A Pollitical Candy V Upsets KJ Desparado in Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

A Pollitical Candy V, a three-year-old gelding, held off heavily favored KJ Desparado to win the $635,329 Rainbow Derby Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. “I knew that was the fastest three-year-old in the country right next to me,” jockey Juan Pulido said in the winner’s circle. “My horse bared down and I knew at the finish line that we had won—that’s when my hand went up in the air.” A Pollitical Candy V has now won three straight races for Valeriano Racing Stables. The gelding won the Ruidoso Invitational earlier this season. Bettors received $18.60, $5.00 and $3.00.

“We have no excuses,” jockey Adrian Ramos said of KJ Despardo’s second-place finish. “We’ll salute the winner and be back to try again next time.”

In the $348,826 Rainbow Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Miss Beth Dutton overcame a rocky start to run down the field by a neck and win the $348,826 Rainbow Oaks in a time of 21.554 seconds for 440-yards.

“For some reason she seems to excel at this race track,” trainer Clint Crawford said in the winner’s circle. She’s had chances at other race tracks but she seems to come into her own here. When she won her trial race, I believe it gave her a great deal of confidence that eventually helped her today.” Miss Beth Dutton paid $18.60, $7.00 and $4.00 with rider James Flores on board for owners Conda and Judy Maze. The filly’s sire is Kiss My Hocks out of the mare Time For Jess by Apollitical Jess.