FARMINGTON – Judge Lanier Racing’s Driving Money found a late burst of energy under jockey Luis Valenzuela to win the $70,000 C.O. Kendrick Stakes on Sunday, closing day of the 2026 racing season at SunRay Park and Casino.
Trained by Dick Cappellucci, Driving Money dueled for the early lead with stablemate Vanishing Money in the 6 1/2-furlong event, appeared to lose the lead midway around the far turn, but found another gear in the final 100 yards to slip past Equity Search to win by a half-length. Driving Money stopped the clock in 1 minute, 18.97 seconds.
Driving Money, now perfect in two career starts after breaking his maiden by 7 lengths over this course April 25, is a 3-year-old son of Conquest Mo Money bred by McKenna Thoroughbreds. He is one of six thoroughbreds to win twice this season at Sunland Park, including fellow registered New Mexico-bred Corrina Corrina.
The win in the Kendrick Stakes puts Driving Money’s career earnings at more than $60,000.
Sent off at odds of 9.60-to-1, Driving Money returned $21.20 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with post-time favorite Equity Search paid $47.40. Cappellucci-trained Vanishing Money settled for third, with Awesome Glory rounding out the top four finishers.
Cappellucci, with six winners, finished the SunRay Park season as the fourth-leading trainer in the thoroughbred standings. Sherry Armstrong led the division with 12 winners this season, followed by Greg Green with 10 and Alberto Amparan.
Armstrong capped off the meet with a resounding upset win by Barossa in the $75,000 San Juan County Commissioners Stakes, the traditional closing-day feature at SunRay Park and Casino.
Barossa, ridden by Kelsi Purcell, won the 1 1/8-mile event in wire-to-wire fashion, beating Mickswagger by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.27.
A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief, Barossa has now won six of his last seven starts. He was off the board last time out in the Sunland Park Handicap last month but bounced back in a big way, securing his 17th win from 45 starts and increasing his career earnings to more than $429,000.
Barossa, sent off at odds of 7.40-to-1 in the San Juan County Commissioners Stakes, returned $16.80 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Mickswagger returned $291.20. Ruggs finished third, with Ze’bul rounding out the top four finishers.
Post-time favorite Corrina Corrina, who was seeking her third straight win for owner Derrick Jenkins and trainer Gary Cross, finished off the board in the San Juan County Commissioners Stakes.
Corrina Corrina, the all-time leading winner and money-earner among New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds, raced wide for much of the trip under jockey Tracy Hebert and finished sixth, beaten nearly 10 lengths.
Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr.’s Royal Dynasty MRB earned the first stakes victory of her career Saturday at SunRay Park and Casino, capturing the $238,363 New Mexico Breeders Futurity by three-quarters of a length.
Ridden by Luis Martinez, the 2-year-old daughter of Running Buddy broke cleanly from the gate, established a clear advantage passing the gap and held off her rivals to complete the 350-yard sprint in 17.18 seconds.
Royal Dynasty MRB broke her maiden in March, winning a trial for the New Mexican Spring Futurity, before finishing off the board in the April 4 final. In her most recent start on April 24, she finished second behind Big Ted in a trial for the New Mexico Breeders Futurity.
Saturday’s victory gives Royal Dynasty MRB two wins from four career starts and pushes her total earnings past $132,000.
Big Ted, the prohibitive 1-to-2 favorite, finished a clear second. Perrys Alibi was third, and Dahlia’s Destiny rounded out the top four.
Sent off as the third choice in the wagering at 8.90-to-1 odds, Royal Dynasty MRB returned $19.80 to win. The $2 exacta with Big Ted paid $40.
Live racing resumes in the state of New Mexico Friday at Albuquerque Downs, which will serve as the host for the Ruidoso Downs racing season. The opening two days of the meet will be highlighted by a total of 26 trials for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity, the opening leg of the All American Triple Crown series.