First leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown to Run Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

$1 Million Ruidoso Futurity and $700,000 Ruidoso Derby
 Headline This Weekend’s Program 

Live racing continues at Ruidoso Downs this weekend with the running of the first leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown, the $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity, on Sunday, June 13. The Grade 1 stakes race features 2-year-old Quarter Horses racing 350-yards to claim the $1 Million purse and the first win in the prestigious Triple Crown series. Post time for the 10th race is set for 5:15 PM MDT. The race will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel beginning at 4:00 PM.

Revenant Moon, the 2-year-old filly by A Revenant out of Sochi Moon by Fdd Dynasty, is the morning line favorite. She won her 350-yard trial by four-and-three-quarters lengths in :17.462. Revenant Moon is owned by Robert Odom, Scott Bryant, and Norman Allen. She was bred in New Mexico by Dosi and Norma Alvarez and was purchased at the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $20,000. Jockey Jose Alvarez was onboard for the trials and has the mount in the final.

“She’s just professional. She runs straight from the gate to the finish line every time and that’s all you can ask her to do. She’s a blessing to our family - not easy to train - but a blessing to have in the barn,” said trainer Trey Wood. “She has some quirks about her only because she’s young and learning, but that’s minor compared to her potential.”

The filly’s trainer Trey Wood is double-entered for Sunday’s Grade 1 with Revenant Moon and Tactical Fire.

The complete field for the $1 Million G1 Ruidoso Futurity includes: Favorite Blues Man, Lethal Jet, Tactical Fire, Mr Apollo Jess, KJ Desparado, Apollitical J Legacy, Jess Savin Candy, Jess Fire Me, Vee Aye Pea, and Revenant Moon.

Sunday’s race card also includes the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile. The five fastest non-qualifiers from each day of the Ruidoso Futurity trials qualify for the Juvenile.  The 2-year-olds set to run 350-yards include: Rainbow to Roses, Mi Bella Valentina, Cell Bounce, Woman in Gold, Eagle Tempted Dash, Yard House, FDD Scout, Bacsheesh, Spanish Steps and Ironey.

The $673,567 Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby is the first major stakes race of the year at Ruidoso Downs. Three-year-old Quarter Horses will run 400 yards to the wire on Saturday afternoon, and post time for the 10th race is approximately 4:54 PM MDT.

Empressum broke the 400-yard track record winning the 8th race in :19.149 and was the fastest qualifier into the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby. 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. Empressum, winner of the Remington Derby on April 17, paid a $30,000 fee to supplement into the trials. The gelding’s trainer Heath Taylor also has two horses in the Invitational. Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo was aboard for the record-winning ride and will have the mount in the final on Saturday.

The field for the Ruidoso Derby includes: Valiant Stars, Mahomes, For the Irony, Apollitical Redflash, Separate Sentence, Volcoms Class, Karl Strauss, KJ Sonny P, Empressum, and Jettz.

Saturday also includes the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational Stakes. The 10 fastest non-qualifiers from the Ruidoso Derby trials qualify for the Invitational. The 3-year-olds set to run 400-yards includes: BV Georgy Girl, Packsaddle Senator, B Cause Im A Hero, Miss Famous Eagle, Elphaba, Ivorina, Famous Cartel Jess, Shott Gun, Dulce Sin Tacha, and Dangerous Flash.

Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information about the upcoming 2021 racing schedule or to reserve your tickets and plan your visit, go to RaceRuidoso.com.