Jess Savin Candy Becomes Racing’s Newest Superstar With Win in $1 Million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs
Jess Savin Candy withstood sloppy track conditions and closed in the final strides to win by a nose in the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track Sunday.
The victory keeps alive the quest for a potential two-year-old triple crown winner as the gelding has now won both the Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurities and is expected to enter trials for the $3 million All American Futurity in August.
The gelding just nabbed CC Hocks and Messynger at the finish line going from being third to first in the final 100-yards.
“Forty-yards to the finish line I thought we were beat,” trainer John Stinebaugh said in the winner’s circle. “I knew he was making up ground and could tell he just needed a little more. We’re fortunate that he got up in time.”
Heavy rains began to fall at Ruidoso Downs shortly before the beginning of the race day which forced the cancellation of the first three races on the afternoon card. Live racing continued in the fourth race through the end of the day with track officials carefully watching to ensure the surface continued to be safe to race.
“When we broke I could tell that he really wasn’t grabbing the surface well,” jockey Francisco Calderon said. “He was slipping and sliding and I had to urge him forward just enough to keep him trying. We were closing on them (CC Hocks) and I asked (Juan) Pulido after we crossed the finish line who he thought had won it—we both knew it was going to be a close photo.”
Jess Saving Candy paid $4.60, $3.40 and $2.60 in a winning time of 19.60 seconds for 400-yards in the tenth race. The gelding’s sire is Jess Good Candy out of the mare Savin Grace by Pappasito. CC Hocks finished second and Double Duty finished third.
In the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes, longshot Shesa Relentless Gal and jockey Raul Herrera upset the field of runners by winning at 22-1 odds in a time of 19.68 seconds for 400-yards. The filly paid $47.40, $18.40 and $8.60 in the eighth race. The filly is owned and trained by Manuel Rodriguez and won for the first time in four career starts. Her sire is Hes Relentless out of the mare A Snowy Cartel by Corona Cartel.
In the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap, 2020 Texas Classic Derby winner Perrys Double Down upset the heavily favored Powerful Favorite in the ninth race by a length and covered the 400-yards in a time of 19.33 seconds. Perrys Double Down paid $8.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Perry’s Double Down’s sire is Mr Jess Perry out of the mare Double Down Darling by Fishers Dash.
Racing continues next weekend at Ruidoso Downs with the annual Zia Festival that includes multiple stakes races for New Mexico-breds. First post time is 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and more information is available at www.raceruidoso.com.