Candy blood dodges raindrops to become top qualifier in Rainbow Derby trials at ruidoso downs Race track
Candy Blood, a three year-old gelding, broke from the outside post position and powered home a two-and-a quarter-length winner in the seventh race Sunday to qualify for the $678,253 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track in the fastest time of the day, 20.868 seconds for 440-yards.
“Let’s be honest, we got lucky with the rain,” trainer Monty Arrossa said after the race. “This is a very nice horse and we grabbed the blanket just before the rain storm hit and had some good racing luck today.”
Candy Blood’s sire is Apollitical Blood out of Ranch Candy by Wave Carver. The gelding is a homebred by owner Rick Sumner and Dunn Ranch. The gelding has earnings of over $212,000 winning six of twelve lifetime starts. Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, Candy Blood paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.20.
Trainer Heath Taylor and Jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo qualified four horses for the Rainbow final including Empressum (21.078 seconds), Shott Gun (21.130 seconds), Mister Illusion (21.186 seconds), and Dulce Sin Tacha (21.213 seconds). In the winner’s circle after the trials were completed, Taylor said that he considered scratching all his horses following the heavy mid-day rains. “It was a close call,” Taylor said. “Racing against those elements and knowing that the All American Derby is so close we considered late-scratching them, but thankfully things turned out alright.”
The Rainbow Derby final will be run on July 24. Other qualifiers include: A Dangerous Flash in 21.125 seconds; Apolliticalfastprize in 21.220 seconds; Flash Bak in 21.319 seconds; Steal the Candy in 21.322 seconds; and Troubleshooting in 21.336 seconds.
In the trials for the $374,363 Rainbow Oaks trials for three-year-old fillies, HR Princess Jess broke swiftly and held on to win the second trial race and qualify with the fastest time of the day, 21.222 seconds for 440-yards.
“We brought her from Remington Park and pointed her toward this start,” trainer Eddie Willis said. “This will mark her fifth major stakes final so she’s had a tremendous career already. If she stays healthy she’ll be difficult to beat in the final.”
Whistle Stop Café, the 2020 All American Futurity champion filly, also qualified for the July 24 Rainbow Oaks final by winning the fourth trial race. Her time was 21.287 for 440-yards, which was the fourth fastest qualifying time.
Other fillies who qualified for the Oaks final include: Elphaba in 21.245 seconds; Valiant Stars in 21.269 seconds; Best Moonflash in 21.340 seconds; Caliente Caramelo in 21.352 seconds; Packsaddle Senator in 21.409 seconds; Miss Famous Eagle in 21.411 seconds; Paint Me Tres in 21.437 seconds, and Ynot the Favorite in 21.438 seconds.
Racing action continues next Friday, Saturday and Sunday with trials for the Zia Futurity and Zia Derby along with regular quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. Post time next weekend will be 1 p.m., with ten races scheduled each day.