CERS FINAL TRY ROMPS IN THE JOHN ANDREINI MEMORIAL STAKES

Photo of 2021 JOHN ANDREINI MEMORIAL STAKES WINNER Cers Final Try. Photo by Jake Rogers, courtesy of Ruidoso Downs

Cers Final Try sped down a sloppy race track and won the $25,000 John Andreini Memorial Stakes on Monday at Ruidoso Downs to the delight of fans who bet him down as the favorite at just over 2-1. The winner’s time was 17.58 seconds for 350-yards on a track that had seen heavy rain throughout the afternoon.

“I don’t think he cared for the slop,” jockey Alfredo Sigala said in the winner’s circle. “The first few strikes he was slapping at it trying to get traction. Once he got down the race track, he showed his class.”

Cers Final Try, owned by Christina Robinson of Southern Pines, South Carolina, took the lead midway through and held off Mitey Political who finished second, and Be Quiet who ran third. The black gelding is by One Dashing Eagle out of Bp Shes All Corona by Corona Cartel and was bred in Oklahoma by Charles E. Robinson for whom he was named.

“I was nervous watching him,” trainer Tony Sedillo said. “It looked like he was spinning wheels until he grabbed control of the race track. It looks like he’s back to form now,  and we’ll look for something else to run him in later this summer.”

Cers Final Try paid $4.40, $3.20 and $2.20. It was the gelding’s seventh career win at Ruidoso Downs in 13 races. Last season, Cers Final Try won the Rainbow Derby, was second in the Ruidoso Derby and finished third in the All American Derby.

Racing action continues next weekend at Ruidoso Downs with Mountain Top Quarter Horse Futurity trials on Friday, Mountain Top Quarter Horse Derby trials on Saturday and Ruidoso Maiden Stakes trials on Sunday. Post time for all three days is 1:00 PM. Billy the Kid Casino opens at 11:00 AM daily.

For more information about the upcoming 2021 racing schedule or to reserve your tickets and plan your visit, go to RaceRuidoso.com.