Fernweh looks to stay perfect in Rainbow Oaks trials

Fernweh will attempt to remain undefeated in five career starts Sunday, when she starts in trials for the inaugural $351,600 Rainbow Oaks at Ruidoso Downs.

The card also includes trials for the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Derby. There are four trials for the Oaks and eight for the Derby. The races will all be run over 440 yards, the distance of both finales on July 18.

The Oaks is a new offering for those owners and trainers who wish to separate their fillies from male rivals in major 3-year-old races at Ruidoso.

“This practice is typical in Thoroughbred racing, but is only happening recently in Quarter Horse racing,” Jeff True, president and general manager of Ruidoso, said in a press release. “We are very excited about this new division.”

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Fernweh is among 32 fillies seeking to qualify for the 10 spots in the Rainbow Oaks. They are competing in four time trials, which go as the first four races on the card. Fernweh goes in the fourth and breaks from the rail under regular rider Ricky Ramirez. Her four wins have all come over males, including last year’s Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity and the Remington Park Futurity in her last start April 18.

Hotsempting will stick with males and run in the Rainbow Derby trials. She defeated such foes last out in the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby. Hotsempting goes in the 12th race and will be looking for her fourth straight win. The chief threat appears to be Determined One, who was third by a neck in last year’s All American Futurity.

There are a total of 72 horses seeking to qualify for the 10 starting gate spots available for the Rainbow Derby. There are two other fillies facing males in the trials, with one of them Big Drama, who shares a name with the champion Thoroughbred. She goes in the 11th race Sunday.

In other Rainbow Derby trial highlights, Uncle D, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, will attempt to qualify when he starts in the sixth race. Love Is Everything V is chasing after his fourth straight win in the seventh-race trial for the Rainbow. His last two wins have come in Oklahoma-bred stakes at Remington Park.