The filly Hotsempting shows her heels to the boys in Ruidoso Quarter Horse Derby

Hotsempting gave the boys the slip shortly after the start Saturday for a length win in the Grade 1, $887,880 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Derby at Ruidoso Downs. Cers Final Try finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Running Buddy.

The Ruidoso Derby was the first leg of the meet’s three major offerings for 3-year-olds. The series continues with the $500,000 Rainbow on July 18 and concludes with the $1 million All American on Sept. 6.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

Hotsempting ($3.20) took the lead soon after the start and never relinquished it while covering 400 yards on a fast track in 20 seconds. Esgar Ramirez, who has ridden Hotsempting in all of her starts, said in a post race interview broadcast by Ruidoso that he always has been confident in the daughter of Tempting Dash.

“Since she was a 2-year-old, she’s always given 100 percent,” he said. “She never makes mistakes. She’s classy.”

“Spectacular filly,” winning trainer Sergio Ibarra said on the same broadcast from Ruidoso.

Hotsempting set the fastest qualifying time for the Ruidoso Derby on May 24, when she captured her 400-yard trial in 19.94 seconds. She won by an outstanding length and a half that afternoon and on Saturday was winning the first stakes race of her career.

Hotsempting races for Miguel Gallegos and Mauricio Gallegos. She has compiled a 5-for-8 record, and with the first-place check of $372,652 on Saturday improved her earnings to $437,945. She was bred in Texas.

* Apollitical J Wild ($12.40) won the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational, which was the consolation for the Ruidoso Derby. He covered 400 yards in 20.06 seconds.