Racing


Jm Specialwynn Sets Top Time To $815,000 Ruidoso Derby at Ruidoso
Jm Specialwynn, under jockey Ramon Sanchez, set the fastest time to the Grade 1 $815,000 Ruidoso Derby on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Jm Specialwynn Sets Top Time To $815,000 Ruidoso Derby at Ruidoso

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 24, 2015—J&M Racing and Farm’s Jm Specialwynn won the first of 10 trials to the Grade 1, $815,000 Ruidoso Derby on Sunday and his time of :19.796 for 400 yards held up as the top time on an afternoon that saw each of last summer’s Grade 1 futurity winners defeated.

The horses with the 10-fastest times qualify for the 400-yard Ruidoso Derby on June 6 and non-qualifiers may compete in the $100,000 Mr Jess Perry on the same day. Preference for the Mr Jess Perry depends on the horse’s trial time.

Jm Specialwynn easily took his trial by two lengths for trainer Albert Franco. The Walk Thru Fire son’s only other career win from five starts came when he took the $100,000 All American Juvenile last Labor Day weekend.

Jockey Ramon Sanchez had never ridden Jm Specialwynn in a race. “I think the wind might have been a little lower when he ran (nine-mile-per-hour headwind), but he ran a good race,” said Sanchez. “I was only on him once in the morning.” The nine mile-per-hour wind was one of three trials with that wind speed, the lowest of the afternoon.

Lightly raced Bone Chillin gets the second fastest time under champion jockey Cody Jensen in the eighth trial.
© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Sanchez also qualified fifth-fastest qualifier Bf Farm Boss, one of three finalists from the Paul Jones barn.

Leading the Jones trio is second-fastest qualifier Bone Chillin, a First Down Dash gelding who is finding his form as a three-year-old.

Bone Chillin was winless from two starts last year, but is now two-for-two this year.

The gelding won a maiden race by three quarters of a length in March at Sunland Park and came back to take the eighth Ruidoso Derby trial by a length and one quarter. He was clocked in :19.813.

Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., qualifying Tempting Destiny in the third trial. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
“He ran a huge race,” said jockey Cody Jensen. “Last year, he looked good at the ranch, but he just lost interest. So he was gelded and turned out. He’s really matured and just look at him.” Bone Chillin was waking ahead of Jensen and showing his large stifle and gaskin.

Bone Chillin was a $200,000 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by 5 Guys and Fries Partnership.

Jones also saddled fourth-fastest qualifier Glock and fifth-fastest qualifier Bf Farm Boss. Glock, a colt by leading third crop sire Foose, was timed in :19.820 while prevailing in a three-horse blanket finish, Bf Farm Boss ran like his older brother and Ruidoso Downs’ 440-yard track-record holder Strawkin to get a late running :19.824 time. Bf Farm Bois is by champion sire Hawkinson.

Glock cruises, under jockey Salvador Martinez in the seventh trial. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
“Strawkins was quieter, but he is a gelding,” said Jones. “They are both big horses who like a distance of ground.”

The first of two finalist for trainer Michael Joiner came in the second trial when Tempting Destiny rolled to half-length win over fellow qualifier Fast Kopy Kat in the third fastest time of :19.817 seconds. G.R. Carter, Jr. rode the Tempting Dash gelding for owners Mark Allen, Leonard Blach, Henry Southway and Linda Joiner.

Joiner's second finalist was 2014 All American Futurity fastest qualifier Thunderball B, an FDD Dynasty gelding who finished second to Bf Farm Boss in his 2015 career debut.

Trainer John Stinebaugh also saddled two finalists. The lightly raced First Famous Effort was a daylight winner in the final trial for owner Louis Howard. The One Famous Eagle gelding qualified for the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity last year's while winning his career debut by 2 ¾ lengths. It was bumped hard in the $263,621 final while finishing a troubling sixth in his last start before today.

Ramon Sanchez qualifying Bf Farm Boss in the sixth trial.
© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Stinebaugh's second qualifier Cobalte Creek, a Walk Thru Fire gelding owned by VWP Jr. Inc., finished second a neck behind Glock to get the sixth fastest time.

Last summer’s futurity winners did not have their best days while each was coming off a winter-long layoff. Champion and Ruidoso Futurity winner Kiss My Hocks was fourth in the seventh trial, All American Futurity winner Jm Miracle was second in the ninth trial and Rainbow Futurity winner Trendi was second in the fifth trial.

For a complete list of Ruidoso Derby finalists, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Jockey Omar Reyes aboard First Famous Effort in the final trial. © Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Leading the eligible horses for the Mr Jess Perry is 11th-fastest qualifier Jm Onehotchickie. The First Down Dash filly won the fourth trial in :19.911.

Jm Onehotchickie has the same owner and trainer as top-qualifier Jm Specialwynn.

For a list of Mr Jess Perry eligible horses by their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Ruidoso Downs’ first three days have seen exceptional handle figures. On Saturday, the handle was $711,854, which was up 27 percent over a year ago. There were 12 races, including 10 Ruidoso Derby trials, on the comparable 2014 day.

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.