Racing


Colby James Narrow Winner of Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs
Colby James (#10), under jockey Alan Hernandez, holds off Princess Katelyn (#3) and jockey Esgar Ramirez to win the $404,357 Mountain Top Futurity(RG3) Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs
Colby James Narrow Winner of Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 15, 2019—Rex Wells' Colby James prevailed in a tight finish over Princess Katelyn to win the Restricted-Grade 3 $404,357 Mountain Top Futurity for New Mexico-breds on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

Colby James covered the 350 yards in :17.796 to get the nose decision over Princess Katelyn. Dark Moon finished another length back for third.

The Alan Hernandez-ridden Colby James broke well from the outside post position in the 10-horse field. "I think he was on the lead," Hernandez said. "Then I looked over and saw the three (Princess Katelyn) was ahead and my horse rebroke and got the lead."

That nose win earned Colby James $169,673. He was purchased for $15,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico-bred Yearling Sale. MJ Farms bred the winner.

"He's been a pro since the day we got him," winning trainer Rodolfo "Rudy" Valles said. "We had to work with him in the gate and he seems to be better."

Valles worked for hall of fame trainer "Sleepy" Gilbreath for three years before starting his own stable. "I really want to thank Sleepy. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have this horse," Valles said.

Colby James now has three wins from four starts with his only setback a second-place run in the $393,493 New Mexican Spring Futurity for New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park. In that 300-yard dash the gelding was beaten by a neck.

A gelding by Jesse James Jr., from the Blushing Bug mare Sandy June Bug, Colby James started his career in sparkling fashion when he set the fastest-qualifying time to the Spring Futurity. He raced the 300 yards in :15.136 to top the 11 trials at Sunland Park back on April 13.

After his second-place finish in the Spring Futurity, Colby James won his Mountain Top Futurity trial by a dominating one-and-one-quarter lengths over Princess Katelyn with the fourth-fastest qualifying time of :17.729 for 350 yards. There were 13 Mountain Top Futurity trials on May 31.

Edilberto Estrada's homebred Princess Katelyn, ridden by Esgar Ramirez, missed gaining her first stakes win by the narrowest of margins.

The Jose Luis Muela-trained Princess Katelyn also started her career in the Spring Futurity trials. She won her Spring Futurity trial by two-and-one quarter lengths with the third-fastest qualifying time of :15.165.

Princess Katelyn finished seventh in the Spring Futurity.

The daughter of Big Daddy Cartel was then second to Colby James in their deep Mountain Top Futurity trial. Her time of :17.931 was the 10th-fastest qualifying mark. She is out of the Separatist mare Muy Rapido and earned $72,784 for the effort.

Third-place finisher Dark Moon, trained by Clint Crawford, sustained her first defeat after two wins. The First Moonflash-sired filly won a maiden race at Remington Park and then won her Mountain Top Futurity trial by three quarters of a length with the seventh-fastest qualifying time of :17.902.

Juan Pulido rode Dark Moon in the Mountain Top Futurity. Mike Abraham and Grant Farms bred the filly from the Ivory James mare Special Dark Ivory. She picked up $40,436 for third.

Big Edge, Amethyst, Mister Riptide, James Gang Boss, Absolutely Flashing, Daddie Lil Darlin and Last Fight completed the field.

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