Saturday, April 4, 2026
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Bridger rallies late and wins a thrilling $389,493 New Mexican Spring Futurity
Bridger rallied in the final strides under jockey Luis Angel Flores Garcia and prevailed narrowly in a thrilling conclusion of the 30th running of $389,493 New Mexican Spring Futurity.
The 2-year-old son of Eye Am King was a handful in the gate prior to the start, broke alertly but had to be called upon late to run down Bogarts Brown Sugar and jockey Luis Martinez to win by a head in a time of 15.25 seconds for 300 yards.
Saddled by Sunland Park’s leading quarter horse trainer Eric Valenzuela, Bridger was purchased at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $155,000. He won his trial for the New Mexican Spring Futurity over this course in his debut last month and was the fastest qualifier for the finals. His win in the NM Spring Futurity improves his record to two wins from two starts with earnings of more than $189,000.
Owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Rancho El 48 LLC and bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Bridger paid back $4.40 to his winning backers as the 6-to-5 post time favorite. Bogarts Brown Sugar held the place and prompted a $30.80 exacta for the top two finishers. Big Ted, also trained by Valenzuela finished third with Bigg Twist rounding out the top four finishers.
Lil Kool Panther proves best in upset score in $353,471 Grade 2 West Texas Futurity
Lil Kool Panther, ridden by Jesse Levario, scored a massive upset win in the 66th edition of the Grade 2 $353,471 West Texas Futurity for trainer Alberto Amparan.
The Texas-bred colt by Lil Kool Wagon broke well from the gate and had something left in the final yards to hold off an oncoming Tempting Lu at the wire, winning by a neck and racing 300 yards in a time of 15.32 seconds.
Lil Kool Panther, owned by Amparan Racing Stables LLC, was a $15,000 purchase at last year’s TQHA Yearling Sale. He won his trial narrowly here last month and now has two wins from two starts with earnings topping $170,000.
Sent off at odds of 21-to-1, Lil Kool Panther paid $44 to win, while the $2 exacta with runnerup Tempting Lu returning $150.20. Chief Keef 123 finishd third with Cowgirl Eats Fire rounding out the top four finishers.
Hendry pulls clear late in $100,000 West Texas Juvenile Stakes
Hendry was a convincing winner in Saturday’s 22nd running of the $100,000 West Texas Juvenile Stakes, winning clear in the final yards under Oscar Andrade, Jr.
Trained by Tony Sedillo for owners Tungsten Racing Partnership, Hendry got into full stride shortly after the start and blew past his rivals nearing the wire, scoring by a length in a time of 15.17 seconds for 300 yards.
The son of Fdd Dynasty was a $165,000 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale from breeders MJ Farms. He qualified for the Juvenile finishing a close second in his career debut in a trial for the West Texas Futurity. His win in the Juvenile gives him one win from two starts with earnings of more than $48,000.
Sent off at odds of 5-to-1, Hendry returned $12 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Flying Cowboys Candy, also trained by Sedillo, paid back $187. Post time favorite Promising finished third with Bandido 123 rounding out the top four finishers.
Baby Daddy Cartel springs upset in $100,000 New Mexican Spring Fling
Baby Daddy Cartel sprang the upset in Saturday’s 20th running of the $100,000 New Mexican Spring Fling, winning convincingly under jockey Luis Angel Flores Garcia.
The 2-year-old son of Big Daddy Cartel, trained by Eric Valenzuela, broke alertly from the starting gate and was edging clear of his rivals in the final yards, stopping the clock in 15.24 seconds for 300 yards and winning by 1 1-4 lengths.
Baby Daddy Cartel earned a spot in the starting gate for the New Mexican Spring Fling finishing third in a trial heat held here on March 14, finishing among the second-fastest set of qualifiers behind those which qualified for the finals. Baby Daddy Cartel now has one win from two starts and earnings of more than $48,000.
Bred in New Mexico by Paul P Cervantes and owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, Baby Daddy Cartel was sent off at odds of 11-to-1 and returned $24 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with runner-up Ima China Girl paid back $404.80. King’s Landing settled for third with First Flash Beauty rounding out the top four finishers.
Post time favorite Start Big was away slowly from the gate and finished last in the 10-horse field.
CQ Coyame Jessy rallies late to capture $80,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes
CQ Coyame Jessy wore down early leader Dads On A Roll in the final yards of the 33rd running of the $80,000 the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association Quarter Horse Stakes.
Ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. for trainer Wes Giles and owner Israel Bordier, CQ Coyame Jessy rallied in the final 100 yards, gradually slipping past Dads On A Roll, ridden by Jesse Levario to win by a half-length, stopping the clock in 19.64 seconds for 400 yards.
CQ Coyame Jessy, a 3-year-old son of Big Daddy Cartel bred in New Mexico by Carlos Paez & Israel Bordier, earned the first stakes win of his career with his victory in the NMHBA QH Stakes. He was third in the New Mexico Classic Futurity last November at Zia Park in his most recent start. Saturday’s win improves his career mark to three wins from nine starts and earnings topping $169,000.
Sent off at odds of 2.30-to-1, CQ Coyame Jessy returned $6.60 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with the top two finishers paid back $32.80. Post time favorite Holliday settled for third with Triple 7 rounding out the top four finishers.
Sunday’s closing day program features three stakes races headlined by the $250,000 Casa Ford/Sunland Park Handicap, as well as the $175,000 Mine That Bird Derby and the $100,000 New Mexico State University Stakes. First post time for the final 12-race jumbo program of the season is 12:25 p.m.
