Jensen back from injury to ride Bodacious Eagle in Rainbow Derby

Jockey Cody Jensen will attempt to make his first mount back from injury a memorable one Saturday, when he rides the fastest qualifier, Bodacious Eagle, in the Grade 1, $1,067,000 Rainbow Quarter Horse Derby at Ruidoso Downs. Jensen recently missed five weeks due to a morning training accident that left him with a fractured vertebra and six broken ribs.

Things have gone much smoother for Bodacious Eagle, who could go favored in the 10-horse Rainbow. Others making up the field for the 440-yard race include the champions Kiss My Hocks and Jess Walking Thru.

The purse for this year’s Rainbow is a record, according to a release from Ruidoso. The winner will earn $448,520.

Rainbow Derby (Race 10)

KEY CONTENDERS

Bodacious Eagle

◗ He made his 3-year-old debut during the Rainbow trials and cruised to a 1 1/2-length win July 5. Bodacious Eagle covered 440 yards in 21.12 seconds while taking the eighth of 10 trials for the Rainbow.

◗ Bodacious Eagle is seeking his first stakes win after a series of close calls last year. He was third in the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity, fourth by a half-length in the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, and fifth by a length in the Grade 1 All American Futurity.

◗ Bodacious Eagle will break from post 6. Blane Wood trains Bodacious Eagle for Johnny Trotter.

Kiss My Hocks

◗ The champion male 2-year-old of 2014, he won six of seven starts last season, including the $563,950 Sam Houston Futurity and the Ruidoso Futurity.

◗ Kiss My Hocks overcame a less-than-ideal start for a two-length Rainbow trial win July 5. He was the fourth-fastest qualifier for the finale with a time of 21.31.

◗ G.R. Carter Jr. has the mount for Conda Maze and Tyler Graham and trainer Toby Keeton.

Jess Walking Thru

◗ The champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, she was placed first in the Grade 1, $371,227 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park and later ran third in the Los Alamitos Two Million.