BAYER NEW MEXICO DERBY TRIALS

New Mexico Bayer Legend Trials Set Thursday in Ruidoso


RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 25, 2007 —The second weekend of summer racing at Ruidoso Downs starts on Thursday afternoon with a variety of trials. Promising 3-year-old Quarter Horses race in the two trials to the Bayer Legend New Mexico Derby Challenge and aspiring Thoroughbreds compete in the two trials to the Ruidoso Thoroughbred Sale Futurity.
The horses with the 10 fastest times from the trials qualify to compete in the finals on June 17.

First post time on Thursday is 1 p.m. with free parking and free grandstand admission. Racing continues through Sunday afternoon.

Jim and Marilyn Helzer’s Fantasies Royal from the always strong Sleepy Gilbreath stable is Grade 1 tested after qualifying for three Grade 1 futurities last year. The son of This Snow Is Royal has earned $117,000 and has a fourth-place finish in the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity, the richest race in Texas every year.

Blues Six Gun did well at Ruidoso Downs last summer and comes into the derby trials off his career-best performance, a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 West Texas Derby at Sunland Park . He is by Corona Cocktail.

First Down Leaving hails from the powerful Paul Jones stable. The royally bred son of First Down Dash has finished second in five of six starts with his only off-the-board finish coming in the $145,00 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes on March 3rd. He did win his last start at Los Alamitos on March 24 but was DQ'd from first to second for interference at the break.

In the first Thoroughbred Sale Futurity trial, which runs as the fourth race, Playwithchimes has the advantage after winning her maiden by a half length in her most recent start. She raced the 4-1/2 furlongs at Sunland Park in :52 1/5.

In the second trial, the sixth race, Blazing Band could gain attention in his career debut after a strong 4-furlong work at Sunland Park on March 17. He had the fastest time from 47 horses working that morning.


Courtesy of Stallionesearch.com