Running to the Moon prevails in relocated Rainbow Oaks

Last September, Running to the Moon finished last of 10 in the $295,642 La Fiesta Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque. An unexpected return to the northern New Mexico track went much better for Running to the Moon in Sunday’s $482,000 Rainbow Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Starting in the richest race of her career, Running to the Moon ($4.60) won the 440-yard Oaks as the favorite, edging Asscher, the winner of the Los Alamitos Oaks in March.

Running to the Moon was timed in 21.13 seconds. Asscher (2-1) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-1 Aj Precious Jewel, who was third in the field of 10.

Running to the Moon was ridden by Francisco Calderon for trainer Heath Taylor and owner Sammy Valeriano. Breaking from post 6, Running to the Moon had a good start and led by a half-length midway through the race.

Valeriano acquired Running to the Moon last winter. She was transferred from trainer Mike Joiner to Taylor before the start of the current season.

Sunday’s win leaves the Quarter Horse 3-year-old filly division without a clear leader. Asscher is among the top-ranked runners along with Deep Blue, the winner of the $296,940 Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park on June 1. Running to the Moon was second by a neck in the Heritage Place Oaks. Dark Nme, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2023, was third in the Rainbow Derby against males at Albuquerque on Saturday.

Sunday’s program was the final day of racing at The Downs at Albuquerque this weekend. The track took over racing days from Ruidoso Downs after officials with that southern New Mexico track abandoned the remainder of the summer meeting on July 21 after a series of flash floods struck the racetrack.

Two major forest fires in the Ruidoso area consumed more than 25,000 acres in June, leading to floods of water, mud and debris from mountainsides that caused widespread damage to the small town and racetrack.

Ruidoso Downs was scheduled to race through Sept. 2. Instead, the meeting was moved to Albuquerque.

Trials for the Rainbow Oaks were scheduled for June 29, then postponed one day to June 30 because of floods. The June 30 program also was lost to flooding. The trials were eventually run on July 7.

The Rainbow Oaks final was originally scheduled to be run at Ruidoso Downs on July 13 and then postponed to July 21 after the late June floods. The race was postponed again to Sunday and moved 180 miles to the north when a massive flood struck Ruidoso on July 20.

Earlier on Sunday, Woody Rocks ($11.60) won his fourth consecutive race in the $368,451 Zia Futurity for statebred 2-year-olds.

Ridden by Christian Ramos for trainer Tony Sedillo, Woody Rocks was away well from post 8 and held off strong efforts from 8-5 favorite Harken and 4-1 Kj Bad Moon Rising to win a neck. Harken finished a neck in front of Kj Bad Moon Rising in the field of nine.

Woody Rocks ran 400 yards in 19.35 seconds and earned $158,311 for CHR Racing. Woody Rocks was the fastest qualifier from time trials held at Ruidoso Downs on July 5.

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