Cyber Attack breaks fast and doesn't look back in Ruidoso Derby

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. – A perfect start gave Cyber Attack an insurmountable lead in Saturday’s $895,633 Ruidoso Derby at Ruidoso Downs, resulting in the second consecutive major stakes win for the champion 2-year-old Quarter Horse of 2022.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Cyber Attack led the Ruidoso Derby field by a length after 100 yards and remained comfortably in front, winning the 400-yard race by 1 1/4 lengths over 5-1 Rock a Jess V.

Beneficial (6-1) finished third in the field of nine, 1 1/2 lengths behind Cyber Attack.

Nicasio has ridden Cyber Attack throughout his career and said the colt had his best start in the Ruidoso Derby.

Sent off favored, Cyber Attack ($3.40) was timed in 19.54 seconds.

Owned by Connie Rosenthal and trained by Chris O’Dell, Cyber Attack won his fourth consecutive race in the Ruidoso Derby. Cyber Attack won a time trial and the final of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last fall in his final two starts of 2022, and won his 3-year-old debut in a division of the Ruidoso Derby trials on May 28.

The win in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity clinched a championship for Cyber Attack, who has won 6 of 9 starts and earned $1,534,083.

Last summer, Cyber Attack was second in the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs despite severely grabbing a quarter shortly after the start.

The Ruidoso Derby is the first of three major derbies at Ruidoso Downs this summer, a series that continues with the Rainbow Derby on July 15 and All American Derby on Sept. 3.

O’Dell said in the winner’s circle that Cyber Attack will be pointed to the Rainbow Derby, which has time trials July 2.

Cyber Attack, by the prominent Quarter Horse stallion Favorite Cartel, is scheduled to be retired at the end of the year.