© Jake Rogers, courtesy of Ruidoso Downs
RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – JUNE 13, 2021 – The rain that had been coming down for about an hour prior stopped just in time for the running of the $1 Million G1 Ruidoso Futurity, the first jewel in the Quarter Horse Triple Crown. The horse that crossed the finish line first by a neck was Jess Savin Candy (*Heritage Place Graduate) who went off at race-time with odds of 10-1 and paid $24.00 to win, $8.20 to place and $6.20 to show on a fast track with a time of :17.559.
The bay gelding by Jess Good Candy out of Savin Grace by Pappasito, is owned by Dutch Masters, LLL (A.J. Streelman et al) and hails from the barn of John Stinebaugh who with the win today got in the winner’s circle for the first time in a Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown race.
“This is a topper,” said Stinebaugh. “Once he got down the race track, and his lane opened up, I knew it was on. I felt my horse would be fastest in the final strides, and that’s really how it turned out.”
Jess Savin Candy was bred in Oklahoma by Jim and Donna O’Neal and was ridden to victory today by jockey Francisco Calderon. This is also Calderon’s first Triple Crown win at Ruidoso Downs.
“I feel like this horse is only going to get better with more distance. I did my best to keep him focused and motivated, and when I asked him, he responded,” said jockey Calderon. “He’s big and bold when he runs. I’m looking forward to whatever his next opportunity might be.”
Jess Fire Me (*Heritage Place Graduate) finished second by a neck followed closely by Tactical Fire. Revenant Moon, who was heavily favored going into the race and went off as the race-time favorite, had a bad start and was never a factor in the race. She ended up finishing last.
In the Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes for the fastest non-qualifiers, eight horses ultimately raced the 350-yards for the $100,000 purse after Eagle Tempted Cash scratched early on, and Rainbow to Roses was a race-time scratch after flipping in the gate. Trey Wood’s Fdd Scout was the best of the bunch as he cruised to a ¾-length win over Spanish Steps who finished second and Bacsheesh who ran third.
Fdd Scout, a sorrel gelding by Fdd Dynasty out of Apollitical Scout by Apollitical Jess, was bred in Texas by Paragon Farms. Tanner Thedford was aboard today for the win.