L Conejo surged past favorite Jjs Sweet and Sassy to win the $29,000 North Star State Derby by a head Wednesday at Canterbury Park. The 3-year-old Minnesota bred quarter horse covered 400 yards in 20.083 seconds under jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto. L Conejo is owned and trained by Haley Hobbs. He paid $6.20 to win.
“[L Conejo] has gotten more mature,” Fonseca-Soto said. “Last year he was not focused. I think he will keep getting better.”
L Conejo recorded his second win while making his 11th career start. He made three starts at Remington Park this spring. “He’s been running 400 yards and been doing really good,” Hobbs said. “He’s super calm, easy to train, loves his job.”
The gate crew had their hands full loading Holy Dynasty into the starting gate before the 300-yard North Star State Futurity but once loaded, the 2-year-old Minnesota bred did not disappoint his owner and breeder Dan Kjorsvik. Jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr. guided Holy Dynasty to a 3/4 length win in the $29,000 race, passing favorite Sophey late and holding off a charge from Del Cartel, trained by Hobbs. Holy Dynasty, trained by Patrick Swan, paid $13.40 to win.
“The gate crew did a great job,” Kjorsvik said. “These horses are two-year-olds but a lot of them are pretty green. I can’t thank the gate crew enough for their professionalism. He’s got a big stride and I think as he gets older, he’s going to keep developing.”
Handle on the nine-race card was $1,204,322. Racing at Canterbury Park resumes Saturday at 5 p.m.
Finals to be run on Labor Day Sept. 1 at Albuquerque Downs
July 10, 2025 – Ruidoso Downs, NM – Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will run the 2025 All American Futurity, Derby and Oaks at Albuquerque Downs on Labor Day again this year, track owner Johnny Trotter announced today.
“Under our current circumstances we are grateful to Albuquerque Downs owner Paul Blanchard that he has graciously offered to host the All American again,” Trotter said. “The recent events are unfortunate for everyone associated with Ruidoso Downs, but we are happy to announce that our signature race will have the opportunity to move forward this year.”
It marks the second straight year that the All American races have been moved from their home at Ruidoso Downs. The racetrack and property suffered significant damage from the flooding event that occurred on Tuesday, July 8th which has made the current racing season impossible to continue.
“After having met with Governor Michelle Luhan Grisham today, we remain confident that there we will be horse racing again at Ruidoso Downs in 2026,” Trotter said. “We have been assured that corrective measures will be taken by the state of New Mexico to improve flood control. However, we did need to make an immediate decision about this year’s All American on behalf of our horse owners and trainers and that’s what we are announcing today.”
Trials for the $1 million All American Futurity for two-year-olds at 440-yards will be held Monday and Tuesday, August 4th and 5th. Trials for the $750,000 (est.) All American Derby and $500,000 (est.) All American Oaks for three-year-olds at 440-yards will be Wednesday, August 6th. The fastest times in those trial races will advance to the finals on Labor Day, Sept. 1 at Albuquerque Downs.
Along with a full race card, there will be five stakes races on Labor Day including: All American Futurity, All American Derby, All American Oaks, All American Invitational and All American Juvenile.
Meanwhile, Ruidoso Downs will continue to host the two major horse sales including the New Mexico Breed Sale on August 8th and 9th, and the All American Select Sale August 29th and 30th at the Ruidoso Downs Sales Pavilion.
The Casey Donahue concert scheduled for Saturday, June 26th will continue at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack as scheduled. The annual Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame Banquet will be held in the Turf Club at Ruidoso Downs on Thursday, August 7th. Other events that were on the racing calendar for the Ruidoso Downs racing season will be determined.
Crews at Ruidoso Downs have began cleaning up the massive mud and debris caused by Tuesday’s flooding event. The infield at Ruidoso Downs sustained over ten feet of water at the height of the flash flood destroying the jockey’s quarters, scoreboard, timing mechanisms and other necessary equipment needed to operate horse racing. No race horses died as a result of the flash flooding.
As for the finals of the Rainbow Futurity, Oaks, Derby, Invitational, Juvenile, as well all other major stakes events that remain contested such as the Zia Futurity and Derby, all purses will now be equally distributed according to Trotter.
Heza Hawkeye and German Rodriguez aim to turn heads again in Heartland Futurity Final
Story and Video by Darbie Cullipher, Race Marketing Intern
July 5, 2025 – SHELBYVILLE, IN. For German Rodriguez, the journey from jockey to trainer has come full circle, and just in time for one of the biggest Quarter Horse days of the meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino. On Saturday, July 19, Rodriguez will return to the paddock with a special mount, Heza Hawkeye, a Texas-bred 2-year-old gelding who earned the fastest qualifying time of :17.555 in the Heartland Futurity Trials on Saturday, June 28.
Rodriguez has been a licensed jockey since 2008 where his first mount came aboard Date Me at Hawthorne, but 2025 marks a major milestone: earning his trainer’s license. Inspired by his father, who both rode and trained horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis, German took on the challenge with his fiancé by his side.
“It was a lot of bookwork,” Rodriguez said. “Me and my fiancé (Ryleigh Fisher) stayed up studying for that test for a while.”
That hard work paid off. Now both trainer and jockey for Heza Hawkeye, Rodriguez has guided the young gelding through his first two career starts for Chavez Racing, managed by Roberto Chavez. Interestingly, the connection didn’t begin with instant chemistry.
“When Roberto (Chavez) first asked me if I liked him, I said not really,” said Rodriguez. “But when I showed up to work, he was in the barn, and we had to break him.”
What began with doubt became a standout partnership, and the relationship with Heza Hawkeye has developed. Calm and composed in the barn, Rodriguez describes the colt’s temperament as ideal.
“He’s real calm in the barn. He’ll walk around his stall and just lay down,” noted Rodriguez.
That demeanor contrasts with the power Heza Hawkeye showed in the trials, winning by an impressive 2 and one-quarter lengths. Now all focus is on July 19, where German Rodriguez will attempt to make his mark in the Heartland Futurity Final as both the trainer and jockey of a top contender.
The all-Quarter Horse Stakes Day is set for 10:45 a.m. Saturday, July 19, featuring an elite day of Quarter Horse racing. In addition to racing, several activities will be available including kid’s activities, Quarter Four contest provided by Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana, food trucks, and winner’s circle giveaways. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse analyst from Texas, will also be trackside to support the power packed day of racing.
The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.
“We want to start this morning by saying thank you to all those that have reached out and checked in on our property, team, members and animals.
Due to the severity of the flood waters, we are currently assessing all damage to best determine next steps. Safety is our top priority and what we will focus on today as we work towards a plan.
We will continue to post on social media and our website as details come available.
Our thoughts & prayers are with all those affected and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together. #ruidosostrong”
and Add to Home Screen 
or 