RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 24, 2016—Wyok Ranch, LLC’s Valiant Rogue emphatically showed that he is a horse to be reckoned with after destroying his rivals in the record Grade 1, $1,224,488 Rainbow Derby on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

It is the 10th consecutive year that the Rainbow Derby has set a new record purse.

Valiant Rogue made it look easy. The Tanner Thedford-ridden gelding was on top within a few jumps and the 440-yard classic was over in :21.545 while facing an eight-mph headwind.

“In the trials he ran big,” said jockey Tanner Thedford of fastest-qualifier Valiant Rogue. “Today they false broke in the gate and he stayed still. When we broke he stayed on his task.”

Valiant Rogue’s work resulted in a one-and-three-quarter-length win over Boogies Special Dash while Stevie B First Cash was third, one-half length behind Boogies Special Dash.

First Valiant Sign, the 4-5 favorite, finished fourth.

The Judd Kearl-trained Valiant Rogue is now undoubtedly one of the premier three-year-old quarter horses.

Valiant Rogue, a $20,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, polished off his two-year-old season by qualifying for the Grade 1, $1.1 million Texas Classic Futurity. He has moved forward with his third-consecutive win in the Rainbow Derby.

“Like I said after his trial win, I’ve always liked this colt,” said Kearl. “In the past he would beat himself. He has always been a big colt and now he is mentally mature. He loves 440 (yards) and if all is good he’ll be back (in the All American Derby trials on August 21).”

Bred by Bollenbach Farms, the son of leading sire Valiant Hero is out the Azoom mare Azoom Babe.

In his Rainbow Derby trial, Valiant Rogue raced to the fastest-qualifying time of :21.705 from 14 trials.

Trainer Kasey Willis saddled Boogies Special Dash to his second place finish for owner Kenneth Ruthardt. Cesar Gomez rode the son of Walk Thru Fire out of the Strawfly Special mare Boogie Special. Bred in California by Jaime Gomez, Boogies Special Dash used the $220,408 runner-up check to booth is earnings total to $261,692.

The royally bred Stevie B First Cash earned $122,449 for third. Two Feathers Series, LLC owns the son of all-time leading sire First Down Dash from the four-time champion mare Spit Curl Diva, by Spit Curl Dash. Bret Vickery saddled the Lepic-Morgan Partnership Oklahoma-bred. Jose Alvarez was up.

First Valiant Sign, Miss Feet Down First, Boxwineizfine, Appolitical Streak, Tf Im That Guy, Significant Runner and Big Lew completed the field.

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In the $100,000 Corona Cartel, for horses who did not qualify for the Rainbow Derby, Darling Farms’ One Fabulous Eagle returned to the form that saw him finish a close second in last year’s Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity when he ran away from his rivals (see related story).

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