The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Deferred Interest Debuts Sunday, Late to the AA Party But With Tons of Potential

With just two weeks to go before the All American Futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs, it’s getting late for a two-year-old to be making a racing debut. Most potential AA candidates have made at least a couple appearances on the race track.

“Most all the top stars—you’ve probably heard their names by now,” trainer John Stinebaugh said. He has two-year-old talented runners Flashing My PJs and Jez Flying hanging out in the barn waiting for their moment in the sun August 21 and 22 after impressive outings to begin their careers. 

Stinebaugh has one more runner that debuts Sunday and he could be just as talented. The gelding’s name is Deferred Interest, racing as number-three in Sunday’s first race.

“He’s a little late to the dance, but we think he’s going to get there in time,” Stinebaugh said. “He’s a half-brother to Cyber Monday out of Remember Me Rose.”

Cyber Monday won the Grade-1 Ruidoso Futurity in June and also made the finals of the Rainbow Futurity in July along with half-brother Remember Then. Both youngsters are sons of Remember Me Rose. Cyber Monday’s victory in the Ruidoso Futurity made Remember Me Rose an “AQHA Dam of Distinction” for having produced three Grade-1 winners in her breeding career. 

“She’s been a tremendous producer, and we’re hoping Deferred Interest proves to be the same kind of racehorse.”

Deferred Interest simply took longer to get to the race track due to an unexpected injury that occurred at a training facility near El Paso in the spring.

“This horse was training at Fontana where his owners typically start their horses, and Deferred Interest tried to jump a fence in the barn area and hurt his ankle,” Stinebaugh said. “It was just a freak accident, but we’ve been healing it and taking our time with him, and now he’s ready to go. We think he’s going to show us something on Sunday.”

Deferred Interest is owned by Sunset Well Service and Omar Ruiz. He will be ridden by Francisco Calderon and is 9/2 on the morning line.