Thursday, August 05, 2010
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack will play host to a pair of Quarter Horse stakes this weekend.
On Saturday, a full field of 10 2-year-olds will square off in the 350-yard, $60,210 John Deere New Mexico Juvenile Challenge (G3). This race will be followed by the $30,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G3) on Sunday.
First post time both days will be 1 p.m. (MDT).
The Juvenile Challenge is headed by fastest qualifier and 3-1 morning-line favorite Dominyun. A homebred colt by champion Mr Jess Perry racing for Bobby D. Cox from the barn of John Buchanan, Dominyun broke his maiden with a neck victory in the fourth of eight trials on July 22.
Other contenders in the Juvenile Challenge include Carmina LLC’s Feature Honor, the second-fastest qualifier and winner of the April 11 Prize Classic Stakes at the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City, and David E. Barrett’s Fast Movin Vic, a homebred gelding by Mighty Invictus who ran third, one length behind winner No Dice Special, in the Grade 1 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park back in April.
The winner of the Juvenile Challenge will represent New Mexico in the November 19, $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.
All horses have been assigned to carry 120 pounds. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds – Palm Beach (Cody Jensen), 5-1; Features Lucky Charm (Larry Payne), 12-1; Feature Honor (Tony Guymon), 4-1; DM Strait (Manuel Gutierrez), 12-1; Cuz IBA Okey (Jacky Martin), 5-1; Rezoomed (Cody Wainscott), 20-1; Granturismo (Russel Hadley), 8-1; Dominyun (Freddie Martinez), 3-1; Fast Movin Vic (G.R. Carter Jr.), 9-2; and Tebo Creek (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 10-1.
Named in honor of Quarter Horse racing’s world champion in 1972, the 400-yard Mr Jet Moore drew a field of seven aged runners and serves as the major prep race for the 440-yard, $50,000 All American Gold Cup (G3) on closing weekend.
Mountain Racing LLC’s Pepper Perry is the likely favorite. A 4-year-old stallion by Mr Jess Perry trained by Carl Draper, Pepper Perry ran second in last year’s $147,927 Hobbs America Derby (G3) at Zia Park, and he was a finalist in the Grade 1, $480,857 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey and weight assignments – Double Out (Noe Garcia, 123), Double Chiseled (J. Garcia, 123), Pepper Perry (Larry Payne, 123), Anywhere Bully (Cody Jensen, 123), Honor Me Good (Oscar Rincon, 122), Chicks Gotta Secret (Oscar Ortega, 123), and Stare Ya Down (L.A. Perez, 120).
For more information on Ruidoso Downs racing, visit www.raceruidoso.com.