BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 7, 2021—For The Irony, an undefeated son of Valiant Hero owned by Diamond Racing Stables, will put his perfect record on the line against nine 3-year-olds in Saturday’s 400-yard, $673,731 Ruidoso Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

The sixth-fastest qualifier from 10 trials contested on May 30, For The Irony has won all seven of his starts and has earned $139,008. The black gelding and $20,000 purchase at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale has won all five of his outs at Ruidoso Downs, including last year’s 350-yard, $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational Stakes, and 400-yard, $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Invitational Stakes.

For The Irony drew post 3 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. for trainer Albert Valles.

Empressum, the fastest qualifier, is coming off of a clear 2 1/2-length victory in his Ruidoso Derby trial. The gelded son of world champion Apollitical Jess brings in a three-race win streak that includes a neck victory at odds of 16-1 in the 400-yard, $356,000 Remington Park Derby RG2 for Oklahoma-bred sophomores on April 17.

Heath Taylor trains Empressum for owners Jeff D. Jones and Steve A. Holt. The gelding drew post 9 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. Valiant Stars (Noe Garcia Jr.), 20-1
2. Mahomes (Emilio Tapia), 15-1
3. For The Irony (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 7-5
4. Apollitical Redflash (Jorge Torres), 12-1
5. Separate Sentence (Raul A. Valenzuela), 12-1
6. Volcoms Class (Jose A. Alvarez), 20-1
7. Karl Strauss (James A. Flores), 30-1
8. KJ Sonny P (Adrian Ramos), 30-1
9. Empressum (Rodrigo Vallejo), 6-5
10. Jettz (Francisco Calderon), 8-1

Also on Saturday, a dozen 3-year-olds (including two also-eligible entries) are entered back in the 400-yard, $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational Stakes.

Dulce Sin Tacha, a son of Jess Good Candy racing for Bob and Jerry Gaston and the 9-5 morning-line favorite, drew post 9 and will be ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr. for trainer Heath Taylor. Dulce Sin Tacha has won his last three starts, including the 400-yard, $1.031-million Texas Classic Futurity (G1).

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

1. BV Georgy Girl (Ruben Castro), 12-1
2. Packsaddle Senator (James Flores), 10-1
3. B Cause Im A Hero (Francisco Calderon), 8-1
4. Miss Famous Eagle (Jose E. Ortiz), 30-1
5. Elphaba (Jorge Torres), 15-1
6. Ivorina (Noe Garcia Jr.), 20-1
7. Famous Cartel Jess (Raul Ramirez Jr.), 5-1
8. Shott Gun (Rodrigo Vallejo), 9-2
9. Dulce Sin Tacha (Oscar Andrade Jr.), 9-5
10. A Dangerous Flash (Adrian Ramos), 7-2
11. AE-Tres Dos Uno (Adrian Ramos), 30-1
12. AE-TLC Apache Heart (James Flores), 30-1

All Ruidoso Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.