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and will compete in the fifth race as number-ten on Saturday.

Flashin Fire, a two-year-old gelding, overcame a sluggish last-place start to pass the entire field of horses in the final strides and win the $319,805 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity (GI) during the Zia Festival Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.

Bigg Dee, a three-year-old gelding, broke sharply and held off a late charge by Fanncee to win the $203,479 Zia Quarter Horse Derby (Grade II) Saturday afternoon during the Zia Festival at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Jess Savin Candy withstood sloppy track conditions and closed in the final strides to win by a nose in the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track Sunday. In the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes, longshot Shesa Relentless Gal, and jockey Raul Herrera upset the field of runners by winning at 22-1 odds in a time of 19.68 seconds for 400-yards.

Empressum broke from the gates on top and led throughout the tenth race Saturday winning the $678,253 Rainbow Derby by a length-and-a-half in a winning time of 21.13 seconds for 440-yards. Whistle Stop Café’s sire is Freighttrain B out of the mare Sinuous by Mr Jess Perry. The filly paid $3.80, $280 and $2.60 in winning the ninth race in a time of 21.37 seconds for 440-yards.

Out N Gone, a three-year-old gelding, dominated a field of Zia Derby contenders in the 5th trial race Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track by scoring a two-and-a-quarter length win in the fastest time of the day, 19.647 seconds for 400-yards.

Flashin Fire, a two-year-old gelding, survived a light bump out of the gate and picked up the pace down the stretch to win the fifth trial race of the afternoon at Ruidoso Downs Race Track Friday while being clocked with the fastest time of the day of 19.721 seconds for 400-yards.

Zia Festival – The Best of New Mexico-Bred Racing & Vendors. The Zia Festival is set to return to Ruidoso Downs Race Track from July 30 to August 1, 2021. The top New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses will compete for nearly $1 Million in purse money on the race track. Plus, scores of New Mexico arts and craft vendors make their annual appearance inside the grandstand of the race track and in a giant tent located next to Billy the Kid Casino.

Candy Blood, a three year-old gelding, broke from the outside post position and powered home a two-and-a quarter-length winner in the seventh race Sunday to qualify for the $678,253 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track in the fastest time of the day, 20.868 seconds for 440-yards.

Candy Dice, a two-year-old filly making only her second start of her career, recorded the fastest time of the day in the fourth trial race Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track giving trainer John Stinebaugh and jockey Francisco Calderon the top qualifying race horse for both trial days.

Jess Savin Candy, winner of the $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity last month, broke sharply and galloped home a winner in the thirteenth trial race Friday afternoon to qualify for the finals of the $1 Million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.