Hotsempting, a filly, tops rich Ruidoso Derby

Hotsempting showed up the boys during trials for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Derby last month in New Mexico and she’ll attempt to do the same Saturday in the $887,880 finale at Ruidoso Downs.

The Ruidoso Derby anchors a 12-race card that starts at 1 p.m. Mountain. The program includes the $100,000 Sophomore Stakes, which is the consolation for the Ruidoso Derby, and four trial races for the Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity.

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 the card’s seventh trial by an outstanding length and a half, on a fast track and into a head wind.

“It was worth the wait, especially with the wind,” trainer Sergio Ibarra told publicity at Ruidoso. “It seemed like the wind was picking up all afternoon, and I was so thankful that she broke and really ran down the track straight and fast.”

Esgar Ramirez was aboard and has the mount again from post 3.

Hotsempting, who is a daughter of Tempting Dash, races for the partnership of Miguel Gallegos and Mauricio Gallegos. She has compiled a 4-for-7 record, and will be looking for her first stakes victory Saturday. Last year, she ran second in the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

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Kylee Joy is the only other filly in the finale Saturday. She was second by a neck in her trial, covering 400 yards in 20.01 seconds. Kylee Joy stumbled at the start, according to her trouble line, and rallied. Francisco Calderon has the mount for trainer John Stinebaugh, who overall qualified three runners for the Ruidoso Derby.

“All three tried their hearts out,” Stinebaugh told publicity after the trials.

His other qualifiers are Katch This Bird, who won his trial by a neck in 20.06 seconds, and Cartel Charly. Cartel Charly was second by a half-length in his trial, covering the distance in 20.12 seconds.

“[Cartel Charly] sprung a shoe loose coming out of the gate and still qualified,” Stinebaugh told publicity. “That had to have impacted that horse’s race time.

“We feel confident about having a chance with all three.”

Kylee Joy starts from post 8. The Utah-bred filly is by First Moonflash.

Raul Valenzuela will ride Cartel Charly from post 6, while Katch This Bird will break from post 5 under Benito Baca.

The second fastest qualifier for the Ruidoso Derby is Apollitical Papa. He won his trial by a neck in 19.97 seconds. Jose Alvarez has the mount from the trial for trainer Fred Danley.

The other major Quarter Horse derbies at Ruidoso are the $500,000 Rainbow on July 18 and the $1 million All American on Sept. 6.