RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – AUGUST 9, 2020 – On a warm and sunny afternoon with no wind and a fast track, Flying Eagle 07 hit the wire with a time of :26.64, ¾ of a length ahead of Ratatattat to win the $20,000 Brigand Handicap. Morning line favorite Why Buy the Cow finished third, and a $2 win ticket on Flying Eagle 07 paid $19.20.

Bred in Oklahoma, the sorrel gelding is by One Famous Eagle out of Tiny First Effort by First Down Dash. Owned by Jack Manning, Flying Eagle 07 is trained by James Gonzales, II and was ridden to victory today by jockey Mario Delgado.

“He was a solid 2-year-old here, and then had some problems when he turned three,” said trainer Gonzales. “We’ve really been working with him, and it seems like he’s coming around again now that he’s four. We took all the equipment off of him today, and that’s when he decided to break and run this time. He’s headed to Lone Star for the fall.”

Racing continues next weekend when Ruidoso Downs hosts the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Day at the Races. Saturday’s race card features three races - the John Deere Ruidoso Downs QH Challenge, the Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge and the Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge - that are part of the 2020 Bank of America Regional Challenge Championships. The winners of these races qualify to compete in the Challenge Championships which are scheduled to be held on October 24th at The Downs at Albuquerque. The AQHA will also conduct an on-track exhibition featuring a variety of different Quarter Horse disciplines between the 5th and 6th races. Sunday's program features the finals of the Rio Grande Señor and Señorita Futurities for 2-year-old New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds.

Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.