Field for $1 Million GI Rainbow Futurity Is Set

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – JULY 4, 2020 – On Day Two of Rainbow Futurity trials, as it was on Day One, the sixth race proved to be stacked with speed. Wryker, a Texas-bred gelding, blazed a 400-yard trail to the wire and clocked:19.524, the fastest qualifying time over the two days. Packsaddle Senator, the fifth-place finisher in the Ruidoso Futurity, also qualified from that race with a time of:19.685.

Owned by Mark Jungers, Michelle Jungers, Cole Jungers, and L. Bradley Davies, Wryker is also trained by Mark Jungers. Jerry Yoakum was the qualifying jockey that guided the gray gelding by Kiss My Hocks out of All About Tonight by Carters Cartel to the impressive 1 1/2-length win.

“We raised him and knew he was special even when he was born. The colt would fight and wrestle with his mother when he was young. There were times when he would jump stall doors to get to the training track,” said owner and trainer Mark Jungers. “After we gelded him, he seemed to settle a little, and for this trial, we tried blinkers on him for the first time which seemed to focus him even more. He ran straight as a string, and we’re very proud of him. We are looking forward to the final.”

Packsaddle Senator, owned by Wootan Racing (Terry Wootan et al), is an Oklahoma-bred filly by Louisiana Senator out of Eyes a Shazoom by Shazoom. Hailing from the barn of Gerald Reed, she was ridden by jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr. 

Trainer Clinton Crawford qualified two horses for the finals – B Cause Im a Hero in the third race and Seven in the seventh race. B Cause Im a Hero was much the best as he crossed the wire with the time of :19.690 to record the third fastest time of the trials. B Cause Im a Hero, owned by Larry Marcum and Nancy Wells, is an Oklahoma-bred sorrel colt by Valiant Hero out of Jess B Mighty by Mr Jess Perry. Seven, ironically ran in the seventh race and clocked a time of :19.768 to snag the fifth and final qualifying position of the day. Owned by Raymond Merrill and Gregory Cullum, the Texas-bred sorrel gelding is by Kiss My Hocks out of Higher Fling by Mr Jess Perry. Jockey Cody Smith was aboard for both wins and had four winner’s circle appearances on the day.

“I’ll take it whenever luck comes our way. We gutted out Seven making the final on the bubble for a while,” said trainer Crawford. “He’s been flawless thus far and seems to really be making progress in his development every race. He just keeps coming. B Cause Im a Hero busted out of the gate - what a break that colt had. Cody said he never gave an inch. We had a good day.”

Whistle Stop Cafe also qualified by easily winning the fifth race with a time of :19.717. The gray filly is trained by the Blane Wood barn and is the third horse from the Wood stable to qualify for the final on July 19th. Owned by the Whitmire Ranch/Lainie Whitmire et al, the Texas-bred filly is by Freighttrain B out of Sinuous by Mr Jess Perry. Wood’s go-to jockey, Ricky Ramirez, was aboard for the win.

Today’s qualifiers join the five qualifiers from Day One which include Mister Illusion (:19.780), Cyber Monday (:19.838), Caliente Caramelo (:19.883), Empressum (:19.898) and Remember Then (:19.939) to round out the field of 10 that will run in the Rainbow Futurity finals on July 19th.

The field for the Rainbow Juvenile was also set today. The five qualifiers from today include HR Princess Jess (:19.778), For The Irony (:19.814), Troubleshooting (:19.817), Apollitical Gold (:19.830) and Jettz (:19.852). They will be joining Day One qualifiers Famous Cartel Jess (:19.953), Flashing My Pjs (:19.959), Misscandymountain (:19.984), Speed Dynasty (:20.007) and Jess Cindy (:20.052). The finals for the Rainbow Juvenile run on July 19th.

See complete results of Day One and Day Two of the Rainbow Futurity time trials.

Racing continues at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday where the first four races of the day will feature trials for the $300,000 Rainbow Oaks, the all-new division of the Derby series for the Rainbow and All American. Those will be followed by eight heats of trials for the $700,000 Rainbow Derby. The finals of the Rainbow Oaks and Rainbow Derby, both set at 440 yards, will be run on Saturday, July 18th. 

Post time is 12:00 Noon MDT on Saturday and Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity according to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider or conduct drive-thru wagering locally, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.