TRIPLE CROWN SERIES BEGINS

FIRST LEG OF QUARTER HORSE TRIPLE CROWN RACES THIS WEEKEND

     The first leg of the quarter horse racing Triple Crown Series will be held this weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track with the running of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity and the $900,000 (est) Ruidoso Derby.

     The weekend begins on Friday with trials for the $132,760 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity. Two-year-old thoroughbreds will compete at five furlongs for a spot in the finals on June 25.

     On Saturday, Cyber Attack, the 2022 AQHA two-year-old champion, is the 5/2 morning line favorite in the Ruidoso Derby at 400-yards. The colt has won five races in eight career starts with earnings of nearly $1.2 million for the Rosenthal Ranch and trainer Chris O’Dell. Cyber Attack will be ridden by Eduardo Nicasio who qualified the horse with the fastest time, 19.599 seconds. The Ruidoso Derby is the 9th race on the card.

     Sunday’s races include the Ruidoso Futurity at 350-yards and that race is anticipated to be a much more competitive event. The 2-1 morning line favorite is Trusty Jess with jockey Nicasio that recorded the fastest time during day-one of trials opening weekend, 17.394 seconds. The fastest qualifier on day-two of trials was Lets Leave and jockey Sergio Bacerra Jr., an amazing five-length winner in a trial time of 17.396 seconds. The colt finished second to KJ Little Duce Coup and jockey Adrian Ramos in the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park on April 1. That gelding is also competing in the final on Sunday. The Ruidoso Futurity is the 9th race on Sunday.

      Post time for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of racing is 1 p.m. The races will be televised nationally on the Cowboy Channel on Sunday afternoon starting at approximately 4 p.m.