The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: What Trainers are Saying about the Rainbow Oaks

1.  Rocket Seis 30-1     Jockey Jose Amador Alvarez

“It seems like she’s just now putting it all together,” trainer Charles “Duke” Shults said. “She has plenty of stakes experience—made the Rainbow as a two-year-old—so we know that she belongs.”

2. Lil Miss Sashay   15-1    Jockey Tanner Thedford

“This filly has more attitude than anything else,” trainer Charles “Duke” Shults said. “She was fourth in last year’s All American Futurity so she’s among the elite. The difference between her and Fernweh is the break. She doesn’t break every single time like Fernweh but she comes running on the end. She’s strong late if she’s close to the lead.”

3.  Ratification     9/2 Jockey Esgar Ramirez

“She’s dong exceptionally well right now and is sound as can be,” trainer John Buchanan said. “The filly has one speed so if she doesn’t beat Fernweh at least we’re going to try to get down there for part of the money—she’ll have to run her race to beat my filly. She breathes well in the mountain air and tries hard, and I wouldn’t trade my filly for any of the others.”

4. Fernweh 2-1 Jockey Ricky Ramirez

“It’s her race to lose,” trainer Charles “Duke” Shults said. “She’s never seen an ounce of trouble from the moment she started in the Ruidoso Futurity trials last summer to now. She’s a very special filly and it’s a privilege to train her. Our job is to help get her ready and then turn her loose when the gate opens. If she comes back sound, we’ll point her to the All American Derby next month.”

5. Kieva 6-1 Jockey Mario Delgado

“This filly was a pleasant surprise,” trainer Clinton Crawford said. “Early in the trial race Mario (Delgado) dropped his stick and I think she probably ran better without it. She’s still a maiden but she’s been around the front every time. Beating Fernweh might be a tall order, but I think this filly can certainly light the board.”

6. Jess Find Me 15-1 Jockey Raul Ramirez Jr.

“This is a solid filly that keeps improving every time,” trainer Mike Joiner said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to catch Fernweh or Southern Wagon, but I do like that we’re starting between them. If she can hook-up with either one of them we might get fortunate and get a bigger portion of the purse money.”

7.  Southern Wagon   7/2 Jockey James Flores

“We’re very excited that we’re in the final with this filly,” trainer Monty Arrossa said. “She was a very nice runner out in California and has taken to the mountain fairly well. It’s an away-game for her but you can tell she’s eating well and we think she’s ready to run a big race.”

8.  Valiant Astica       8-1    Noe Garcia Jr.

“I really like the way this filly has been progessing,” trainer Fred Danley. “The fact of the matter is that she’s just in so tough here—there’s some very nice fillies running down the race track so we’ll cross our fingers and hope to catch some racing luck.”

9.   BV ShesliketheWind    20-1    Jockey Benito Jude Baca

“Obviously she’ll have to get a little faster to beat Fernweh in the final since we came out of the same trial, but she’s been second to her twice now,” trainer Eddie “Bubba” Willis said. “My filly didn’t have the break that she wanted last time and I do like the nine-hole. I think she has a shot to win it with any there’s any traffic through the middle.”

10.  Why      12-1 Jockey Cody Rodger Smith

“She tries as hard as any filly I have in the barn,” trainer Clinton Crawford said. “She’s very gutsy—in that she wants to run and please you. She might get outclassed in the final, but this is the type of filly that will make the others earn it. The ten-hole is perfect for her. She can just glide down the outside and might surprise us all.”