Ruidoso Futurity

Otts Boy Wins $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Ruidoso Downs, NM—Otts Boy, a two-year-old gelding, was first out of the starting gate and led all the way in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday to win the first leg of quarter horse racing’s triple crown series at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

“He jumped about thirty-feet,” trainer Toby Keeton said. “The horse has been jumping from the gate like that throughout his training and we’re all amazed at what this youngster can do.”

Keeton also trained the second-place finisher, Gettherefast. It was Keeton’s second victory in the Ruidoso Futurity having trained Kiss My Hawks to victory in 2014.

Owner Luke Goebel was emotional in the winner’s circle. Otts Boy is a homebred from his family’s ranch in Three Rivers, Texas. Luke’s father, Otto Goebel, owned the sire Mr Ottyes before his passing in 2014. The mare is Lovely Legs by Strawflyin Buds. “I was just thinking about my dad,” Luke said. “I wish he could have been here to see this.” It was the Goebel family’s first-ever stakes race victory.

Otts Boy paid $9.20, $5.00 and $4.00 in a winning time of 17.673 seconds for 350- yards.

“I thought the horse was much better today than in the trial,” jockey Ramon Sanchez said. “He was a little more relaxed warming up and did everything perfectly. He was out so handily that all I did was keep him focused.”

Goebel indicated that if Otts Boy remains healthy he will compete in trials for the $1 million Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs. The trials are scheduled for July 8 and 9.