Sophia Maria Impresses During First Day of Schooling Works

Sophia Maria, Favorite Blue Girl and Over Da Top lead the way in Day 1 of Schooling Works
Photo by Christine Hudson, Track Magazine

Sophia Maria, the filly out of Wes Giles’s stable, posted the fastest time of :13.516 over 250 yards in the 21 schooling works held at Ruidoso Downs today. Horses from the Giles Stables won 9 of the 21 heats that were run today. Sophia Maria, who won her work by a 1/4 length, was bred by Kenneth Ruthardt and is owned by Ruthardt-Wood Quarter Horses.

“Sophia Maria has shown us talent early and did it again today,” said Giles. “I am hoping my luck doesn’t run out after the first day. We really have no idea what we had because the horses hadn’t run against any other barns before today. We’re feeling pretty good about how things went.”

The top three times of the day, including Sophia Maria, came out of the day’s seventh heat. Favorite Blue Girl, trained by Jose Meraz, finished second with a time of :13.571, and Over Da Top, trained by Blane Wood, ran third with a time of :13.632. 

A total of 21 schooling works were run today for unraced 2-year-olds in preparation for the upcoming Quarter Horse Triple Crown trials that include the Ruidoso Futurity ($1,000,000 est. G1), the Rainbow Futurity ($1,000,000 est. G1), and the All American Futurity ($3,000,000 est. G1).

Schooling works will continue on Thursday, May 7th with an approximate post time of 10:30 AM. Please visit our YouTube Channel for a live video.

Schooling Works Program - Day 2, May 7, 2020
Overnight - Day 2, May 7, 2020