Rainbow Weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track - Cyber Monday Continues Quest for Quarter Horse Triple Crown

Photo of Cyber Monday by Jake Rogers, courtesy of Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – JULY 16, 2020 – The road to the All American Futurity, the world’s richest Quarter Horse race, continues this weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track as 10 of the fastest 2-year-olds race 400 yards for $1 Million in the Grade I Rainbow Futurity on Sunday. One of those horses includes Cyber Monday, the winner of the 2020 Ruidoso Futurity, who with a win would keep his hopes alive for having a shot at the $2 Million Triple Crown bonus.

“The colt is extremely intelligent for his age. If he wins this leg of the Triple Crown, he’s going to have to give 120% coming from the one-hole,” said trainer Sergio Ibarra. “The pressure isn’t on the horse. The colt doesn’t know what the Triple Crown is, but you can feel it with all the expectations associated with it. This is a fabulous horse with a bright future.”

The colt will have plenty of competition from morning line favorite Mister Illusion and Wryker who clocked the fastest qualifying time in the trials.

The Rainbow Futurity and the Rainbow Juvenile, will both be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel beginning at 4:00 PM MDT on Sunday. The show will be hosted by veteran announcer Tom Dawson who will be live from Ruidoso Downs and Jeff Medders will be in-studio in Fort Worth. Ruidoso Downs and The Cowboy Channel announced a new long-term deal earlier this week that includes coverage of all Quarter Horse Triple Crown racing events.

Approximate post time for the Rainbow Futurity is 5:12 PM.

Saturday’s race card is also full of great Quarter Horse racing action as the 3-year-olds will battle it out in the Rainbow Derby and the inaugural running of the Rainbow Oaks. The Oaks division of the Derby series for the Rainbow and the All American is designed to enhance the value of fillies and give them a better chance to win later in their 3-year-old career.

The Rainbow Derby features the Ruidoso Derby winner and morning line favorite Hotsempting who although she is a filly, her connections decided to run her in the open division against the boys. She did not disappoint in the trails as she recorded the fastest qualifying time at 440-yards.

“We feel blessed to be running with the boys out of the 9-hole,” said trainer Sergio Ibarra. “She’s set and ready to go. We stood her in gates the other day, and Fernweh happened to be there at the same time – maybe they will meet again someday. Hotsempting is the #1-ranked 3-year-old in the nation right now, so they will all be gunning for her. She’s a professional in every way – always ready to compete and deserves to be in the Derby.”

Approximate post time for the Rainbow Derby is 4:54 PM MDT.

The undefeated Fernweh, the 2019 Ruidoso Futurity winner, is the morning line favorite for the Rainbow Oaks that will run Saturday at 440 yards. Trainer Charles Shults has high expectations for the sorrel filly who would have had the fifth-fastest qualifying time for the Rainbow Derby had she run in the open division.

“It’s her race to lose. She’s never seen an ounce of trouble from the moment she started in the Ruidoso Futurity trials last summer to now,” said Shults. “She’s a very special filly, and it’s a privilege to train her. Our job is to help get her ready and then turn her loose when the gate opens. If she comes back sound, we’ll point her to the All American Derby next month.”

Approximate post time for the Rainbow Oaks is 4:12 PM MDT.

Click here to view 2020 Rainbow Fact Sheet.

Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.