Preview Racing


Champion Kiss My Hocks Leads Deep Ruidoso Derby Trials On Sunday
Champion Kiss My Hocks will start in the seventh trials at Ruidoso on Sunday.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Champion Kiss My Hocks Leads Deep Ruidoso Derby Trials On Sunday

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 23, 2015— Champion and Ruidoso Futurity winner Kiss My Hocks makes his first appearance since the All American Futurity trials back in August when he starts in the trials to the Grade 1, $815,045 Ruidoso Derby on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs.

First post time is 1 p.m. There is always free parking and free general admission at Ruidoso Downs. Racing runs on a Friday through Monday schedule.

There were 91 horses entered in the 10 trials with no supplemental nominees.

Kiss My Hocks was sensational last year and honored as champion two-year-old and champion two-year-old colt while earning $692,380. His owners, Conda Maze and Tyler Graham, earned 2014 champion owners’ honors.

A son of Tempting Dash, Kiss My Hocks showed his brilliance in his career debut. He started in the Sam Houston Futurity trials and broke the 330-yard track record with his :16.433 time. The colt backed up that effort in the Grade 2, $563,950 Sam Houston Futurity when he sped to a one-half length win as the 9-5 favorite.

Moving on to Ruidoso Downs with the Toby Keeton stable, Kiss My Hocks secured his championship awards. He won the Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity by one-half length and then was second by a neck to Trendi in the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity.

After winning his All American Futurity trial by one-and-one-half lengths and not racing to a qualifying time, Keeton took him home and pointed him to the three Grade 1 derbies at Ruidoso Downs this summer. In addition to the Ruidoso Derby, they are the $1 million (est.) Rainbow Derby and the $2.3 million All American Derby.

Cody Jensen rides Kiss My Hocks from the second post position in the seventh trial.

J and M Racing and Farm’s Jm Miracle makes his first start since winning the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Labor Day. A year ago, the Volcom-sired gelding showed he preferred a distance of ground when he closed strongly to finish second in the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity.

When Jm Miracle faced the 440 yards of the All American Futurity he sped to a one-half length win and took $1.3 million of his career earnings of $1,462,000.

Jm Miracle drew the sixth post position in the ninth trial and Ramon Sanchez will be up. William Smith’s Trendi, a sister to world champion and All American Futurity winner Stolis Winner, boosted her value when she scored a 44-1 upset win in the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity in July. She took the lead and then held off Kiss My Hocks. That was her final 2014 start for the Wes Giles-trained Stoli filly and she makes her 2015 debut in the Ruidoso Derby trials.

Trendi has earned $389,790 since being purchased for $210,000 in the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Trendi starts from the sixth post position in the fifth trial and Joe Badilla Jr. will be aboard.