Rainbow Futurity, Derby trials dominate weekend

Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico will run trial races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as some of the most talented Quarter Horses in training attempt to qualify for either the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Futurity or the Grade 1, $1.2 million Rainbow Derby.

There will be 24 trials for the Rainbow Futurity, with 12 on Friday and 12 on Saturday. The horses with the five fastest times from each card will advance to the 400-yard finale on July 23. There will be 11 trials for the Rainbow Derby on Sunday. Horses with the 10 fastest times will earn a spot in the gate for the finale July 22.

Eagle Jazz and Uptown Dynasty, who finished in a dead heat for the win in last month’s Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Futurity, are both back in trials for the Rainbow Futurity. Eagle Jazz will see action in the third race on Friday, while Uptown Dynasty goes in the third race Saturday.

The Rainbow Futurity trials also have drawn Fire and Sass, the winner of the Kindergarten at Los Alamitos, who will line up against Eagle Jazz, and This Is An Eagle, the winner of the Sam Houston Futurity who goes in the fifth race Friday. Suenos Dineros, the West Texas Futurity winner at Sunland, is a $30,000 supplement to the trials and will run in the ninth race Saturday.

The Rainbow Futurity is the meet’s second major stakes for 2-year-olds. The season closes with the All American Futurity on Sept. 4.

Imperial Eagle runs Sunday

The champion Imperial Eagle, the winner of last year’s All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, will see action at the New Mexico track on Sunday. He is entered in trials for the Rainbow Derby. Imperial Eagle will run in the seventh race and enters the 440-yard trial off a win in the $100,000 Mr Jess Perry Derby last month at Ruidoso.

The Marfa Lights, who was second by a neck in last year’s All American, also runs in the Rainbow Derby trials. He will go in the fourth race Sunday.

Trainer Trey Wood has 16 horses entered in the Rainbow Derby trials, led by Tough to Bee, who won the Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Derby in a dead heat last month. Tough to Bee will face Duponte, the winner of last year’s Heritage Place Futurity, who was a $40,000 supplement to trials for the Ruidoso Derby.

New racing schedule at Ruidoso

Ruidoso Downs on Tuesday announced changes to its racing schedule. The track will race Fridays through Sundays, with the lone exception being its final week, when racing will take place Friday through Monday, Sept. 1-4.

Earlier in the meet, Ruidoso was racing four days a week, including Mondays. The change means eight fewer dates at this meet and an increase in overnight purses, according to a press release.

“It’s a large step forward for enhancing the racing product in New Mexico,” Shaun Hubbard, president and general manager of Ruidoso, said in the release. “At other racetracks, it has proven that quality over quantity is a winning combination.”

Wade, Diego, Sterling near milestones

Jockey Lindey Wade is nearing 1,000 Thoroughbred wins in North America. He is sitting at 994 heading into the Friday night card at Lone Star Park.

Iram Diego, who leads the Lone Star rider standings by one win over Richard Eramia, will enter the card with 998 Thoroughbred wins in North America.

Jockey Duane Sterling had 993 Thoroughbred wins in North America heading into the Wednesday card at The Downs at Albuquerque.

◗ Lone Star drew 15,743 patrons on Tuesday night for live racing and fireworks, according to figures from the track. Handle on the 10-race card from all sources was $1.4 million.

◗ A golf tournament benefiting the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Texas will be held July 24 at the Trophy Club Country Club north of Dallas. For more information: (972) 237-5127.

◗ A number of jockeys based at Lone Star Park recently visited children at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.