The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Special Day of Racing Saturday at Ruidoso Downs as Trainer Health Taylor Saddles Four Horses

If 40-percent of the field is coming from your barn and scheduled to run in the $678,253 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track, anyone would probably like their chances.

              “It’s a tremendous race,” Health Taylor said in his barn this week. “In my opinion, it’s a stellar field of horses that are going in the gate on Saturday. We’re not taking anything for granted—they are all very capable race horses.”

              Taylor will lead even-money favorite Empressum to the starting gate with jockey Rodrigo Vallejo on board. The jockey qualified four to the race including his mount, Shott Gun, Dulce Sin Tacha and Mister Illusion.

              Fans are expected to make Empressum the betting favorite off the gelding’s win in the Ruidoso Derby on June 12. That victory came after the horse set a new 400-yard track record of 19.149 seconds for 400-yards in a trial race on May 30.

              “We took Empressum over to stand in the gates the other morning and wouldn’t you know—Candy Blood happened to be right alongside at the same time. Those two seem to have a natural rivalry.”

              Empressum and Candy Blood finished one-two by a neck in the Remington Park Breeder’s Derby on April 17. Candy Blood and is a 10-1 morning line longshot and will start right beside Empressum as number-eight with jockey

              Taylor believes that Dulce Sin Tacha, number-five, drew the best position among his four starters and draws the services of champion rider James Flores who is coming in to ride.

              “He has a little experience with the horse, and I do think the middle of the race track is where you want to be,” Taylor said. Dulse Sin Tacha is 2-1 on the morning line.

              The Rainbow Derby is the tenth race on the twelve-race card scheduled to be run at 4:54 p.m. mountain time.

              Also on Saturday’s race card, 2020 All American Futurity Champion Whistle Stop Café will race in the $374,363 Rainbow Oaks for three-year-old fillies. She will be number-one in the 9th race, and is the 7-5 morning line favorite.

              First Post for Saturday’s race card is 1 p .m.