For immediate release                            Contact:     Tim Keithley
                                                                                        575-937-4708
Sunday July 28th, 2024                                             tkeithley@raceruidoso.com

TRIPLE CROWN REPORT Presented by:

Running To The Moon wins Rainbow Oaks Today at Downs of Albuquerque

(Albuquerque, NM) Running To The Moon, a three-year-old filly, defeated Asscher by a half-length to win the $483,384 Grade-I Rainbow Oaks presented by Rolling Still Vodka and Ponderosa Whiskey on Sunday at The Downs of Albuquerque.

“I could feel Asscher getting to us, but my filly just kept going and wouldn’t let her pass,” jockey Francisco Calderon said in the winner’s circle.

Running To The Moon is owned by Sammy Valeriano and trained by Heath Taylor. The filly won for the fourth time in five career starts in a time of 21.137 seconds for 440-yards.

The filly is sired by First Moonflash out of the mare Apollitical Dasher by Apollitical Jess. Both fillies are expected to compete next month in the $500,000 (est.) All American Oaks trials August 11 in Albuquerque.

Sunday’s $368,451 Zia Futurity was won by Woody Rocks and jockey Christian Ramos for owner Juan Ramos and trainer Tony Sedillo by a neck over Harken and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr.

“I was confident we had the race early and then my horse started looking around,” jockey

Ramos said in the winner’s circle. “He’s been a strong runner all summer.”

Woody Rocks is sired by Woodbridge out of the mare JR Rock Star by Fantastic Corona Jr.

The gelding paid $11.60, $5.80 and $3.40 in a winning time of 19.350 seconds for 400-yards, and will be pointed toward the New Mexico State Fair Futurity at the Downs of Albuquerque in September.

In the $50,000 Zia Quarter Horse Juvenile, Ocean Bridge and jockey Ricky Ramirez broke sharply and held off Bigg Al and jockey Christian Ramos by a half-length to win in a time of 19.696 seconds for 400-yards. The favored Ocean Bridge paid $6.40, $4.20 and $3.00.

Ocean Bridge is owned by Thomas Lipar of Paragon Farms and trained by Trey Wood. The gelding is sired by Woodbridge out of the mare Ms Riptide by Ocean Runaway. First Again and jockey Daniel Vergara romped home a winner by four lengths in the $50,000 Lincoln Stakes for New Mexico-bred thoroughbred fillies and mares at five furlongs in a time of 57.18 seconds. The four-year-old won for the fifth time in her career and has earnings topping $200,000.

The filly paid $4.60, $2.40 and $2.20 for owner Larry Young and trainer Danny Morales.

The $50,000 Zia 870 Championship for quarter horses three-years-old and up was won by Classy Moon and jockey Ricky Ramirez covering the distance in 44.827 seconds for owner Bob McClure and trainer Fred Danley.

Classy Moon won by three-and-a-quarter lengths over stablemate Heza Classy Now and jockey Bryan Candanosa. Classy Moon is a five-year-old gelding sired by First Moonflash out of the mare Shez Classy Now by Now I Know. The gelding won for the eighth time in his career and has earnings of over $300,000.

The Ruidoso Downs racing season continues at The Downs of Albuquerque next Friday, Saturday and Sunday with twelve quarter horse and thoroughbred races scheduled each day. Post time is 12:30 p.m.