The second leg of the quarter horse Triple Crown, the Rainbow Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses will take place this weekend at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.
One horse is trying to capture the second jewel of quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown. Nine others are hoping the futurity will be springboard for a starting position in the All American Futurity on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.
Here is what to know about the race:
The Rainbow Futurity with a field of 10 horses is scheduled for Sunday, July 14, 2024.
The 10-horse field will go 400 yards and the race is worth $1 million. The Rainbow Futurity will be the 11th race on the day and is scheduled to start at 5:12 p.m.
The weather report indicates good weather all weekend long and Sunday calls for mostly sunny with a high of 84 according to www.weather.com.
Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs dealt with two wild fires and then major flooding in the past three weeks.
But fans are encouraged to attend the races and as of now there is just quarter horse racing and still no thoroughbred racing as track operators continue to work on part of the track that affects the thoroughbreds.
Hezgothelook Z and Aguila Rapida are co-favorites in the morning line odds at 2-1.
Hezgothelook Z won the Ruidoso Futurity last month and Aguila Rapida was second. Hezgothelook Z will start in post position No. 1, is trained by Toby Keeton and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa. Triple One Ranch LLC (Norma Olivarez et al) is the owner.
Aguila Rapida will start in the No. 7 post and is also trained by Keeton. Jockey Ricky Ramirez has the mount. Simmons Racing (John Simmons et al is the owner.
If Hezgothelook Z wins the Rainbow Futurity, he will have chance to win the Quarter Horse Triple Crown. The early summer futurities are the first two jewels.
Winning the Triple Crown is difficult because these young horses are still developing and prone to injury.
If Hezgothelook Z wins on Sunday, he would first have to qualify for the All American Futurity in August, then win the All American Futurity final on Labor Day to accomplish this rare feat.
The All American Futurity is considered one of the most prestigious races in the quarter horse industry. The race was established in 1959. Hundreds of horses will compete in trials to make the 10-horse field.
The winner of the Triple Crown will have won three Grade I races with purses totaling around $5 million.
Special Effort is the latest Triple Crown winner and it came in 1981. The horse was owned by Dan and Jolene Urschel and trained by Johnnie Goodman. The jockey was Billy Hunt who guided Special Effort to all three of the futurity wins.
The Triple Crown winner ended its racing career with 13 wins in 14 starts. The horse collected $1,219,949 in earnings.
Here are the horses hoping to upset Hezgothelook Z. They are listed by name, post position, owner, trainer and jockey and morning line odds:
Post position 1: (See more information above)
Post Post 2: Aureliano Aranda, Jr., Ricardo G. Armendariz, Jr., Jacob Enriquez. 15-1 ML odds.
Post Post 3: Scott Branson and Jimmy Vaquez, Juventino Ruiz, Adrian Ramos, 8-1 ML odds
Post Post 4: Just Dulce Partnership (jimmy Barton et al), Marc Jungers, Christian Ramos, 15-1 odds
Post Post 5: Valeriano Racing Stables LLC (Samuel Valeriano et al), Heath Taylor, Francisco Calderon 6-1 ML odds
Post Post 6: La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC (Javier Rodriguez et al), Xavier E, Rodriguez, Luis Martinez, 9-2 ML odds
Post position 7. (See more information above)
Post position 8: Gentry Farms (R. Kirk Gentry and Robbi Force), John Stinebaugh, Ali Rivera, 30-1 ML odds
Post position 9: La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC (Javier Rodriguez et al), Xavier E. Rodriguez, Noe Garcia, 12-1 ML odds
Post Position 10: Valeriano Racing Stables LLC (Samuel Valeriano et al), Heath Taylor, James Flores 20-1 ML odds
Taylor will send Favorite Fire V and Highly Regarded V to post in the big race.
Both won their trials for the Rainbow Futurity and both are owned by Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC. (Samuel Valeriano et al).
“Both horses are doing well,” Taylor said. “Both of the horses are ready to go. have trained well and I can’t predict they will win, but they have done what they can to give themselves a chance to be in the hunt for a good performance.”
Dark Nme and jockey Francisco Calderon won the $1 million, Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, Sunday, July 16, 2023 at Ruidoso Downs
More: Horses qualify for Rainbow Derby 10 horses qualify for Rainbow Derby final at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
