Visa Scores Victory in Final Race of the Day, Fastest in Trials for the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs

SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2024

(Ruidoso Downs, NM) Visa and jockey Bryan Candanosa led a field of five quarter horses to qualify for the $800,000 (est.) Rainbow Derby in the fourteenth and final trial race Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

Visa won by one-and-one-quarter length over Politiko, Johnny Ringo 123, Scream Machine and JS On Fire in the fastest time of the day, 21.584 seconds for 400-yards.

The top-ten to make the July 20th final includes three-year-old filly Dark NME, winner of last season’s Rainbow Futurity and the Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park, showing her class in the eighth trial race in winning by one-and-three-quarters lengths in a time of 21.636 seconds for 400-yards.

Other quarter horses to make the final included Shoeless in the eleventh trial race, Unrelentless and Moes in the twelfth trial race, and Dashing Tres in the eighth trial race.

In trials for the $167,171 Zia Derby for three-year-old New Mexico-breds, Solid and jockey Adrian Ramos was the fastest in 19.782 seconds for 400-yards in the fourth trial.

Solid won for the second time in three career starts for owners Pierra and Leslie Amestoy and trainer Wes Giles. Solid’s sire is Big Daddy Cartel out of the mare Paint Your Moon by First Moonflash.

Racing continues on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs with trials for the $400,000 (est) Rainbow Oaks presented by Rolling Still Vodka and Ponderosa Whiskey. First post is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.