Racing


Mystic Blues Wins Dash For Speed Stakes on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs
Mystic Blue (#2), under jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., defeats stablemate Walking On Katella in the $25,000 Dash For Speed Stakes Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs
Mystic Blues Wins Dash For Speed Stakes on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 31, 2020—Under a clear blue sky, Mystic Blues covered 350-yards in :17.488 and took home the $25,000 Dash For Speed Stakes for fillies and mares at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday afternoon.

L O S LLC. and Abelardo F. Gallegos’s Mystic Blues and Walking on Katella finished first and second for trainer Ramon Mendoza in the second running of the Dash for Speed Stakes. Black Shadow rounded out the top three.

Jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr. had his pick of horses and went with winner Mystic Blues over second-place finisher Walking on Katella. Becerra Jr. has won with Mystic Blues in five career wins.

“She’s just a nice mare and has been for some time. She has plenty of class and breaks extremely well. The 350-yards is the perfect distance for her because she might weaken a little, but she was strong enough to hold on,” said Becerra Jr.

The 4-year-old mare by Walk Thru Fire and out of Queens R Blues, Mystic Blues has six starts at Ruidoso Downs and six money finishes. Last season, Mystic Blues won her trial in the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs. She competed in the Rainbow Derby final and finished fourth to Eagle Coast. The four-year-old mare has earnings of over $175k in 17-lifetime starts.

Stablemate Walking On Katella picked up $5,000 for finishing second. Also owned by L O S LLC and Abelardo Gallegos, the daughter of Walk Thru Fire has earned $75,946. Steve Burns, DVM bred the by 4-year-old in California from the Separatist mare Katie Katella. Adrian Ramos was riding.

Trainer Jesus Carrete saddled Black Shadow to his third-place effort for owner Fabrico Castillo. Gustavo De La Torre bred the 5-year-old daughter of One Sweet Jess in California from the Hawkinson mare Only Sister. Ridden by Daniel Amaya, Black Shadow earned $2,500 to boost her bank roll to nearly $134,000.

All About The Kiss, Phoebes Featured, Sinsational Taca, Tempting Love, Jess Girl Blue and Dashin Special completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Live racing at Ruidoso Downs continues next weekend with the running of the $750,000 Ruidoso Derby on Saturday, June 6 and the $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday, June 7. Post time is 1 PM MDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For the latest Ruidoso Downs information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow Ruidoso Downs on Twitter @RuidosoDowns and on Instagram.