Trainer Sergio Ibarra Takes First & Second in Rainbow Juvenile Stakes

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – JULY 19, 2020 – Whistle Stop Cafe broke clean and found another gear in the last 150 yards to win the Grade I $1 Million Rainbow Futurity by ¾ of a length over morning line favorite Mister Illusion. Seven ran third, and post time favorite and Ruidoso Futurity champion Cyber Monday finished fourth taking away any chance of a Triple Crown winner in the Quarter Horse division in 2020. Undefeated Whistle Stop Cafe, who ran the 400 yards in :19.492, returned $14.40 on a $2 win ticket. The race was run under partly cloudy skies on a fast track.

Whistle Stop Cafe is owned by the Whitmire Ranch/Lainie Whitmire et al and was bred in Texas by Bobby Cox. The gray filly by Freighttrain B out of Sinuous by Mr Jess Perry hails from the barn of Blane Wood and was purchased for $42,000 at the Heritage Place Sale.

“When they broke, both horses on either side of her sort of split and gave her a perfect path. She’s a fast filly and knows exactly what to do,” said trainer Wood.

Jockey Rickey Ramirez was aboard for the win today, as he has been for all of her other victories, including her first place finish in the 2020 Heritage Place Juvenile.

“She been a terrific filly from the start. We knew we had something when she performed so well at Remington in the spring, but she’s blossomed even more this summer,” said jockey Ramirez. “I saw a horse coming at me on the side and right at the same time I felt my horse re-break about half-way through. She’s perfect so far. I hope we can keep her that way.”

In the other feature race of the day, the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes, the barn of Sergio Ibarra had the first and second place finishers with For The Irony and One Eagles Delight who ran in the race as an alternate after Jess Cindy was scratched earlier in the day. For The Irony won handily by 1 ¼ lengths over the 400 yards with a time of :19.968 beating out his stable mate.

“He just keeps knocking on the door,” said trainer Ibarra. “He’s been a little unlucky with his times in the trial races, but has done everything right. That’s four in a row versus some very nice horses.”

Owned by Diamond Racing Stables/Julietta Torres et al, For The Irony by Valiant Hero out of Dare You To Beat Me by Tres Seis is a California-bred black gelding. He was ridden today by Ibarra’s go-to jockey, Sergio Becerra, Jr., who also rode him to victory in the Ruidoso Juvenile earlier this summer.

“He gave me a little trouble in the starting gate but then settled down. Once he broke everything was okay,” said jockey Becerra, Jr.

Live racing continues next weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track with the Zia Festival and three days full of races dedicated to New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Friday’s race card features trials for the Rio Grande Señor and Rio Grande Señorita Futurities. Saturday’s program includes the Grade II Zia QH Derby, and Sunday’s highlights include the GI Zia Futurity along with six additional stakes races.

Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.