Two champions missing from Ruidoso Derby

The names missing from Saturday’s $832,707 Ruidoso Derby at Ruidoso Downs are more prominent than those of the 10 finalists in the 400-yard race.

Aj Precious Jewel, Dashing Tres, Lets Leave, Mystic Paint, and Trump This Record won time trials on May 26 and rate as contenders in a Ruidoso Derby that does not include two champions from 2023.

Cowboys Gun Z, winner of the $3 million All American Futurity last September, failed to qualify for the Ruidoso Derby after finishing a dull seventh in a division of the trials. Cowboys Gun Z was the 2023 champion 2-year-old gelding and overall Quarter Horse champion 2-year-old.

Dark Nme, the 2023 champion 2-year-old filly, was not entered in the Ruidoso Derby trials because of a scheduling error involving two required workouts in advance of her first start since a win in the $1.17 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park last November.

Dark Nme had workouts at Remington Park on March 25 and Ruidoso Downs on May 1, but the March 25 work was 61 days before the time trials. Dark Nme needed two works within 60 days of the date of her intended comeback. She is expected to race later this summer

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Mystic Paint was the surprise winner in the May 26 time trials at 18-1, finishing in 20.01 seconds for the fastest qualifying time from 10 divisions. Trained by Jason Olmstead, Mystic Paint can win his first stakes in his 12th start in the Ruidoso Derby.

Dashing Tres and Lets Leave are expected to dominate the betting.

Dashing Tres, who drew the outside post on Saturday, was fifth in the 2023 All American and won a division of the Ruidoso Derby trials in a rapid 20.02 seconds.

Lets Leave, trained by Eric Valenzuela, won his 2024 debut in the Ruidoso Derby trials in 20.06 seconds. Last June, Lets Leave edged stablemate Wired 440 in the Ruidoso Futurity at 350 yards. Wired 440 is a finalist in the Ruidoso Derby, but is rated as a longshot after finishing second in a division of the trials.

Trump This Record, fourth in the 2023 Ruidoso Futurity, overcame a stumble at the start in the Ruidoso Derby trials to win by a half-length in 20.06 seconds.

Trump This Record starts from post 9, while Aj Precious Jewel drew the inside. Aj Precious Jewel, seventh in the All American Futurity, won a division of the trials by a sharp two lengths in 20.08 seconds.

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