Dust Alert stays unbeaten in Rio Grande Senorita Futurity

Dust Alert, the higher-priced of two unbeaten fillies, won the battle in Saturday’s $165,771 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity for New Mexico-bred 2-year-old fillies at Ruidoso Downs.

Part of a three-way battle for the lead with 7-5 favorite Blaze to Glory and her uncoupled stablemate Tijuana, Dust Alert ($7)emerged with a clear lead in midstretch and drew off by 2 3/4 lengths to win her third consecutive start for trainer Weston Martin and jockey Irwin Rosendo. She completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.72.

Tijuana got second by three-quarters of a length from Blaze to Glory.

The filly Astica ($3.20) cruised to her fourth straight daylight victory, winning the Grade 2, $162,412 Zia Quarter Horse Derby under Adrian Ramos by 1 1/2 lengths in 19.51 seconds for 400 yards.

Trained by Wesley Giles for Mj Farms, Astica is now 5 for 8 lifetime.