Lets Leave's triumph in Ruidoso Futurity a milestone for trainer

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. - The unique birthday present was a winning exacta.

When Lets Leave and Wired 440 finished first and second in Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity, trainer Eric Valenzuela not only had the first seven-figure stakes win of his career, but celebrated the milestone on his 40th birthday.

Valenzuela is a full-time firefighter in Douglas, Ariz., who travels weekly to Ruidoso Downs to oversee his stable.

The win by Lets Leave in the Ruidoso Futurity was predictable. The colt was favored on the strength of an astonishing win by 5 1/2 lengths in a time trial on May 27, setting the fastest qualifying time that day of 17.39 seconds for 350 yards.

The five fastest qualifiers from trials on May 26 and 27 advanced to Sunday’s final.

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Lets Leave ($4.40) was timed in 17.56 on Sunday, earning $420,000 for Colorado owners Hugo Barron and Mario Perea Cardona. Lets Leave was ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr.

Lets Leave finished a nose in front of 9-1 Wired 440, who was upset behind the gate before the start, unseating jockey Esgar Ramirez. Irish Seis (22-1) finished third, a half-length behind Wired 440. Irish Seis, trained by Jesus Rondan Jr., was fractious in the gate and overcame a bump at the start to finish well.

Only nine of the 10 runners finished. Kj Little Duce Coup, the winner of the $282,926 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park on April 1, reared as the gate opened, unseating jockey Adrian Ramos.

Lets Leave was second in the West Texas Futurity, his only loss in four starts. Lets Leave has earned $483,681.

The Ruidoso Futurity was the first of three seven-figure futurities at Ruidoso Downs that comprise a Triple Crown. No horse has swept the three races since Special Effort in 1981.

The series continues with the Rainbow Futurity on July 16 and All American Futurity on Sept. 4. Trials for the Rainbow Futurity will be run on June 30 and July 1 and are likely to include Lets Leave and Wired 440, Valenzuela said.

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