Fernweh by a head in $1 million Ruidoso Futurity
RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. - Fernweh gave trainer Trey Wood a sweep of the major Quarter Horse stakes at Ruidoso Downs this weekend with a win in Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity, and gave jockey Ricky Ramirez a much-needed boost.
Wood had four of the 10 qualifiers in the Ruidoso Futurity, and Ramirez rode three of them to victories in time trials on May 24-25. Ramirez chose to ride Fernweh in the final.
Saturday, Ramirez could only finish fourth in the $958,766 Ruidoso Derby on Flying Cowboy 123 after choosing that colt over the gelding Apocalyptical Jess, who won the race under jockey Tanner Thedford. Wood trains Apocalyptical Jess and Flying Cowboy 123.
In the Ruidoso Futurity, Fernweh ($3.80) won the 350-yard race by a head over BV Sheslikethewind.
“This makes up for what happened yesterday,” Ramirez said in the winner’s circle. “Stakes races can be up and down and this one is up.”
Fernweh, owned by Rusty Allred of Graham, Texas, broke well from post 8. Ramirez had the filly away in good order and dueling for the early lead with BV Sheslikethewind, a filly who broke from post 2. The two were always within a head of each other. Fernweh ran 350 yards in 17.47 seconds and earned $420,000.
“She always leaves in front and she left there so fast,” Ramirez said. “She held them off and ran perfect.”
BV Sheslikethewind, a 16-1 chance trained by Eddie Willis, finished a half-length in front of 21-1 Oatman Creek Senator, a gelding.
Wood also finished fourth with Lil Miss Sashay, eighth with Kiss Thru Fire, and ninth with Silk for My Hero V.
Fernweh won her debut in a division of the time trials on May 25, setting the fastest qualifying time of 17.56 seconds that day. Fernweh, by Favorite Cartel, was purchased for $20,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City last September.
The five fastest qualifiers from each day of the trials earned berths in the final. Only nine started. At Attention, a trial race winner on May 24, was scratched by trainer John Stinebaugh.
