Valenzuela saddles trio for Ruidoso Futurity
To saddle Lets Leave, Caramel Macchiato, and Wired 440 for Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, trainer Eric Valenzuela went on vacation.
Valenzuela, who turns 40 on Sunday, is a full-time firefighter in Douglas, Ariz. On non-futurity weeks, he spends part of the time in Douglas and part of the time overseeing his stable in Ruidoso.
Lets Leave has been Valenzuela’s leading 2-year-old this year. A colt by Favorite Cartel, Lets Leave was second in the $282,926 West Texas Futurity at 300 yards to Ruidoso Futurity finalist Kj Little Duce Coup on April 1 at Sunland Park and won a division of the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity trials by a remarkable five lengths in the rapid time of 17.39 seconds on May 27.
Lets Leave had the fastest qualifying time on May 27. The runners with the five fastest times from 16 trials on May 26 and May 27 earned berths in Sunday’s final.
Owned by Hugo Barron and Mario Perea Cardona, Lets Leave was sharper away from the gate in the Ruidoso Futurity trials than he was in his first two starts at Sunland Park, Valenzuela said.
“He put it all together,” Valenzuela said.
Jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. rode Valenzuela’s three qualifiers in the trials and will ride Lets Leave in the final.
“He had the hardest choice of the weekend,” Valenzuela said of Becerra. “He made his choice on what he thinks will be the best choice for him.”
Lets Leave will start from the outside post in a field of 10. Valenzuela downplayed concern that the colt was too sharp in the trial and will regress in the final.
“I don’t think he did too much,” he said. “I think he’s fast.”
Valenzuela’s other two runners had their first starts in the Ruidoso Futurity trials.
Caramel Macchiato, who will be ridden by Emilio Tapia, won a trial by 1 1/2 lengths in 17.45 on May 27. Wired 440, who will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez, won a trial by two lengths in 17.67 on May 27.
Valenzuela holds Wired 440 in high regard.
“I believe he has more in the tank,” he said.
Kj Little Duce Coup, undefeated in three starts, and the trial race winners Kiss My Wine and Trusty Jess are rated as contenders.
KJ Little Duce Coup won a trial in 17.66 on May 27, but was vanned off. Owner John Lee said KJ Little Duce Coup struck his face on the starting gate, which caused the presence of blood.
Trusty Jess (17.39) and Kiss My Wine (17.41) were the two fastest qualifiers from May 26.
Trusty Jess drew the rail for trainer Chris O’Dell.
“We thought all winter he was our Ruidoso [Futurity] horse,” O’Dell said. “He acted like he wanted to run early and was serious early.”
O’Dell’s concern is Lets Leave, who was bought for $122,000 at auction last summer. O’Dell said he quit bidding at $100,000.
“Lets Leave is for real,” he said. “Wired 440 is for real, too.”
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