Finals set for Ruidoso Futurity, Ruidoso Derby quarter horse races

The opening weekend of horse racing at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino featured quarter horse trials for the Ruidoso Futurity (2-year-olds) and for the Ruidoso Derby (3-year-olds). The top 10 horses with the fastest times qualified for the finals, which will be held in two weeks.

Ruidoso Futurity qualifiers

Ten horses qualified for the June 11 final for 2-year-olds. Trusty Jess was the top qualifier on Friday's first day of qualifying with a time of 17.394 seconds over 350 yards.

“He did everything perfect,” jockey Eduardo Nicasio said after the race. “I’ve worked with him since January and knew he was fast. I pushed him a little but he did what he needed to do.”

The gelding is owned by Ray Willis, Cherri Michelet Snyder and Clifton Eldridge, and trained by Christopher O’Dell who had three wins on the day. Trusty Jess is sired by Jess Good Candy out of the mare Entrust by Relagate and bred in New Mexico.

“We break our horses for Ruidoso at La Feliz Montana Ranch in Hondo and he was well-prepared,” O’Dell said. “He’s been a barn favorite because of his good mental attitude. We used a flipping haulter today and it helped him in the gate — we’ll continue to use that while he’s still learning.”

Other qualifiers on Friday included: Kiss My Wine, winner of the 3rd race in 17.416 seconds, Caramel Macchiato, winner of the 4th race in 17.455 seconds, Relentless Eagles, second in the seventh race with a time of 17.463 and Trump This Record, winner of the 10th race in 17.473 seconds.

On Saturday, trainer Eric Valenzuela's Lets Leave was the top qualifier with a time of 17.39 in race No. 9 to cap a big day. He also qualified Wired 440 in the fifth race.

Wired 440 was making a debut in a race and Let's Leave was making his third career start, which included a second-place finish in the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino on April 1. Valenzuela also qualified Caramel Macchiato on Friday's card.

"Lets Leave is a really talented horse, who had some trouble in the West Texas Futurity but still got second place," Valenzuela said. "We've always thought he was a really good horse. Wired 440 is a horse with lots of potential and he ran a strong race."

Jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr. was the winning rider on both Wired 440 and Lets Leave.

“I rode him hard because I knew the headwind was against us for time,” said Becerra, Jr. after the win for Lets Leave. “I thought the colt really stretched out and gave us plenty of run.”

"Sergio is a great rider," Valenzuela said. "He really gives a great effort each time out. I'm just proud of our team, it really is a mean effort."

The other qualifiers on Saturday were: Irish Seis and jockey Luis Martinez who won the 8th race in 17.734 seconds, Ar Victorias Legacy and jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo winning the 6th race in 17.752 seconds and Kj Little Duce Coup who won the 2nd race with Adrian Ramos aboard and a qualifying time of 17.662 seconds.

Ruidoso Derby trials

Cyber Attack has been consistent in his career and has found success before in Ruidoso. On Sunday, the California-bred son of Favorite was sharp and fast in securing the fastest qualifying time of 19.599 seconds over the 400 yards.

He edged Ivory Senator, who finished the seventh race in 19.611 seconds. Rock a Jess V also qualified out of the trial with a time of 19.803.

"He's a professional," Nicasio said of Cyber Attack. "I was a little bit worried about him after some gate work the other day, but he broke well and had a good effort. He was a bit tired after the race but this was his first race since December. I told trainer Christopher O'Dell I just wanted to qualify and I think Cyber Attack will improve."

Cyber Attack now owns five wins from eight starts and was second in last year's Rainbow Futurity.

The other seven qualifiers were: Ezee Monee (19.846), Shakers No Secret (19.852), Rusted Good (19.855), Magnanimous V (19.862), Mi Santo (19.877), Aristides (19.883) and Beneficial (19.889). Trainer Santos Carrizales, Jr. qualified two horses (Rock A Jess V and Magnanimous V) trainers Valenzuela and Marc Jungers qualified one horse each after qualifying horses for the Ruidoso Futurity and trainers Trey Wood and Jaime Aldavaz, Sr. also qualified horses.

Aldavaz' Ezee Monee ended a five-race losing streak and ran well under a strong ride from Adrian Ramos.

"Adrian did a great job aboard the horse," Aldavaz said. "Ezee Monee has been training well and we're excited to be going to the final in two weeks."

Wood trains Aristides, one of the most consistent quarter horses on the grounds at Ruidoso. Aristides, who finished second in the third trial behind Rusted Good, has finished first, second or third in 10 of 11 starts. Oscar Andrade, Jr. was the jockey aboard.

"Aristides just finds a way to finish in the top third of races," Wood said. "He's not very big, but he has a big heart and he gives a great effort all the time. Oscar is a talented jockey and he'll be a big name in the future. He comes from a racing family and he's doing great things."

The finals for the Ruidoso Derby will be June 10.

More: Horse racing notes A guide to horse racing meet at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Finals set for Ruidoso Futurity, Ruidoso Derby races