Dark Nme lowers Ruidoso track record with Rainbow Futurity win

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. – Dark Nme is not only a perfect Quarter Horse filly, she is a record breaker.

On Sunday at Ruidoso Downs, Dark Nme won the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at 400 yards with a final time of 19.02 seconds. She lowered the track record of 19.14 set by Empressum in a time trial for the 2021 Ruidoso Derby.

Ridden by Francisco Calderon, Dark Nme (pronounced ENEMY) broke sharply and immediately had a comfortable lead. Dark Nme ($2.80) led by 2 1/2 lengths midway through the race and won by 3 1/2 lengths over 10-1 One Valiant Love and 13-1 Trane Station V, who finished in a dead heat for second.

One Valiant Love was vanned off.

Dark Nme is unbeaten in five starts, including the $804,150 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity at 330 yards on April 22.

Dark Nme has had three starts at Ruidoso Downs this year. She won a division of the Ruidoso Futurity trials at 350 yards on May 26, but was not fast enough to gain a berth in the Ruidoso Futurity final on June 11. She qualified for the $100,000 consolation, but was not entered in favor of a start in the Rainbow Futurity trials.

On June 30, Dark Nme won a division of the Rainbow trials in 19.61 to establish the fastest qualifying time on the first of two days of trials.

Dark Nme, by Hes Relentless, races for owners Willie and Nancy Garcia of Hebbronville, Texas, and trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.

Dark Nme has earned $769,062. Willie Garcia said Dark Nme will be pointed to the All American Futurity trials at 440 yards on Aug. 11-12. The five fastest runners from each day of those trials advance to the $3 million final on Sept. 4.

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