RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 30, 2018—The Blane Wood-trained pair of Myst Fit and Tough To Bee finished first and second in the Grade 3, $50,000 Higheasterjet Handicap while the improving Mi Amor Secreto (see related story took a big step forward to win the $68,940 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

Newman Cattle Company and Bobby Simmons' Myst Fit parlayed a great start into another stakes win. He raced the 350 yards in :17.488 under jockey Raul Ramirez Jr.

A gelding by Separatist, Myst Fit crossed the finish line a diminishing one-half length over the late charging Tough To Bee, the 17-10 favorite. Born To B Bad was another one length back in third.

Myst Fit won the $251,000 Oklahoma Derby last year at Remington Park. The California-bred then came to Ruidoso Downs and qualified for the Grade 1, $1.1 million Rainbow Derby and the Grade 1, $1.3 million All American Derby.

The Higheasterjet victory was his first win since taking his All American Derby trial last August.

"They both ran awesome," trainer Wood said. "Myst Fit blew away from there and Tough To Bee can close.

"They just thrive up here and this should set them up for the All American Gold Cup (on September 2)."

Steve D. Burns bred Myst Fit from the Mr Jess Perry mare Mystifying. A $19,000 2015 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, Mystfit has earned $30,000 in the Higheasterjet to increase his earnings mark to $216,331.

Also trained by Wood, last year's Ruidoso Derby(G1) winner Tough To Be was ridden by regular rider Ricky Ramirez. Paragon Farms LLC owns the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess from the Tres Seis mare Peppermint Seis. Bred in Oklahoma by Jim and Marilyn Helzer, Tough To Be earned $10,000 for second to bring his bankroll to more than $602,000.

Trainer Tammy Kay Johnson saddled third-place finisher Born To Be Bad for owners Melissa Slayton and Cody Bowling. N.R. Stevenson co-bred the Freighttrain B gelding with Slayton from the Separatist mare Dosvedanya. The graded stakes winning Texas-bred picked up $5,000 for the effort. Ridden by jockey Agustin Silva, Born To B Bad has earned $195,820.

Firing Tools, Marseille, Apollitical Ok, The Fiscal Cliff, Boogies Special Dash, Mr Apollitical Dash and Apolltical Chad completed the field. Multiple Grade 1 winner Apolltical Chad reared at the start.

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