New Mexico
New Mexico congressional delegation announces more than $172M for transportation projects
The Rail Runner arriving at the Santa Fe Depot (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)
The U.S. Department of Transportation has will provide more than $172 million for a swath of New Mexico transportation projects, the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday.
The federal funding comes via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and “reflects” the law’s intention, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said in a statement: to ” improve safety for everyone using our roads, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, and create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around.”
The funded projects include:
• $61.8 million to the City of Las Cruces for the Mesa Grande Drive Extension Project
• $44.8 million for the state Department of Transportation for the Allison Road Grade Separated Crossing Project, which will support improvements to BNSF Railway infrastructure and Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route in Gallup, New Mexico
• $36.1 million to the state transportation project for reconstruction of two segments on the NM 128 mainline and three major intersections at WIPP Road, Buck Jackson and Orla roads in Carlsbad
• $22.4 million to the Rio Metro Regional Transit District to construct a new Rail Runner expression operations and maintenance facility
• $3.3 million for McKinely County/BNSF’s rail crossing elimination project
• $2 million for the City of Gallup for its 2nd and 3rd street crossings community planning project
• $1 million for the City of Clovis for its New Mexico Corridor Improvement Project
• $480,913 to the Mescalero Apache Tribe for a snowplow and salt spreader
• $158,448 to the Pueblo of Taos for capital improvements for two of the pueblo’s bus stops to upgrade them to American with Disabilities Act standards
“These projects will ensure safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, while making our rail systems safer and strengthening the links between our communities,” U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) said in a statement
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- The Ruidoso Futurity and Ruidoso Derby will be run on Saturday and Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.
- The Ruidoso Derby for 3-year-olds runs on Saturday, and the Ruidoso Futurity for 2-year-olds runs on Sunday.
A big weekend of quarter horse racing is in store at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.
The 400-yard Ruidoso Derby is slated for Saturday, June 7, for 3-year-old quarter horses and will start at 4:54 p.m. MT and is race No. 10.
The 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity is slated for Sunday, June 8, for 2-year-old quarter horses and will start at 5:10 p.m. MT and is race No. 10.
Both the Ruidoso Futurity and Ruidoso Derby are the first leg of the Triple Crown for both the 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. The Rainbow Futurity and Rainbow Derby, as well as the All American Futurity and All American Derby, will be held later in the spring/summer meet in Ruidoso.
On both Saturday and Sunday, there are 10 races and the first race begins at 1 p.m.
Ruidoso Derby post positions, horses, jockeys, trainers, owners and morning-line odds
- Hardtokatch, Juan Pulido, Cristian Alcala, JSM Quarter Horses LLC and Alcala Ranch LLC, 30-1
- FDD Dreams, Luis M. Martinez, Xavier E. Rodriguez, La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC. (Javier Rodriguez et al), 5-2
- Electrifying Cowboy, Sergio Becerra, Jr. Ramon Mendoza, Tungsten Racing Partnership (Marcelino Gonzalez et al) and Ronald L. Sugamosto, 20-1
- Little Vaquero, Fransico Calderon, Xavier E. Rodriguez, La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC. (Javier Rodriguez et al), 5-2, 5-1
- Lethal Cowboy 123, Edwin G, Escobedo, Marc E. Jungers, Caliche Walls Venture LLC, Alan Isbell, K. Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton, 15-1
- Eagle Aye, Luis Angel Flores-Garcia, Ramon Mendoza, Tungsten Racing Partnership (Marcelino Gonzalez et al) and Heysol Howlet, 15-1
- KJ Born To Be Wild, Wesley T. Giles, Noe Garcia, Jr., John and W. Kathy Lee and I. Ruben Mares, 8-1
- DAOU, Christian Cardenas, Fred Danley, J & SM, Inc. (Sue May et al), 9-2
- Stetsonn, Bryan Candanosa, Dean R. Frey, G,R. Jr. and Shaena Carter, 7-2
- Cartel Perry, Jesus Rios Ayala, Christopher O’Dell, Johnny Trotter, 10-1
Ruidoso Futurity post positions, horses, jockeys, trainers, owners and morning-line odds
- Apolitical Valor, Jacob Enriquez, Clinton Crawford, MJR Investments, Ltd. (Yolanda Rogers et al), 5-1
- Famous N Relentless, Ramiro Haro Garcia, Jason L. Olmstead, Tom Maher and Amber Olmstead, 15-1
- Allegiant Air, Ruben Castro, Trey Wood, Norman W. Allen, 20-1
- Dee Favorite Tacha, Jesse Lee levario, Ricardo G. Armendariz, Ricardo G. Armendariz, Jr. and Eric Pineda, 7-2
- Preying n Sinning, Christian Cardenas, Alberto Amparan, 93 Ranch (Jorge Vasquez et al), 15-1
- AJ Remember Me, Juan Pulido, Cristian Alcala, Corinna M. Sosa, 10-1
- Jess Cartel Blue, Ali Rivera, John Stinebaugh, Pete A. Scarmardo, 8-1
- Russ Gus, Francisco Calderon, Xavier E. Rodriguez, Daniel G. Miranda, 9-1
- Political Twist, Luis M. Martinez, Xavier E. Rodriguez, La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and B. Ray Willis, 5-2
- Lareda, Ricky Ramirez, Trey Wood, E. Gene Bradley and Tod Bradley, 30-1
Felix Chavez’s picks for Ruidoso Futurity and Ruidoso Derby
- In the Ruidoso Futurity, I like Political Twist, who has won all three career starts, including the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on April 5. Political Twist has great early speed and won his trial for this race by more than two lengths. Political Twist is listed at 5-2 in the morning line.
- In the Ruidoso Derby, my pick to win is Stetsonn. The Oklahoma-bred has had a wonderful 3-year-old campaign, winning three of four starts. He is the son of 2015 All American Futurity winner Jess Good Candy. If this horse breaks on top, he has a great chance to win as he has a good closing finish.
Longshots to watch in Ruidoso Futurity and Ruidoso Derby
- The longshot I like in the Ruidoso Futurity is Allegiant Air, who is listed at 20-1 in the morning line. He has won two of three career starts and ran sixth in the West Texas Futurity, where he had a troubled start.
- The longshot I like in the Ruidoso Derby is Hardtokatch. The Texas-bred didn’t run as a 2-year-old and that appears to have helped him. He has won both starts in 2025 and has shown that he can get the lead early and hold the lead throughout, plus he doesn’t have the wear and tear of a grueling 2-year-old campaign.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
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