Jose Rojas’ RC Corona King scored the biggest win of his career on Saturday with a neck victory in the $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1). Sent off as the 5-2 favorite, the New Mexico-bred gelding by Eye Am King led throughout and held on to win in a time of :21.108 for a 99 speed index at 440 yards. Sergio Dominguez rode for trainer Gerardo Quinonez.

Bred by Baldemar Parra, RC Corona King is now a winner of eight of 26 lifetime starts with earnings of $622,199. This was his fifth stakes win during a career that also includes a victory in the $200,000 New Mexico Classic Championship Stakes (RG1) last year at Zia Park. The 5-year-old gelding came into this race after a second-place effort in the $70,000 First Moonflash Maturity (RG2) at Albuquerque in September. 

Trainer Wes Giles and owners John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares took second and third with KJ Wildthang just missing the victory and KJ Flying Cowgirl another half-length back.

KJ Wildthang, a gelding by Apollitical Jess, was seeking his second Grade 1 win after taking last year’s $125,000 Zia Park Invitational Championship Stakes. 

KJ Flying Cowgirl, a daughter of Flying Cowboy 123, won the $101,990 West Texas Maturity (G3) over KJ Wildthang in March at Sunland Park. 

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on X and on Instagram, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.