RUIDOSO – Jockey Francisco Calderon will have a big decision to make after two days of trial races were held last weekend for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
When the dust settled after 32 trial races, Calderon was the winning rider aboard both the first- and second-fastest qualifiers on Friday. Calderon came back and scored another win in a trial race on Saturday, again aboard the fastest qualifier of the day.
A total of 32 trial races were held on Friday and Saturday for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity, with the five fastest qualifiers from each day earning a spot in the starting gate for the second jewel of quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown, which will be held on July 16.
On the second day of Rainbow Futurity trials, Calderon scored a victory aboard One Valiant Love, who proved to be the fastest qualifier of the day when he won the 14th trial heat of the day, racing 400 yards in a final time of 19.74 seconds.
Trained by Monty Arrossa, One Valiant Love has won three straight races, including his most recent start in the $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
On Friday, Calderon teamed with trainer Santos Carrizales, Jr. to win the fourth race of the day when Dark NME cruised to a 3 ¼ length win, crossing the finish line in a sparkling time of 19.61 seconds. That time established that runner as the fastest qualifier in the Futurity. The team came back to earn the second-fastest qualifying spot in the 14th trial of the day when Trane Station V scored a 2 ¼ length win, racing the 400 yards in a final time of 20.05 seconds.
Calderon continued his dominant weekend of trial race victories on Sunday, capturing a win aboard Sicario V, the fastest qualifier after nine trial heats were held for the $800,000-added Rainbow Derby, scheduled for July 15.
Sicario V, a California-bred son of Favorite Cartel and winner of three races from nine lifetime starts, crossed the finish line a length ahead of Lethal Viking in the 14th trial race on the Sunday card, hitting the finish line in a final time of 21.33 seconds for 440 yards.
Trained by Carrizales, Sicario V has won each of his last three starts. Last time out, he won the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational on June 10.
Sicario V finished just a shade ahead of Ruidoso Derby winner Cyber Attack for the fastest qualifying time for the Rainbow Derby. Cyber Attack, a seven-time winner from 10 career starts, beat Ghost Witha Fire by a half-length when winning the 15th trial heat, stopping the timer in 21.44 seconds.
Cyber Attack, trained by Christopher O’Dell, was ridden to victory by Eduardo Nicasio in the trial heat.
For a look at the full field scheduled to run in the Rainbow Derby, check out the list of qualifiers at stallionesearch.com.
In the Oaks trials, Fearless Moon and jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr., earned the role of fastest qualifier for the $478,000-added race when they scored a one-length win in the sixth trial heat on Sunday, stopping the clock in a time of 21.53 seconds at 440 yards.
Fearless Moon, trained by John Stinebaugh, snapped a five-race losing streak when winning her trial. She most recently ran fifth in the Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park on June 3.
Six of the 10 fastest qualifiers for the July 15 Oaks came out of the same race, with the top four finishers all earning the four fastest times, including runner-up A Lucky Ladie, third-place finisher Cartel Kisses and fourth place finisher Legacy Cartel.
In addition to One Valiant Love, four more horses earned a spot in the starting gate for the Rainbow Futurity, setting the stage for the second jewel of quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown.
Midnight Politics, a romping winner in the seventh trial of the day, earned the second- fastest qualifying time of the day when he scored under jockey Edwin Escobedo for trainer Jason Olmstead. Midnight Politics reached the finish line in a time of 19.8 seconds.
Rayenare, ridden by Esgar Ramirez to victory in the 11th trial race in a time of 19.851 seconds, also earned a spot in the starting gate for the Futurity for trainer Manuel Rodriguez. Asscher, ridden by Christian Ramos for trainer Marc Jungers, earned the fourth-fastest time of the day when winning the 12th heat and qualified with a final time of 19.854 seconds.
Rounding out the five fastest qualifiers from Saturday was ninth race winner King Apache, ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Christopher O’Dell. Unbeaten after two career starts, King Apache crossed the finish line in a time of 19.87 seconds.
In addition to riding the two fastest qualifiers of the day, Calderon won three races, including a victory aboard Dezigner Jeanz for trainer John Stinebaugh.
When the Friday trials concluded, three horses from the fourth race of the day earned a spot in the starting gate for the Rainbow Futurity. The winner Dark NME will be joined by runner-up Scream Machine and third-place finisher Wired 440.
Also earning a spot in the starting gate from Friday was Trane Station V as well as Mitey Relentless, winner of the sixth trial heat of the day. Trained by Jesus Rondan, Jr. and ridden to victory by Luis Martinez, Mitey Relentless was the fifth fastest runner of the day, racing 400 yards in a time of 20.13 seconds.
For a look at the prospective field for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity, check out the race’s official page at stallionesearch.com.
For more information on upcoming stakes races at Ruidoso Downs, check out the official racing schedule at raceruidoso.com.
