RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – JULY 5, 2020 – Ratification turned in the fastest qualifying time out of four heats in today’s first-ever Rainbow Oaks trials at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Under cloudy skies with a slight tailwind, 32 fillies took to the track in the all-new division that was created this season for the Rainbow and All American Derby series to enhance the value of fillies and give them a greater chance of winning later in their 3-year-old career.

Ratification, a sorrel filly by Apollitical Jess out of Shesa First Ratify by First Down Dash, qualified with a swift time of :21.293. Owned by Bobby Cox, she is trained by John Buchanan and was ridden today by Francisco Calderon.

“Our filly qualified last summer for the Rainbow Futurity and pulled a muscle, so we quit on her and let her rest,” said trainer John Buchanan. “She’s grown up now and put on an additional 150 pounds so she’s very strong. She has one gear, so she was motoring down the race track. We’ll have our hands full in the final with Fernweh.”

Fernweh, the 2019 Ruidoso Futurity winner, put on a show in the fourth and final trial heat with a dominating performance. With a near perfect start, the sorrel filly ran straight as a string down the track to cross the wire two lengths ahead of the second place finisher and nabbed the second fastest qualifying time of :21.350.

“She’s as good as it gets,” said trainer Duke Schults. “She does everything right all the time. It’s a real privilege to train such a fine filly.”

The still-undefeated filly is owned by Carry “Rusty” Allred and is by Favorite Cartel out of Jess a Lil Bit More by Mr Jess Perry. Ricky Ramirez, who has guided Fernweh to all previous victories, was aboard today.

According to Schultz, Fernweh was hand-ridden by Ramirez today: “He told me that he didn’t ask her at all. He looked up to see what the flag was doing and realized that she was going to be fine qualifying.”

The remaining qualifiers for the Rainbow Oaks field include Southern Wagon (:21.393), Valiant Astica (:21.540), Kieva (:21.583), Why (:21.619), Rocket Seis (:21.653), Jess Find Me (:21.679), Little Miss Sashay (:21.702), Bv Sheslikethewind (:21.705).

The finals for the Rainbow Oaks will be run on Saturday, July 18th at a distance of 440 yards. The purse for the Rainbow Oaks is $350,000.

For a complete results of today’s time trials, visit RaceRuidoso.com.