EG HIGH DESERT FARMS

Stakes Highlights:

-Won 2002 California Breeders' Matron Stakes with Coupers First Dash

-Won the Ed Burke Futurity with Hawkish in 2003

-Won the 2001 Go Man Go Handicap with Hawkinson

-Won the Governor's Cup Derby with Magic And Rhythm in 2003

-Won the Governor's Cup Futurity with Magic Show Czech in 2007

-Won the Kindergarten Futurity in 2003 with Hawkish

-Won the Kindergarten Futurity in 2004 with Dash To The End

-Won the Los Alamitos Winter Championship in 2001 with Hawkinson

-Won the PCQHRA Breeders' Derby with Hawkish in 2004

-Won the PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity with Hawkish in 2003

-Won Southern California Derby in 2004 with Hawkish

      EG High Desert Farms was named AQHA Champion Owner in 2003 following a spectacular year in which the operation raced the superstar colt Hawkish, Governor's Cup Derby winner Magic And Rhythm, and stakes winner Corazon Caliente.
      After winning the Kindergarten, PCQHRA Breeders, and Ed Burke futurities, Hawkish returned with a strong year in 2004. He won the PCQHRA Breeders Derby and then the Southern California Derby in the final start of his career before going to stud at EG High Desert Farms. "It's been an awesome ride with Hawkish," Gonzalez said after the Southern California Derby. "That was a perfect way for him to end his career. We have a great team behind this horse, but this is all about the horse. He is the star. I feel blessed for everything he has done and I am happy to see him go out on top." 
       Enrique came into the sport in the late 1990s as one of the most active owners during the California Quarter Horse sales. Enrique purchased several high priced yearlings during that span looking to elevate his previously modest stable into the ranks of the elite in Quarter Horse racing. Enrique's motivation for spending millions of dollars was simple. He was tired of coming on the short end of the stick in stakes races. I had been in the business for a few years, but most of my horses were good, hard-knocking claimers and allowance-level horses, he said. I just decided to approach the sport from a different angle, even if it meant that I had to invest a lot more money. I think I got the most out of my money with the horses I bought at the sale, and I really feel that I can finally challenge the big boys of the sport.

      
        Enrique's first big horse was the aforementioned Hawkinson, the winner of the 2001 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Hawkinson was the $150,000 sale topper at the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Sale in 1998. Hawkinson won the Go Man Go Handicap and finished second in the Champion of Champions in 2001. For his efforts, Hawkinson earned the title of Champion Aged Stallion. He now spearheads a stallion battery also featuring Hawkish, Red Hot Rhythm and Corona Czech at the farm. I want to make the breeding aspect of the sport my bread and butter, he said. I'm really interested in that part of the business. Enrique won 27 races from 150 starters at Los Alamitos in 2004 - a figure that made him third in the standings.  When he's not thinking about the horse business, Enrique owns the Vallarta Markets chain.