Jess Good Candy looks to stay perfect in Ruidoso Derby
The undefeated champion Jess Good Candy will attempt to extend his win streak to seven on Saturday when he runs in the $1,038,631 Ruidoso Derby for Quarter Horses. The winner of last year’s $3 million All American Futurity, Jess Good Candy will be taking on nine others, including fastest qualifier Volcom Bay.
The Ruidoso Derby is a 400-yard race that serves as the first of three major stakes for 3-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs. The New Mexico track’s rich series continues with the $1.2 million Rainbow Derby on July 23 and the $2.5 million All American Derby on Sept. 4.
“The All American Derby is our goal,” said Clinton Crawford, who trains Jess Good Candy for PV Quarter Horse Farms. “We’ll get through the Ruidoso Derby and take it from there.”
This year the purse for the Ruidoso Derby is a record, surpassing the mark of $943,279 in 2014.
Ruidoso Derby, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Jess Good Candy, by Good Reason Sa
He was the fifth fastest qualifier for the Ruidoso Derby, winning the 10th of 14 trial races by 1 1/4 lengths May 29. Jess Good Candy covered 400 yards into a head wind in 19.78 seconds. It was his second start of the year following a three-quarter length win in the $70,000 Mr Master Bug on April 24 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
“The race at Remington Park helped him a lot,” Crawford said. “I think you need a race before coming up to this altitude.”
The altitude is 6,900 feet, according to Ruidoso.
Ivan Carnero has the mount on Jess Good Candy, who will break from post 10.
Jess Good Candy has compiled his win streak exclusively at Remington and Ruidoso. Last year he was voted both champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old colt by the American Quarter Horse Association.
Volcom Bay, by Volcom
She set the fastest qualifying time for the Ruidoso Derby when she won her trial in 19.61 seconds. She was a romping, 2 1/2-length winner of the fifth trial May 29.
“She was fantastic,” said regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo. “She is getting better all the time. She likes this distance.”
Judd Kearl trains Volcom Bay for Bennie and Teresa Jeter. The horse will break from post 4.
Hatefulist, by Separatist
He won the first four starts of his career before finishing seventh to Jess Good Candy in the All American Futurity.
Hatefulist was third by a head in his May 29 trial, which marked his first start since the All American on Sept. 7.