Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Trials & Jess Burner Stakes

Akurit Clocks Fastest Time of the Day in the Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Trials at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

          Akurit, a three-year-old gelding, took control midway through the fourth race to win and qualify with the fastest time of the day in the $97,000 Maiden Stakes at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

          It was the third win for the gelding since March 27—quarter horses were eligible to run in the Maiden Stakes if they had not won before March 1. Akurit now has three wins in eight career starts.  

          Trainer Heath Taylor will be triple entered in the final of the Maiden Stakes on June 18 with Akurit, Favored One and One Jenuine Corona V.

          Owned by Mary Thompson and Pat Windham, Akurit paid $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10 in a winning time of 17.982 seconds for 350 yards. The gelding’s sire is First Down Dash out of the mare Celtic Emblem by Apollitical Jess.

          Other quarter horses who advanced to Maiden Stakes final include: Family Dynasty in 17.983 seconds; Apollitical Problem in 18.043 seconds; Nez Classified in 18.153 seconds; Jess Political Perks in 18.155 seconds; Alamo Lake in 18.155 seconds; Favored One in 18.164 seconds; Six Mile Senator in 18.167 seconds; One Jenuine Corona V in 18.209 seconds; and Cc Max in 18.236 seconds.

Fly On Down Wins $30,000 Jess Burner Stakes

               The featured race today was the $30,000 Jess Burner Stakes won by four-year-old Fly On Down and jockey Juan Pulido.

            “I thought we had it after the second jump,” Pulido said. “The horse was very alert coming out of the gate which made him easy to ride.”

            Fly On Down is sired by One Handsome Man out of the mare Never The Same by Strawfly Special. Owned by Dalla Aranda and trained by Ebert Munoz, Fly On Down paid $8.00, $3.60 and $2.80 in a time of 20.201 seconds over 400 yards.