Storm Leader Takes Charge in Homestretch to Win Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track on Sunday

Ruidoso Downs, NM—Storm Leader, a two-year-old New Mexico-bred gelding, used an outside trip to pass heavily favored Nostrangertotherain in the stretch and win the $151,568 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

“I thought the horse grew up a lot today,” jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. said in the winner’s circle. “The horse ran a little green in his trial race but seemed to handle things much more professionally today. He didn’t switch leads in the stretch, but I still had plenty of horse left after taking the lead.”

The winning trainer was Todd Fincher, who saddled seven horses in the stakes final—one scratched after a fractious gate incident.

“This horse continues to develop,” Fincher said. “He’s been near the top of his class since we started training him. All these young horses will get better as they gain more experience.”

Storm Leader paid $20.80, $9.80 and $4.40 in a time of 58.83 seconds for five furlongs. The gelding is owned by Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, as well as Mike Abraham.

Storm Leader is sired by Attila’s Storm out of the mare Our Flying Angel by Abajo. The winning margin was 5 ¾ lengths in front of Marked Money who ran second. Nostrangrtotherain finished third.