Ruidoso Downs: Pj Chick in Black now 4 for 4 with Futurity win

Pj Chick in Black remained undefeated in four starts Saturday, when she comfortably held off 4-5 favorite Krash Cartel by a neck in the Grade 1, $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity for Quarter Horses. The race was one of two major stakes on the card at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Executive Brass won his fourth consecutive race in the Grade 1, $679,207 Ruidoso Derby.

Pj Chick in Black ($9.80) was bumped at the break and then veered in before straightening up and winning the 350-yard race in 17.85 seconds. Esgar Ramirez was aboard Pj Chick in Black, who was a $15,000 supplement to the Ruidoso Futurity trials. The win was her second in a stakes, following the Grade 2 New Mexican Spring Futurity at Sunland Park in April.

Ramirez has now won two runnings of the Ruidoso Futurity, his other in 2009. Trainer Carl Draper is now a three-time winner of the race. He trains Pj Chick in Black for Fredda Draper and Denny Bowen. Pj Chick in Black was the fourth-fastest qualifier for the Ruidoso Futurity. For her win in the race, she earned $300,000.

In the Ruidoso Derby, Executive Brass ($10.60) broke well and straight-lined it to the wire, winning by a neck over Dashing Vike. He covered the 400 yards in 20.09 seconds. Executive Brass was a $25,000 supplement to the Ruidoso Derby, and he set the fastest qualifying time for the race during trials May 26.

Bonifacio Perez rode Executive Brass for John Thurmond and Sherree Meridyth and trainer James J. Gonzales, II. Executive Brass earned $285,267.

Ochoa, champion and winner of last year's All American Futurity, stumbled to his knees at the start of the Ruidoso Derby and finished ninth as the favorite. The other champion in the race, Feature Mr Bojangles, was fifth in what was the first meeting of the two horses.