Cowboy 1 (outside) and Its A Good Valentine dead-heat in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Juvenile Stakes at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 8, 2025—A dramatic finish unfolded in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Juvenile Stakes at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino, as Cowboy 1 and Its A Good Valentine stormed to a thrilling dead-heat victory, crossing the wire together in 17.768 seconds over 350 yards, into an 11 mph headwind.

Both juveniles raced stride-for-stride, which left racegoers gasping and judges reviewing the photo before the result was made official.

Cowboy 1, a bay gelding by leading 2025 two-year-old sire of money earners Flying Cowboy 123 out of Kylee Joy by First Moonflash, rallied powerfully under jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. from post 9 to engage his rival in the shadow of the wire.

The winning connections of Its A Good Valentine accept the Ruidoso QH Juvenile Stakes trophy on Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Media

Trained by Eric Valenzuela and owned by AA Farms, LLC, the Oklahoma-bred was purchased for $100,000 at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Today’s win marked his first stakes score and justified his hefty price tag. With a 2-for-2 record the $30,690 winner's split purse increases his earnings total to $36,690.

Matching strides in a heart-pounding finish was Its A Good Valentine, a sorrel gelding by champion Jess Good Candy out of Valiantinecandyrocks by Valiant Hero.

Bred in Utah by Lance and Tammy Finlinson, Its A Good Valentine is trained by Fred Danley and owned by the partnership of J and SM, Inc. and Ross Roark. Jockey Bryan Candanosa rode the gelding aggressively from post 5, urging him into contention early before digging in for a courageous duel to the finish.

The winning connections of Cowboy 1 accept the Ruidoso QH Juvenile Stakes trophy on Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Media

A $90,000 purchase at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the colt claimed a well-earned $30,690 share of the purse in his breakout performance. Also thrid in the Grade 2 West Tesxas Futurity earlier this year, he bankroll swells to $82,211.

Finishing 1¼ lengths behind the leaders in third was Remarkable Cowgirl, a bay filly who also traces her sire line to Flying Cowboy 123. Out of Freighttrain Reba by Freighttrain B, the Texas-bred was bred and is co-owned by Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin.

Trained by Eric Valenzuela and ridden by Jordy Muniz, the filly closed well but could not match the top duo’s blistering pace, stopping the clock in 17.959 seconds with a speed index of 80. She earned $10,230 for the effort to increase her bankroll to $14,230 with a (3) 1-0-2 record.

Following the top three finishers were Stellor in fourth, followed by Scary Flight, Dakota Stone, Entice Me Ona Monday, Wynston, and The Diesel Train.

The track was listed as fast with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s. 

Sunday’s Ruidoso QH Juvenile delivered a true stakes-level spectacle, showcasing a pair of rising stars with bright futures and a field brimming with early talent. With Rainbow Futurity(G1) trials on the horizon, Cowboy 1 and Its A Good Valentine have stamped themselves as contenders to watch.

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