Empressum sets a new track record and Leads the Field into the Ruidoso Derby
Empressum broke the 400-yard track record winning the 8th race in :19.149 and leads qualifiers in the $700,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby trials. The previous track record for 400-yards was set by Charvet during the trials for the 2013 Ruidoso Derby in a time of 19.151. Empressum, winner of the Remington Derby on April 17, paid a $30,000 fee to supplement into today’s trials. The gelding’s trainer Heath Taylor had a hat trick on the day with three wins. The track started out sloppy with rain and hail off and on throughout the day but the sun came out and the track was fast starting in the 7th race. There was a light tailwind throughout the day.
With a stellar bloodline by Apollitical Jess out of Crazy Down Corona by First Down Dash, Empressum is owned by Jeff D. Jones and Steve A. Holt. The sorrel gelding was home-bred in Oklahoma by Jones and Holt.
“You never really consider stuff like that when you think about how many horses have traveled 400-yards over that 50 years at Ruidoso Downs. The conditions seemed right, but you never expect breaking a track record,” said trainer Taylor. “The finals are a short turn-around in just 13 days, so we hope that’s plenty of recovery time. He cooled off well after the race, and we’re hoping he comes back well. It was a tremendous effort by a very nice horse.”
Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo was aboard for the win today. The race-time favorite, Empressum paid $4.20 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show.
“Everything that this horse does is professional. From his time in the barn, to when he comes to the track or steps in the gate, he is all business. When we were running down the track together I thought that his time was going to be extremely fast- that’s the way it felt,” said jockey Vallejo.
The second-fasted qualifier, KJ Sonny P won the 7th race and posted a time of :19.377. Owned by John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares, the brown gelding comes from the barn of Wesley Giles and was ridden by Adrian Ramos. He was bred by LL Land & Cattle in Arizona and paid $32.80 to win, $9.80 to place and $6.00 to show.
Karl Strauss crossed the finish line second in the 8th race behind Empressum, running a time of :19.492. The brown colt is owned by Dunn Ranch and was purchased at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $82,000. He is trained by Monty Arrossa and was ridden by James Flores. Karl Strauss was bred in California by Steve Burns.
The full field for the Grade 1, $700,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby includes Empressum (:19.149), KJ Sonny P (:19.377), Karl Strauss (:19.492), Valiant Stars (:19.529), Separate Sentence (:19.542), For the Irony (:19.546), Volcoms Class (:19.547), Apollitical Redflash (:19.548), Jettz (Dead Heat) (:19.550), and Mahomes (Dead Heat) (:19.550).
The full field for the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitation Stakes includes Bv Georgy Girl (:19.552), Famous Cartel Jess (:19.553), Elphaba (:19.556), B Cause Im a Hero (:19.566), Packsaddle Senator (:19.580), Cyber Monday (:19.583), A Dangerous Flash (:19.586), Sophia Maria (:19.596), Miss Famous Eagle (:19.625) and Shott Gun (:19.637).
The finals for both the Ruidoso Derby and the Ruidoso Invitational will be run on June 12. Get complete time trial results here.
View and download all winners in our Media Gallery.
On Monday, the first stakes racing action takes place on the track as Quarter Horses that are 3-years-and-up compete in the John Andreini Memorial Stakes at 350-yards. Post time is 1 p.m. on Monday.
For more information about the upcoming 2021 racing schedule or to reserve your tickets and plan your visit, go to RaceRuidoso.com.