Revenant Moon top qualifier for Ruidoso Futurity
The undefeated filly Revenant Moon set the fastest qualifying time for the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on June 13 with an easy victory in the first of 16 time trials Saturday.
Ridden by Jose Alvarez for trainer Trey Wood, Revenant Moon ($2.60) won the 350-yard trial by an astonishing 4 3/4 lengths, finishing in 17.46 seconds. It was the widest margin of victory in 32 futurity trials on Friday and Saturday.
Revenant Moon, a filly by the Mr Jess Perry stallion A Revenant, is unbeaten in three starts for owners Trey Odom, Scott Bryant, and Norman Allen. Revenant Moon won a time trial and the final of the $477,200 Oklahoma Futurity at 300 yards Remington Park in March. Saturday’s trial was her third start.
“She has some quirks about her only because she’s young and learning, but that’s minor compared to her potential,” Wood told Ruidoso Downs publicity.
Wood won five time trials on Saturday after recording only one win in 15 trials on Friday. Wood, who won the 2019 Ruidoso Futurity with Fernweh, had runners in 31 of the 32 trials.
Revenant Moon, purchased for $20,000 as a yearling, is the lone stakes winner among the Ruidoso Futurity finalists, although there have been fewer-than-normal futurities this year because of the pandemic, notably the absence of spring races at Sunland Park.
The runners with the five fastest times from each day advanced to the final. Qualifying times were quicker on Saturday.
Aside from Revenant Moon, KJ Desparado (17.49), Vee Aye Pea (17.50), Favorite Blues Man (17.538) and Tactical Fire (17.596) qualified on Saturday. Wood also trains Tactical Fire, a gelding who won his debut by three-quarters of a length.
The Friday qualifiers were led by Jess Fire Me (17.42), Jess Savin Candy (17.43), Lethal Jet (17.57), Mr Apollo Jess (17.59) and Apollitical J Legacy (17.59).
Mr Apollo Jess was a troubled fifth in the $926,500 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity at 330 yards on April 17, losing all chance after a bumping incident at the start.
Mr Apollo Jess had his first start for trainer Toby Keeton in Friday’s trial, winning by 2 1/4 lengths.
The field for the final consists of eight trial race winners and Jess Savin Candy and Lethal Jet, who were second and third behind Jess Fire Me.