RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 13, 2021—The rain that had been coming down for about an hour prior stopped just in time for the running of the $1 Million G1 Ruidoso Futurity, the first jewel in the Quarter Horse Triple Crown.

The horse that crossed the finish line first by a neck was Jess Savin Candy who went off at race-time with odds of 10-1 and paid $24.00 to win, $8.20 to place and $6.20 to show on a fast track with a time of :17.559.

The bay gelding by leading second-crop sire Jess Good Candy out of Savin Grace by Pappasito, is owned by Dutch Masters, III (A.J. Streelman et al) and hails from the barn of John Stinebaugh who with the win today got in the winner’s circle for the first time in a Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown race.

“This is a topper,” said Stinebaugh. “Once he got down the race track, and his lane opened up, I knew it was on. I felt my horse would be fastest in the final strides, and that’s really how it turned out.”

Jess Savin Candy, a $30,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, was bred in Oklahoma by Jim and Donna O’Neal and was ridden to victory today by jockey Francisco Calderon. This is also Calderon’s first Triple Crown win at Ruidoso Downs.

“I feel like this horse is only going to get better with more distance. I did my best to keep him focused and motivated, and when I asked him, he responded,” said jockey Calderon. “He’s big and bold when he runs. I’m looking forward to whatever his next opportunity might be.”

Jess Fire Me, a $68,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, earned $180,000 for finishing second. Albert Valles trains the son of champion sire Walk Thru Fire for owner Empire Racing. Bred in Utah by Speed LLC, from the blue-hen mare Jess Sass Me by Mr Jess Perry, Jess Fire me was the fastest qualifier from two days of trials for the Ruidoso Futurity on May 28 and 29. Adrian Ramos had the riding call.

Tactical Fire, a brother to Los Alamitos Derby(G1) winner Ynot Walk, earned $100,000 for third. Mark and Annette McCloy paid $70,000 for the son of Walk Thru Fire at the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Trey Wood saddled with Tanner Thedford getting the riding call. Steve D. Burns, DVM bred Tactical Fire from the Chicks Beduino mare Ynot Bar.

Revenant Moon, who was heavily favored going into the race and went off as the race-time favorite, had a bad start and was never a factor in the race. She ended up finishing last.

Completing the order-of-finish wereFavorite Blues Man, Lethal Jet, Kj Desparado, Mr Apollo Jess, Apollitical J Legacy, Vee Aye Pea and Revenant Moon.

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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.