Ruidoso Downs: Cold Cash 123 finishes fast in Rainbow Derby

Cold Cash 123 improved his record at 440 yards to 5 for 5 on Saturday, when he was up for a neck win in the Grade 1, $899,534 Rainbow Derby for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Bodacious Dash finished second, a nose in front of third-place finisher Dm Streakin Thru Fire.

The Rainbow, which is the second of Ruidoso’s three major derbies for Quarter Horses, featured a record purse. Cold Cash 123 earned $449,762 for his win in the race, one start after setting the fastest qualifying time for the finale while defeating a pair of champions, American Runaway and Jls Mr Bigtime.

Cold Cash 123 ($6.40) broke just so-so on Saturday, but gradually picked up steam and easily overtook the leaders on the wire. He covered 440 yards in the slop in 21.22 seconds. Roy Baldillez was aboard Cold Cash 123 for T Bill Stables and trainer Dwayne Gilbreath.

It was the second Grade 1 win for Cold Cash 123 behind his Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park last November.

Cold Cash 123 won his July 9 trial for the Rainbow by 2 ¼ lengths, and his qualifying time of 20.76 was not far off the track record of 20.76 that champion Strawkins set in the 2006 Rainbow Derby. Bodacious Dash, who was the second-fastest qualifier for the Rainbow, won his trial in 21.07.

Llano Teller, the winner of last month’s Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby, finished seventh in the Rainbow after some trouble at the start Saturday.