Quarter horses will be in the spotlight this weekend at Ruidoso Downs, as the track hosts the 400-yard, $568,965 Ruidoso Derby (G1) on Saturday, and the 350-yard, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity (G1) on Sunday.

Fastest qualifier Double Down Special, a gelding by the late The Down Side racing for Vanessa Bartoo of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, has drawn post 8 and is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Derby. Double Down Special has won three consecutive races, including the Grade 3, 400-yard West Texas Derby at Sunland Park on April 3.

This year’s Ruidoso Derby will offer a stakes-record purse, which breaks the previous record of $388,830 set in 2008. Past winners of the race include world champion DM Shicago in 2005) and champions Okey Dokey Dale (1999) and Heartswideopen (’08).

All finalists will tote 122 pounds. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds – Swingin Daddyo (Cody Wainscott), 15-1; Jess So Sixy (Bonifacio Perez), 10-1; Kuhl Little Man (Jeremy Garcia), 20-1; Sir Seth (Ricky Ramirez), 5-1; Runaway Stoli (Francisco Navarette), 12-1; Hott Feett (Ramon Sanchez), 8-1; Stepenos (Cody Jensen), 12-1; Double Down Special (Salvador Martinez), 5-2; CD Frontier Justice (Larry Payne), 3-1; and Smokey Stone (Oscar Hernandez), 6-1.

The Ruidoso Futurity is the first leg of the All American Triple Crown, which includes the 400-yard, $625,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) on July 25, and the 440-yard, $1.9-million All American Futurity (G1) on Labor Day, September 6. Fastest qualifier American Runaway, one of two finalists prepped by eight-time AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, will break from post 7 while trying for his first career stakes victory.

A Utah-bred colt by champion Ocean Runaway racing for Sammy Martinez and Johnny Martinez, American Runaway broke his maiden with a 4 ¾-length victory in the sixth of 19 Ruidoso Futurity trials on May 28. American Runaway has earned $106,273 from four starts, and his stakes resume includes a second-place finish to Llano Teller in the April 17, $596,041 Remington Park Futurity (G1) in Oklahoma.

All horses have been assigned to carry 120 pounds. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments – No Dice Special (Salvador Martinez), Legendary Express (Abdel Torres), Treason (G.R. Carter Jr.), Fredona (Tony Guymon), Unanchored (Larry Payne), Brimmin To Pass (Jeremy Garcia), American Runaway (Cody Jensen), Absolut Treasure (J.D. Brooks), Bodacious Dash (Ricky Ramirez), and Royally Sandra (Ramon Sanchez).