Challenge


Mi Amor Secreto Takes Adequan Ruidoso Derby
Mi Amor Secreto, under jockey Santos Carrizales, wining the $68,940 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Mi Amor Secreto Takes Adequan Ruidoso Derby

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 30, 2018—Mi Amor Secreto took a big step forward to win the $68,940 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

Kelly Perez’s homebred Mi Amor Secreto, who she calls her keeper horse, raced to his first stakes win in the 400-yard derby Challenge and showed that he should improve when the distance stretches out to 440 yards.

Mi Amor Secreto had a sluggish start and then went to work with a professional effort. His long stride caught his rivals and he then powered away to the three-quarter-length win as the 11-10 favorite.

The Texas-bred gelding by The Louisiana Cartel, from the Feature Mr Jess mare Streakin In Secret, covered the 400 yards in :20.102 under jockey Santos Carrizales, who is the father of trainer Marcos Carrizales.

Corona Ranger finished second, a neck ahead of Sc Vapor Trail.

The Perez family and the Carrizales family have been close friends for nearly 20 years and have been patient with Mi Amor Secreto. He only started twice last year and was rested after a poor run in his All American Futurity trial back in August.

The late-maturing gelding came back this year as a much improved horse and should see more improvement in future races as he develops.

In his first 2018 start, Mi Amor Secreto won his trial to the Sam Houston Maiden Classic (not a stakes race) at Sam Houston Race Park. He came back in the $95,800 finals to finish a head-bobbing second. He came to Ruidoso Downs and won his trial to the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge with the fastest-qualify time of :20.271 for 400 yards while bearing in for the last half of the race. He ran straight in the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge.

“He is still growing and maturing,” Perez said. “I think he’ll prefer 440 yards.” He’ll probably try a quarter mile in the All American Derby trials on August 19. That is his next projected start.

Runner-up Corona Ranger races for owner Vanessa Bartoo and is conditioned by John Stinebaugh. A son of leading sire Corona Cartel, Corona Ranger picked up $13,644 to boost his lifetime mark to $185,609. Agustin Silva rode the Hollenbeck Farms Oklahoma-bred from the Azoom mare Azoom Babe.

Reliance Ranches LLC's homebred Sc Vapor Trail picked up $6,822 for third. Mike Robbins trains with Stormy Smith getting the riding call aboard the Corona Cartel daughter of four-time champion mare Spit Curl Diva by Spit Curl Jess. Winner of the Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge in 2017, the brown filly has banked nearly $95,000.

Both Mi Amor Secreto and Corona Ranger earn a berth to the $150,000-est. Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G1) to be contested on November 17th at Los Alamitos Race Course during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night.

Completing the Adequan field were Walcott, Vallerro, Seminole Senator, Famous Joker, Senator Fast Jack, Jd Wagon Boss and Feature Me Gorgeous.

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For additional Ruidoso Downs information, go to the new raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow Ruidoso Downs on Twitter @RuiPressBox.

For Ruidoso Downs racing news CLICK HERE.