La Feliz Montana Ranch Qualifies Top Two in Rainbow Derby Trials

(Ruidoso Downs, NM) Ariatt and Fdd Dreams from La Feliz Montana Ranch were one-two qualifiers in the trials for the $700,000 Rainbow Derby for three-year-old quarter horses at Ruidoso Downs today.

“It’s always a team effort,” owner Javier Rodriguez said in the winner’s circle following Ariatt’s three-quarters of a length victory in the tenth trial in which four horses qualified for the July 12 final. “We have been working with Ariatt all year to try and fix his gate issues after the All American last year.”

Ariatt ran the 440-yards in the fastest derby time of the day, 21.238 seconds, to win for the first time since the All American trials last August. The gelding is trained by Xavier Rodriguez and Francisco Calderon rode Ariatt for the first time. Ariatt paid $41.60, $9.00, and $5.40.

“I was thankful and lucky they gave me the opportunity. Obviously that’s a nice horse having qualified for the All American last year,” Calderon said.

FDD Dreams and jockey Luis Martinez won for the fifth consecutive start in the sixth trial in a time of 21.278 seconds for 440-yards. The gelding has already won the Grade-1 Ruidoso Derby June 7 and still has the opportunity to sweep the Triple Crown derby races this season.

In trials for the $550,000 Rainbow Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Curl Happy Wagon and jockey Jesse Levario won the first trial in a time of 21.042 seconds for 440-yards which was more than two-tenths of a second faster than any other Oaks qualifier. Curl Happy Wagon paid $6.00, $4.00 and $2.40.

“She did her job today and got some help from a wind gust,” said trainer Ricardo Armendariz Jr. who qualified two for the Oaks including Elizabeth Alexandria in the fifth race winning in a time of 21.432 seconds. The finals of the Rainbow Oaks will be held Saturday, July 12.