Highly Lethal V sets track record in Ruidoso Futurity win
| # | HorseOdds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nine Degrees | ||
| 8-1 | O. Vargas | J. Enriquez | |
2 | My Golden Boy | ||
| 20-1 | C. Crawford | J. Enriquez | |
3 | Highly Lethal V | ||
| 5-2 | R. Valerio | F. Calderon | |
4 | Ask Her to Fly | ||
| 9-2 | J. Olmstead | R. Garcia | |
5 | Tell a Scout | ||
| 10-1 | S. Wood | R. Ramirez | |
6 | Lethal Wind | ||
| 20-1 | W. Giles | N. Garcia, Jr. | |
7 | Happy Flying Bird | ||
| 12-1 | M. Rodriguez | G. Medrano | |
8 | Heatseeker V | ||
| 8-1 | R. Valerio | B. Candanosa | |
9 | Dulce Dreams | ||
| 7-2 | J. Gonzales III | C. Cardenas | |
10 | Aj Invictus Player | ||
| 20-1 | C. Crawford | L. Martinez | |
Highly Lethal V was the fastest qualifier from the second of two days of time trials on May 23 for Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque.
He was even better in Sunday’s final, winning by a length and finishing 350 yards in track-record time of 16.886 seconds. The previous mark of 16.927 seconds was set by Apolliperfection in June 2019.
Highly Lethal V, ridden by Francisco Calderon for trainer Raymond Valerio, started from post 3 and was away well, dueling briefly with Lethal Wind before taking a clear lead. Sent off favored, Highly Lethal V paid $6.60. Lethal Wind (9-1) finished second, a half-length in front of 7-1 Ask Her to Fly, one of two fillies in a field of 10.
Highly Lethal V earned $420,000 for the win. A gelding by Apollitical Jess, Highly Lethal V has won 2 of 3 starts for owner Sam Valeriano. Highly Lethal V was last of six in his debut in a 220-yard maiden race at Los Alamitos in April when trained by Jesus Nunez. He was transferred to Valerio before the Ruidoso Futurity trials.
The race was marred by a fall by 3-1 second choice Nine Degrees after 150 yards. Nine Degrees appeared to be struck on a hind leg by My Golden Boy shortly after the start. My Golden Boy was racing alongside and slightly behind Nine Degrees when their legs appeared to make contact.
Nine Degrees ran for a few more strides before he lost his action, causing jockey Jose Enriquez to be unseated.
The Ruidoso Futurity is typically run at Ruidoso Downs, but the Ruidoso Downs meeting this year was moved to Albuquerque earlier this year. In July of the last two years, Ruidoso Downs, located in the southern part of New Mexico, has been flooded by runoff from nearby mountains that sustained widespread loss of vegetation in a massive forest fire in June 2024. It is not clear when racing will resume there.
The latter weeks of the 2024 and 2025 Ruidoso Downs meetings were held at Albuquerque, including the famous All American Futurity on Labor Day.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
| # | HorseOdds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nine Degrees | ||
| 8-1 | O. Vargas | J. Enriquez | |
2 | My Golden Boy | ||
| 20-1 | C. Crawford | J. Enriquez | |
3 | Highly Lethal V | ||
| 5-2 | R. Valerio | F. Calderon | |
4 | Ask Her to Fly | ||
| 9-2 | J. Olmstead | R. Garcia | |
5 | Tell a Scout | ||
| 10-1 | S. Wood | R. Ramirez | |
6 | Lethal Wind | ||
| 20-1 | W. Giles | N. Garcia, Jr. | |
7 | Happy Flying Bird | ||
| 12-1 | M. Rodriguez | G. Medrano | |
8 | Heatseeker V | ||
| 8-1 | R. Valerio | B. Candanosa | |
9 | Dulce Dreams | ||
| 7-2 | J. Gonzales III | C. Cardenas | |
10 | Aj Invictus Player | ||
| 20-1 | C. Crawford | L. Martinez | |