Marked Proves to be Top 2-Year-Old In Mountain Top TB Futurity

Marked, a 2-year-old filly, overcame plenty and held off a late charge by stablemate Lonzo Who to win the $125,000 Mountain Top New Mexico-Bred TB Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Saturday.

“She stumbled badly out of the gate, got into a speed duel, and then held off a nice horse at the finish line,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “You can’t say enough about her effort today.”

Marked crossed the finish line in the tenth race a length-and-a-quarter in front of Lonzo Who that was driving in the stretch and passed Fincher-trained Life Jacket in the final strides.  Fincher’s horses finished 1-2-3 in the 5-furlong race. Marked had a winning time of :57.40 seconds.

“She’s still so young and learning, so I was trying to urge her forward as best I could,” said winning jockey Tracy Hebert. “This filly has plenty of potential going forward to bigger things.”

Marked has now won both career starts and will be pointed to the Senorita Stakes later this summer at Ruidoso Downs. She is a home-bred for the owner partnership of Lee Lewis and Brad King

In the $25,000 Rita Danley Distaff today, Diamond And A Half, a 5-year-old mare, poked her neck in front of a bunched-up field at the finish line to pick-up the victory in the eighth race.

The mare won for the third time in five career starts at Ruidoso Downs and has lifetime earnings of nearly $160,000 for owner Antonio Gomez.

“She was quick to stride early but getting a little tired in the end, so we were happy to just get across the finish line in front,” said jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. “It was my first time being on her, but I can tell she’s full of class.”

Diamond And A Half went off at 7-1 odds and returned $17.20, $7.60 and $5.00 in running the 350-yard race in a time of :17.28 seconds.