© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (May 26, 2017) — High Rate Partners 2017’s High Rate Of Motion (2016 Heritage Place Quarter Horse Yearling Sale Graduate • $33,000.00) powered through a 19-mile-per-hour headwind to set the top qualifying time on the first of two days of trials to the Grade 1, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity on Friday afternoon.
The two-year-olds with the five-fastest times from the 13 trials advance to the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity on June 11. The horses with the next five-fastest times gain preference to the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile on the same day.
The five Ruidoso Futurity finalists from Friday’s program will join the horses with the five-fastest times on Saturday afternoon in the Ruidoso Futurity. First post time for the 13 trials on Saturday is 1 p.m.
High Rate Of Motion was sensational in the seventh trial and looked like a horse who will thrive as the futurity distances grow longer at Ruidoso Downs. Following the Ruidoso Futurity is the 400-yard Grade 1, $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity on July 23 and the 440-yard Grade 1, $3-million (est.) on Labor Day.
The third-place runner in the West Texas Juvenile at Sunland Park in his previous start, High Rate Of Motion started well from the outside position and then pulled out to the two-length win under jockey Cody Jensen. The son of High Rate Of Return was timed in :17.994 and that was the only race the was under the :18.000 mark.
“He ran a really good race,” said trainer Mike Joiner. “We ran him at Sunland (Park) and he’s a tall, lanky colt. He couldn’t get away from the gate and today is the best he’s ever done.”
Trainer Wes Giles saddled the second- and third-fastest qualifiers — Big Daddys Winner and Uptown Dynasty.
Ezra Elton Lee’s homebred Big Daddys Winner challenged a 16-mile-per-hour headwind and came up with the second-fastest time. The daughter of Big Daddy Cartel was timed in :18.138.
Big Daddys Winner made two starts at Sunland Park and won her maiden at first asking by one-and-one-half lengths. She then had a troubled start and was fourth in a $38,000 conditioned allowance race.
Melvin Neugebauer’s Uptown Dynasty (2016 Heritage Place Quarter Horse Yearling Sale Graduate • $65,000.00) made his mark in the first trial with a :18.142 time. The Mr Jess Perry-sired gelding made one start at Sam Houston Race Park, a second-place finish in his Sam Houston Futurity trial.
Rounding out the five qualifiers were Paragon Farms’ She Eat Fire at :18.155 and Pierre and Leslie Amestoy’s Luminatre with an :18.190 mark.
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