Posts in Horsemen
Weekend Wrap-Up by Mike Ahrens: July 3 - 5, 2020

Trials for the inaugural Rainbow Oaks took place in races one through four today. The fourth and final saw the triumphant return of Fernweh, winner of the 2019 Ruidoso Futurity. Jockey Ricky Ramirez never uncocked his stick and she strolled to win by two-and-a-half in 21.350. That time was not the fastest for the fillies-only trials, which went to Ratification the trial prior who dominated in 21.293.

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Hotsempting Runs Away with Fastest Qualifying Time in Rainbow Derby Trials

The field is now set for the Rainbow Derby finals, and it came down to the final trial heat to get the fastest qualifier of the day. The filly Hotsempting showed the boys on the track how to get it done when she charged down the middle of the track and ran a lightning-fast time of 21.281 in an impressive performance.

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Ratification Leads the Field in Inaugural Rainbow Oaks Trials

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.

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Wryker Sets the Mark High on Second Day Rainbow Futurity Trials

On Day Two of Rainbow Futurity trials, as it was on Day One, the sixth race proved to be stacked with speed. Wryker, a Texas-bred gelding, blazed a 400-yard trail to the wire and clocked:19.524, the fastest qualifying time over the two days. Packsaddle Senator, the fifth-place finisher in the Ruidoso Futurity, also qualified from that race with a time of:19.685.

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Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Saturday, July 4, 2020

The weather today was fairly constant with a moderate tailwind or minor cross-wind throughout the day. Clouds came and went, the temperature went up and down. But after the seventh race, not a single horse through the remaining half of the card was able to crack the top five fastest times, though in the finale HR Princess Jess ran a dynamite race to just miss that mark.

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Mister Illusion Impresses on First Day of Rainbow Futurity Trials

The first day of trials for the GI $1 Million Rainbow Futurity, the second leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown, started off with a bang and did not disappoint. Ruidoso Futurity winner, Cyber Monday, ran in the first heat and blazed the 400-yards with a full head of steam, crossing the wire in:19.838. This time held until the eleventh race when the sorrel gelding, Mister Illusion charged down the track with a time of:19.780.

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Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Friday, July 3, 2020

We started the day with a mild crosswind, had a headwind in the third race, back to crosswind for a couple of races before a strong tailwind in the middle part of the day, back to a mild crosswind for the remainder with a brief rain shower in only the 13th race. So, fairly typical and variable weather of Ruidoso. The five fastest times from today's trials will proceed to the finals.

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Ruidoso Downs Hosts Full Weekend of Quarter Horse Trials Rainbow Futurity, Rainbow Derby, Rainbow Oaks

The race card this weekend at Ruidoso Downs features three days of trials highlighting some of the fastest 2-year-old and 3-year-old Quarter Horses in the industry, and they will all be running against the clock. Almost 300 2-year-olds will run in 30-time trial heats vying for a spot in the GI $1 Million Rainbow Futurity, the second leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s card features a time trial double-header with 72 head running for a chance at the $700,000 Rainbow Derby, and 32 mares and fillies competing for a spot in the inaugural $300,000 Rainbow Oaks.

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Weekend Wrap-Up by Mike Ahrens: June 26 - 28, 2020

Saturday had mostly cloudy weather throughout the day, but as horses were getting ready to come on the track for the 9th race lightning strikes were nearby and then a large hail storm came down, postponing that event. After the weather died down things got back on track and the 10th race, albeit delayed, showcased stakes horses three-year-olds and upward going 350 yards.

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Shanghai Keely Races to Victory in First Lady Handicap

Having raced just last weekend and running second after stumbling out of the gate, Shanghai Keely crossed the wire ahead of the field in today’s running of the $40,000 First Lady Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Facing a slight headwind on the homestretch of the 6-furlong race, the filly held off a late charge from the field to finish with a time of 1:09.67.

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SC Money Maker Dominates Higheasterjet Handicap

SC Money Maker left the gate and never looked back today in the Grade II Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. The Mike Robbins-trained gelding ran the 350 yards in a speedy:17.25 to capture the $24,000 winner’s share of the $40,000 purse. The win came after a lengthy delay caused by thundershowers and lightning in the area after which the race was run on a sealed track.

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Weekend Preview by Mike Ahrens: June 26 - 28, 2020

This weekend's racing is highlighted by the Higheasterjet Handicap (G2), a $40,000 stakes for Quarter Horses three year olds and upwards going 350 yards to be run Saturday as the 10th race, as well as the First Lady Handicap, $50,000 guaranteed, for fillies and mares year olds and upward going six furlongs as Sunday's 10th race. Sunday's card consists of just Quarter Horse races and eight Thoroughbred races.

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