Rainbow Trials Begin 7/8/2022

Rainbow Trials Begin Today at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Ruidoso Downs, NM—Trials for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity, the second leg of quarter horse racing’s triple crown, will be held Friday and Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. There will be 17 races each day with first post scheduled for Noon. The top five fastest times each day over 400-yards will advance to the final to be held on Sunday, July 24.

Trainer Toby Keeton will start Getthere Fast as number-one in the ninth race on Saturday. The two-year-old finished second in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 12 behind barnmate Otts Boy to give Keeton a one-two finish. “We decided to skip the Rainbow with Otts Boy,” Keeton said this week. “Our option is to keep him well-rested for the All American later in the summer.”

On Sunday, the nation’s top three-year-old quarter horses will compete in the 440-yard trials for the $348,826 Rainbow Oaks and the $645,329 Rainbow Derby. It marks the return of 2021 All American Futurity champ and this season’s Ruidoso Derby winner KJ Desarado as number-five in Sunday’s sixth race. “He’s been out working a few times and seems to be happy,” trainer Wes Giles said. “We’re expecting him to perform as he has done over his past few races.”

The 2021 Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurity winner, Jess Savin Candy, will compete as number-nine in the seventh race on Sunday. Trainer John Stinebaugh said he will try something different with the horse in the Rainbow trials. “We’re going to take his blinkers off,” Sinebaugh said. “This should improve his ability to see what’s happening around him and we think it can make him even faster.” The top ten times on Sunday will advance to the final of the Ruidoso Oaks and Derby on Saturday, July 23. For more info, visit