Valiant Rogue looks to take charge in Rainbow Derby

Valiant Rogue will start in Saturday’s $1,224,488 Rainbow Derby for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs with a perfect record this season at the southern New Mexico track.

Wins in an allowance race in June and in a division of the Rainbow Derby trials July 10 have given Valiant Rogue a chance to take a leading role in the nation’s 3-year-old division this year. Trainer Judd Kearl said Valiant Rogue may be that kind of horse.

“I thought he was the best [2-year-old] that we had last year, but he just needed time to mature,” Kearl said.

The Rainbow Derby, run at 440 yards, will be the second start in a major stakes for Valiant Rogue, owned by Wyok Ranch. Last November, Valiant Rogue was fifth in the Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park but lost all chance after a bad start in the 400-yard race.

“I think he could have won the Texas Classic,” Kearl said.

The Rainbow Derby is the second of three major derbies at Ruidoso Downs this summer, preceded by the Ruidoso Derby in June and followed by the All American Derby on Sept. 4. Jess Good Candy, the winner of the 2015 All American Futurity and the champion 2-year-old last year, won the Ruidoso Derby but was held out of the Rainbow Derby in favor of the All American Derby trials on Aug. 21.

The Rainbow Derby field has two runners from the Ruidoso Derby – Big Lew and Significant Runner, who were sixth and seventh. They will be longshots Saturday.

Valiant Rogue will be well backed, as will First Valiant Sign, a trial-race winner July 10 who won the 2015 Ruidoso Futurity. Valiant Rogue was fourth in the All American Futurity last September.

Trained by Mike Joiner, First Valiant Sign won a division of the Rainbow Derby trials.

Two other notable runners in Saturday’s race are Tf Im that Guy, who was third in the All American Futurity last year, and Miss Feet Down First, who won the Hobbs America Futurity and the Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park last fall.

Miss Feet Down First is one of three fillies in the Rainbow Derby field.