RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 28, 2017—Michael and Beth Harper’s Firing Tools set the fastest-qualifying time to Grade 1, $800,000 Ruidoso Derby while trainer Trey Wood qualified four of the 10 finalists on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs. The horses with the top-10 fastest times race in the June 10 Ruidoso Derby and the horses with the next 10-fastest times gain priority to race in the $100,000 Mr Jess Perry.

Firing Tools, ridden by Esgar Ramirez, absolutely blew away his rivals in the 11th of 12 trials. The $67,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Super Select Yearling Sale went to the lead and then drew out to a remarkable four-length win in his first start since November.

The Walk Thru Fire gelding's time of :19.392 was the quickest mark by the equivalent of one-and-one-half lengths.

"He’s just been training really super," said Keeton. "We’ll see if he can move up off this race."

The Harpers and Keeton were disappointed in the next race when their The Marfa Lights, runner-up in the 2016 Grade 1, $3-million All American Futurity, broke through the starting gate, was checked by the track veterinarian and allowed to race. He ran a lackluster sixth as the 8-5 favorite.

Team Wood, who race under Trey Wood’s name and includes his father Blane, had a fantastic afternoon with four qualifiers and winning six of the 12 trials, headed by third-fastest qualifier Corona Carmelita.

Paragon Farms LLC’s Corona Carmelita made just her second career start in the fourth trial and showed she has grit with a neck win and the third-fastest time of :19.636 under Ricky Ramirez. The jockey was on each of the Wood-trained qualifiers and winners.

An elegant daughter of Corona Cartel, Corona Carmelita made her career debut in March at Remington Park and won a maiden race by three quarters of a length.

Corona Carmelita has a promising upside after missing her two-year-old season.

The filly injured her front legs in last year’s training races and was given the year off. "She had shin issues and there was not surgery," said Trey Wood.

Corona Carmelita was in the same race as All American Futurity winner Imperial Eagle, who never found his stride and finished third. They were in adjoining starting gate stalls, with Carmelita Corona on the outside in the seventh post position, they brushed at the start and Corona Carmelita went to the lead. She held off qualifier One Hot Habit while Imperial Eagle finished third.

Wood and Ramirez also teamed to qualify fourth-fastest qualifier High Plains Perry, ninth-fastest qualifier Tough To Bee and 10th-fastest qualifier Mighty B Cartel.

Nueve Racing’s Apolltical Chad has the experience and showed in his trial he has the form to be dangerous in the Ruidoso Derby.

Making his first start since a fourth-place run in the All American Futurity on Labor Day, the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess won the fifth trial by a front-running one-and-one-quarter lengths with the second-fastest qualifying time of :19.594.

"He went off his grain about 10 days ago and we discovered that his thyroid levels were low. He’s on the upside now," said trainer Wes Giles. "I’m glad it happened then and not closer to the trials."

A year ago, Apolltical Chad burst upon the national quarter horse scene with a game head win over champion A Revenant in the Grade 1, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity.

For the complete list of Ruidoso Derby(G1) qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second ten fastest qualifiers are preferred invites for the $100,000 Mr Jess Perry that will also be contested on June 10th. CLICK HERE for that list.

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