RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 19, 2014—Ellen Kennedy Living Trust’s homebred Houdini broke through with his first stakes win when he rallied on the outside to take the Grade 1, $1,048,682 Rainbow Derby on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

Houdini had been second in the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity, second in the $720,000 Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity, second in the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes, third in the Grade 1, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship and had a very troubled trip in the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity.

But, that’s all in the past now after scoring the Rainbow Derby victory.

“He’s not a bridesmaid anymore. He always ran good races, but never quite got the job done,” said winning rider Cody Jensen, who has now won five of the last nine Rainbow derbies. “This has been a very nice race for me.”

Houdini started from the outside post position and “he had a very clean trip,” said Jensen. “He had a little stumble that actually pushed him forward.” He took control of the race in the final 50 yards.

A gelded son of leading sire Valiant Hero, Houdini crossed the finish line one-half length ahead of Her O Don Won while Hes Relentless was another head back in third.

A Ruidoso summer campaign was always the year’s plan for Houdini.

“We came here for the big money,” said trainer Luis Villafranco, who is based in Oklahoma. “He came back bouncing from his trial. He’s just been super. I think he needed the trial.” He was the third-fastest qualifier at :21.376 for 440 yards after winning his trial by a head over champion Kates Dynasty.

Richard Scott’s runner-up Her O Don Won set the fastest-qualifying time of :21.323 for trainer Russell Harris. Another gelded son of Valiant Hero, Her O Don Won was second by a neck in last year’s Grade 1, $409,000 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park.

Jockey Larry Payne rode the Texas homebred out of Miss Shivers, by Feature Me Jess. The $188,763 second place check boosted Her O Don Won's earnings mark to $271,839.

Third-place finisher Hes Relentless, trained by Jason Olmstead, had a clean trip from the inside post position and was in contention until Houdini unleashed his final kick. The One Famous Eagle son was a close second in last year’s Grade 1, $1,075,000 Heritage Place Futurity, was fourth in the Texas Classic Futurity and qualified for the All American Futurity. He is owned by R.D. Hubbard, Tom Maher, William Maher and Johnny Cope.

Cody Smith had the riding assignment aboard the Sunflower Supply Co. Missouri bred out of the Strawfly Special mare This Dreams Flying. Hes Relentless earnings rolled over $441,000 after pocketing $104,868 for the third place effort.

Completing the Rainbow Derby field were Rae Of Fire, J Bara, Kates Dynasty, Rock You, This Dude Can Fly, Wagon Cash and This Lady Is On Fire.

Supporting the Rainbow Derby was the first running of the $100,000 Corona Cartel Stakes, won by Tammy Johnson and Jack Manning’s homebred Rock Princess, who pulled off a stunning 35-1 upset win while prevailing over 10-1 outsider Winter Is Coming by a nose. CLICK HERE for related story.