High Rate of Motion a more formidable Ruidoso Futurity contender than trial time suggests

High Rate of Motion fought his way through a vicious headwind last month en route to a victory and the role of favorite for Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

There were 13 trials at 350 yards on May 26-27, with the five fastest finishers each day advancing to Sunday’s race. In the May 26 trials, only High Rate of Motion posted a time faster than 18 seconds, finishing in 17.994. A 19 mph headwind led to the relatively slow clocking.

On May 27, with milder winds, the five qualifiers were timed in 17.97 or faster.

High Rate of Motion, a Louisiana-bred gelding, won his time trial by two lengths, the widest margin of victory among the first-day qualifiers.

Owned by the High Rate Partners syndicate and trained by Mike Joiner, High Rate of Motion will have his fourth start in the Ruidoso Futurity, the first of three seven-figure futurities at Ruidoso Downs this spring and summer. The Rainbow Futurity, with an estimated purse of $1 million, will be run July 23. The All American Futurity, estimated at $3 million, will be run Sept. 4, the closing day of the meeting.

High Rate of Motion was third in the $50,000 West Texas Juvenile at 300 yards at Sunland Park on April 15, the consolation to the $230,132 West Texas Futurity. High Rate of Motion had a sharper start in the Ruidoso Futurity trials, Joiner told Ruidoso publicity May 26.

“He’s a tall, lanky colt,” Joiner said. “He couldn’t get away from the gate, and today is the best he’s ever done.”

High Rate of Motion was ridden by Cody Jensen in the West Texas Juvenile and Ruidoso Futurity trial. Jensen retains the mount.

Eagle Jazz, who has had four starts, is the overall fastest qualifier, having won a trial race May 27 in 17.87 seconds while facing an 8 mph headwind. Trained by Judd Kearl for owner and breeder Juan Medina, Eagle Jazz won the trial by two lengths.

At Remington Park earlier this spring, Eagle Jazz was second by a head in the $931,100 Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity at 300 yards, his only career loss.

The gelding This Is a Deal Too will attract support for his win by 1 3/4 lengths in 17.95 seconds while facing a 10 mph headwind May 27.