Grade 2 Rainbow Oaks morning line favorite Curls Happy Wagon (5-2) appears to be peaking at the right time for Saturday's 440-yard race for 3-year-old fillies.

© Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JULY 6, 2025–A field of ten three-year-old fillies will line up Saturday, July 12, for the $550,548 Grade 1 Rainbow Quarter Horse Oaks at Ruidoso Downs.

The 440-yard final for fillies qualified by time is Race 8 on the card, with an approximate post time of 4:02 PM (MDT). First post Saturday is set for 1:00 PM at Ruidoso Downs.

Morning line favorite Curls Happy Woman (5-2) will break from post eight for owner Jackpot Farm. Trained by Ricardo G. Armendariz, Jr. and ridden by Jesse L. Levario, the Oklahoma-bred daughter of Favorite Cartel, out of Curls Happy Wagon by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, was a powerful trial winner, drawing clear to win by daylight in 21.278 for the 440 yards, earning a 105 speed index.

Bred by Herd Ranch/Michael Herd, Curls Happy Woman was a $290,000 Ruidoso Select Sale purchase. She sports a record of four wins and two placings from eight starts and appears to be peaking at the right time for her connections.

Second-choice #7 Hott Temptation (7-2) brings excellent form into the final for Reliance Ranches, LLC. Trained by Rodolfo G. Valles and ridden by Justine Klaiber, the Texas-bred filly by Tempting Dash out of Pandorum by Tres Seis was sharp winning her trial heat by daylight in 21.278 good for a 98 speed index.

A $190,000 Ruidoso Select Sale graduate bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, Hott Temptation has five wins from 13 career starts and already owns two stakes victories this season, including the La Pacifica and Virginia Hyland Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Jessesflyingcowgirl (9-2) will break from the outside post for owner Jose Luis Gonzalez and trainer Marc E. Jungers. Christian Ramos rides the consistent daughter of Flying Cowboy 123, out of Jesses Dashair by Dashair.

Bred in Oklahoma by Celia Kinsey & Sandra Wood, Jessesflyingcowgirl is three-for-three this year, including a narrow victory in the trials where she dug in gamely to win by a head in 21.546. She won the $65,000 Adequan Derby Challenge at Sam Houston earlier this spring and was a $50,762 earner from six starts, four of them wins.

The 2025 Rainbow Oaks final promises to be a thrilling showdown at the classic quarter mile, with a field talented fillies looking to add a prestigious Grade 1 title to their resumes as well as a payday valued at $230,627.

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