Racing


High Rate Of Motion Powers To Top Time On First Day Of Ruidoso Futurity Trials
Champion jockey Cody Jensen rides High Rate Of Motion to the fastest qualifying time on day 1 of the G1 $1 million Ruidoso Futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
High Rate Of Motion Powers To Top Time On First Day Of Ruidoso Futurity Trials

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 26, 2017—High Rate Partners 2017’s High Rate Of Motion powered through a 19-mile-per-hour headwind to set the top qualifying time on the first of two days of trials to the Grade 1, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity on Friday afternoon.

The two-year-olds with the five-fastest times from the 13 trials advance to the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity on June 11. The horses with the next five-fastest times gain preference to the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile on the same day.

The five Ruidoso Futurity finalists from Friday’s program will join the horses with the five-fastest times on Saturday afternoon in the Ruidoso Futurity. First post time for the 13 trials on Saturday is 1 p.m.

High Rate Of Motion was sensational in the seventh trial and looked like a horse who will thrive as the futurity distances grow longer at Ruidoso Downs. Following the Ruidoso Futurity is the 400-yard Grade 1, $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity on July 23 and the 440-yard Grade 1, $3-million (est.) on Labor Day.

Big Daddys Winner, under jockey Adrian Ramos winning
the 9th trial. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
The third-place runner in the West Texas Juvenile at Sunland Park in his previous start, High Rate Of Motion started well from the outside position and then pulled out to the two-length win under jockey Cody Jensen. The son of leading second crop sire High Rate Of Return was timed in :17.994 and that was the only race the was under the :18.000 mark.

"He ran a really good race," said trainer Mike Joiner. "We ran him at Sunland (Park) and he’s a tall, lanky colt. He couldn’t get away from the gate and today is the best he’s ever done."

Trainer Wes Giles saddled the second- and third-fastest qualifiers — Big Daddys Winner and Uptown Dynasty.

Uptown Dynasty kicked of the day by winning the opening trial under jockey Cipriano Vidana.
© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Ezra Elton Lee’s homebred Big Daddys Winner challenged a 16-mile-per-hour headwind and came up with the second-fastest time. The daughter of second crop sire Big Daddy Cartel was timed in :18.138.

Big Daddys Winner made two starts at Sunland Park and won her maiden at first asking by one-and-one-half lengths. She then had a troubled start and was fourth in a $38,000 conditioned allowance race.

Melvin Neugebauer’s Uptown Dynasty made his mark in the first trial with a :18.142 time. The Mr Jess Perry-sired gelding made one start at Sam Houston Race Park, a second-place finish in his Sam Houston Futurity trial.

She Eat Fire, under jockey Ricky Ramirez, qualified in the final trial race. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Paragon Farms’ She Eat Fire captured the final trial at :18.155 seconds to score the fourth fastest time. Trey Wood conditions the Corona Cartel filly out of last year's Ruidoso Futurity winner Apollitical Chad's dam Fast Prize Tracy by Shazoom. Ricky Ramirez was up.

Jockey Tanner Thedford ride Luminatre to victory in the in the 10th trial on Friday. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Pierre and Leslie Amestoy’s Luminatre rouned out the top five on day one with an :18.190 mark following a half-length victory in the 10th trial. Ross Amestory saddled the gelded son of champion/champion sire First Moonflash from the Grade 2 winning First Down Dash mare Shesa First Ratify.

For the complete list of day 1 qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second five fastest qualifiers for day 1 are preferred invites for the $100,000 Ruidoso QH Juvenile Invitational that will also be contested on June 11th. CLICK HERE for that list.

For complete Ruidoso Downs’ information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.