Train Rider Blues favored at Ruidoso

Train Rider Blues loves Ruidoso Downs, where last year he won a pair of six-figure futurities for Thoroughbreds. Sunday, he's back in town and should go favored in the $40,000 Norgor Derby, a six-furlong race that is part of opening weekend at Ruidoso.

Train Rider Blues will be making his first start since March. He worked three furlongs in a bullet 36 seconds at Ruidoso on May 22.

"He really likes it up here," said Terry Walker, who trains Train Rider Blues for Freda McSwane and Joe Walters. "He's had a lot of results up here."

Train Rider Blues won his maiden in the $157,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Futurity last June, then two starts later took the $109,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity on July 26. He will be cutting back to one turn for the Norgor after finishing second by a nose in the $100,000 New Mexico Breeders Derby on the Sunland Park Derby undercard March 28.

"He had some hard luck in the derby," Walker said, noting Train Rider Blues had to go outside of horses to make his bid while the winner got through to his inside.

A.J. Martinez has the mount on Train Rider Blues, who will break from post 5 in the field of nine. Others in the race include stakes winners Rig's Runner and Awintersdream.