Cyber Attack, Sicario V clash again in All American Derby
This has been a busy summer at Ruidoso Downs for the 3-year-old Quarter Horses Cyber Attack and Sicario V, with one pivotal race remaining.
After posting major stakes wins in June and July, Cyber Attack and Sicario V are two of the leading contenders in Sunday’s $1,199,686 All American Derby at 440 yards.
Cyber Attack, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2022, won the $895,633 Ruidoso Derby at 400 yards on June 10, but was second by 1 1/2 lengths to Sicario V in the $804,288 Rainbow Derby at 440 yards on July 16.
Sicario V, second by a neck in the $3 million All American Futurity last year, is unbeaten in five starts this year, all at Ruidoso Downs. He won the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational on June 10, the consolation of the Ruidoso Derby.
The All American Derby will be the second meeting between the two geldings, who earned berths to the race with diverse results in time trials on Aug. 13.
Sicario V won a trial in 21.54 seconds, setting the eighth-fastest qualifying time. Cyber Attack finished fourth as the 1-2 favorite, beaten two lengths, by fastest qualifier Delight Interest later that day. The race was so quick compared to the other eight trials that the first five finishers advanced to the final.
Cyber Attack, who finished worse than second for only the second time in his 12-race career, was timed in 21.52 seconds, good enough for the sixth-fastest qualifying time.
On Sunday, Sicario V has the outside post in a field of 10, while Cyber Attack starts from post 2. Delight Interest will start in post 9, which could lead to quite a duel between the two outside runners.
Trained by Toby Keeton, Delight Interest won his fifth consecutive start in the All American Derby time trials. Earlier this year, Delight Interest won the West Texas Derby at Sunland Park at 400 yards in March, and the Sam Houston Derby at 350 yards in May.
Earlier on the Ruidoso program, two stakes winners on July 15 – Ezee Money, winner of the Rainbow Oaks, and Cool Ya Jets, winner of the Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Oaks, will meet for the first time in the $714,734 All American Oaks at 440 yards, the richest race in history for Quarter Horse fillies.
They face eight rivals, including Streaks of Power, who set the fastest qualifying of 21.58 seconds in time trials on Aug. 13.
Cool Ya Jets has drawn post 5, one position to the inside of Jes An Angel, a trial race winner and the champion 2-year-old filly of 2022.
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