Diabolical King romps in Mountain Top Futurity

Diabolical King won his maiden in impressive fashion Saturday at Ruidoso Downs, where he cruised to a 7 1/4-length win in the $145,572 Mountain Top Futurity. True Heat finished second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Tilla Cat.

The Mountain Top Futurity was restricted to 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

Diabolical King ($12) tracked the pace set by Tilla Cat, who took the field through an opening quarter in 21.53 seconds. Diabolical King took over through a half-mile in 45.16 and went on to cover the five furlongs on a track rated fast in 58.06.

Enrique Gomez was aboard for trainer Henry Dominguez.

“He just looks like a big Quarter Horse,” Dominguez said of Diabolical King. “We’ll plan on bringing him back in the Rio Grande Senor Futurity trials on [July 11].”

Diabolical King was making his second career start, after finishing second by a neck in a trial for the Mountain Top. He earned $73,286 for the win Saturday. Diabolical King races for his breeders, J. Kirk and Judy Robison. Diabolical King is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Liberty Lover.