10/13/2025
John and Kathy Lee’s homebred KJ Bad Moon Rising picked up another major stakes win on Sunday at The Downs at Albuquerque as the KJ Mucho Macho Man gelding captured the $419,753 New Mexico State Fair Derby (RG2) for state-breds. With Noe Garcia Jr. up for trainer Wes Giles, KJ Bad Moon Rising prevailed by a head as the 3-5 favorite and earned a 97 speed index for his 400-yard effort timed in :19.315.
KJ Bad Moon Rising completed a double with this win as he also took last year’s $1,160,420 New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG2). The gelding’s 2-year-old campaign also included a third-place finish in the $368,451 Zia Futurity (RG1) and second-place finish in the $3-million All American Futurity (G1). The gelding now has a record of 13-7-3-1 with earnings of $1,322,879.
Row By Row, a Big Daddy Cartel gelding running for Tungsten Racing Partnership and Fierro EJ Racing Stables LLC, had the early lead and held on to finish second with Sergio Becerra Jr. aboard for conditioner Ramon Mendoza. Tungsten Racing Partnership also owns third-place finisher Eye Im Flashin, an Eye Am King gelding ridden by Luis Martinez for trainer Tony Sedillo.
Photo by Coady Media
