Trainer Wood Completes Derby-Futurity Double With Fernweh’s Win In Ruidoso Futurity On Sunday
Photo © Jake Rogers, courtesy of Ruidoso Downs
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (June 9, 2019) — Trainer Trey Wood became the fifth trainer to win the Ruidoso Derby and the Ruidoso Futurity on the same weekend when Carry “Rusty” Allred’s Fernweh (*Heritage Place Graduate) scored a narrow victory in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.
The Wood-trained Apocalyptical Jess won the Grade 1, $958,766 Ruidoso Derby on Saturday afternoon.
The other trainers to score the Ruidoso Derby-Ruidoso Futurity double on the same weekend are “Sleepy” Gilbreath, Russell Harris, Mike Joiner and Rudy Valles. Gilbreath performed the feat twice.
The odds-on favorite, Fernweh raced the 350 yards in :17.477 to get the win by a head over Bv Sheslikethewind. Oatman Creek Senator was one-half length back for third.
Fernweh started from the ninth post position while Bv Sheslikethewind started from the second post position. They raced on equal terms, however were separated across the track and couldn’t see each other.
“She left there (the starting gate),” winning jockey Ricky Ramirez said. “She always seems to be running by herself and she did that so I just kept her busy.”
The Favorite Cartel-sired Fernweh has been a prime prospect in the Wood operation since she first worked from a starting gate at the Wood operation in Lubbock for Blane Wood, Trey’s father. She showed so much ability that Blane immediately sent her to Trey at the track.
Fernweh continued to impress while setting the fastest time during the first of three days of training races at Ruidoso Downs. She then raced to the fastest time during second of two days of trials to the Ruidoso Futurity. She won her trial by two-and-three-quarter lengths in :17.560 for 350 yards.
“She’s all speed and all racehorse,” Trey Wood said. “She ran a perfect race.”
Trey Wood complimented the entire Wood operation when asked about the derby-futurity double. “We get good horses and when you get horses like them, you just keep them happy,” he said.
Bella Vista Farms LLC’s homebred Bv Sheslikethewind ran a strong race for trainer Eddie Lee Willis to finish a close second. Mario Delgado was aboard.
Bv Sheslikethewind was making her fourth career start and was coming off two wins. The Apollitical Jess daughter won her trial to the Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity and then scored a one-half length win in her Ruidoso Futurity trial. Her time of :17.857 made her the fifth and final qualifier on the first day of trials.
Wootan Racing’s homebred Oatman Creek Senator is still a maiden after two starts, however is now a top futurity prospect. The Mike Joiner-trained gelding was second by a neck in his Ruidoso Futurity trial with a :17.875 time, the fifth-fastest time on the second day of trials.
J.R. Ramirez rode the gelding by Louisiana Senator in each of his outs.
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