RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 12, 2021—Empressum, the gelding who set a new track record at 400-yards in the Ruidoso Derby trials, showed that it was no fluke by winning the G1 $673,567 Ruidoso Derby with a time of :19.33 today over a fast track.

The race-time favorite paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.40 winning by a length over Valiant Stars who finished second and Jettz who ran third.

Empressum is owned by Jeff Jones and Steve Holt. The sorrel gelding was home-bred in Oklahoma by Jones and Holt who paid $30,000 to supplement him into the trials. Trained by Heath Taylor, the 3-year-old is by Apollitical Jess out of Crazy Down Corona by First Down Dash.

"I'm just happy everything worked out. It was a short recovery time after the trials and we needed every single day to get him prepared," said trainer Taylor. "This horse has tremendous focus on his job and showed his ability in the last hundred yards of the final. He's special, and we're proud and humbled to be training such a tremendous race horse."

He also won the Remington Park Derby on April 17 with Rodrigo Vallejo in the irons. Vallejo was aboard for the win today as well.

"He was actually stepping back not forwards when the gates opened, so he completely missed the break," said Vallejo. "Then after three or four jumps, he made up for that mistake and pulled away. The horse opened up and gave a very strong finish."

Runner-up Valiant Stars earned $121,092 for his second-place effort. Fred Danley conditions the son of champion sire Valiant Hero for owners J&SM, Inc. and Stone Chase Stables, LLC. Bred by McColee Land & Livestock LLC, from the Greeley's Galaxy (TB) mare Cluster Of Stars (TB), Valiant Stars has compiled a (7) 3-2-0 record and earned $136,887. Noe Garcia, Jr. was up.

Bobby D. Cox's homebred Jettz boosted his career earnings mark to $440,707 after pocketing $67,273 for third. The son of leading second-crop sire One Fabulous Eagle is trained by Juan Vazquez and ridden by Francisco Calderon. The brown gelding who was third in the Ruidoso QH Futurity(G1) and 4th in the All American Futurity(G1) last year is out of the First Down Dash mare First To Celebrate.

Kj Sonny P, Volcoms Class, Mahomes, Karl Strauss, Apollitical Redflash, Separate Sentence and For The Irony completed the field.

Ruidoso Invitational

In the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational, the consolation to the Derby, A Dangerous Flash was the best covering the 400-yards :19.547. Owned by Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant and Norman Allen, the brown gelding hails from the barn of Todd Fincher and was ridden by Adrian Ramos.

Audie and Kaye Williams bred the son of champion sire First Moonflash in Colorado from the Walk Thru Fire mare Flamen N Flash. A $70,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, A Dangerous Flash has won four of seven starts and earned $71,794.

Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Shott Gun finished second for owner-breeder Bobby D. Cox. Trainer Heath Taylor named Rodrigo Vallejo to ride the son of Valiant Hero from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Popping. The gray gelding has compiled a (8) 4-2-0 record and the $18,898 Invitational payday today boosted his bankroll to $387,757.

Johnny Trotter's homebred Famous Cartel Jess earned $10,499 for third. Raul Ramirez, Jr. had the riding call for trainer Michael Joiner. The Mr Jess Perry colt out of Famous Cartel Lady by Corona Cartel has banked $100,778 in 10 career starts.

B Cause Im A Hero, Bv Georgy Girl, Ivorina, Miss Famous Eagle and Packsaddle Senator completed the field. Dulce Sin Tacha, Elphaba were scratched.

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In other racing action today, trainer Todd Fincher qualified five of the ten thoroughbreds in trials for the $123,991 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity to be run on Saturday, June 26.

Marked, Lead Monterey, and Mark's Warrior each qualified in the fourth race by finishing 1-2-3, and Life Jacket and Lonza Who finished 1-2 in the sixth race.

Marked was the most impressive winning the fourth race by more than six lengths.

"She was quick on her feet and showed maturity in the stretch," said Fincher. "The jockey shut her down, and she still won by more than six. She has a strong future if we can keep her healthy."

Racing continues tomorrow with the running of the $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity and the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational. Both races will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel beginning at 4:00 PM MDT. Post time is 1:00 PM.

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For more information about the Ruidoso Downs 2021 racing schedule or to reserve your tickets and plan your visit, go to RaceRuidoso.com.