Jess Move You aims to keep bonus hopes alive in Rainbow Derby

Jess Move You needs a win in the Rainbow Derby on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs to remain alive for a new $1 million bonus from the New Mexico track. The Grade 1, $801,564 race for Quarter Horses is the second leg of a series that requires a sweep to cash. It began with the Ruidoso Derby, won in June by Jess Move You, and concludes with the All American Derby in September.

The Rainbow, at 440 yards, drew a field of 10. Political Attraction, who upset Jess Move You in trials July 8, is back for the finale, while the stakes winner Papaws Paint boasts a 4-for-6 record at Ruidoso. The field also includes Hotstepper and Hes Limitless, a respective third and fourth in last year’s $3 million All American Futurity.

The Rainbow Derby’s fastest qualifier was Sixes Crystal, who won the ninth and final trial by a half-length, covering 440 yards on a muddy, sealed track in 21.66 seconds. She will be making her stakes debut Saturday, on the heels of a maiden win in May.

“She is starting to develop,” owner Victor Diaz told publicity at Ruidoso. “She has always been asking for more ground.”

Another notable performer during trials was Political Attraction, who was a half-length winner over Jess Move You, while covering 440 yards on a muddy, sealed track in 21.80 seconds. James Flores was aboard and has the mount again from post 2.

“He’s not the biggest fan of a muddy track,” Flores told publicity at Ruidoso. “He had a poor break and just mowed them down.”

Political Attraction was a $40,000 supplement to the trials for the Rainbow, according to Ruidoso. He will be seeking his third straight win Saturday. Earlier in his career, Political Attraction won five straight races, from July 2017 through April 2018. The streak included two stakes victories, with all of the wins coming at tracks in Oklahoma.

Jess Move You was the 10th-fastest qualifier for the Rainbow, with a time of 21.86 seconds. He was racing beyond 400 yards for the first time in his Rainbow trial, and was prominent before being overtaken by Political Attraction. It also was the first wet-track start for Jess Move You.

Ricky Ramirez will be aboard for the first time when the pair starts from post 6. Rodolfo Valles trains Jess Move You for the partnership of Ricardo Bernal and Reymundo Resendez.

Papaws Paint will attempt to give trainer Todd Fincher his second win in an $800,000 derby in New Mexico this year behind Runaway Ghost in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby for Thoroughbreds in March. Papaws Paint won the Hobbs America Futurity in October and was the fourth fastest qualifier for the Rainbow Derby. Fincher in May said he had an increased number of Quarter Horses in training for the meet at Ruidoso.