New Mexico will be in the racing spotlight this weekend as Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird aims for victory in the $1 million Belmont Stakes and 2008 champion 2-year-old filly Brenda Beautiful (pictured) carries a four-race winning streak into the $300,000 G1 Ruidoso Derby at 400 yards.
Mine That Bird’s co-owners, Mike Allen and Leonard Blach DVM, are both from Roswell, NM, and New Mexico-based Chip Woolley trains the gelding. Allen also owns two of Brenda Beautiful’s challengers in the Ruidoso Derby – Time For A Cigar and Shaboomator.
Brenda Beautiful is trained by Paul Jones for her breeders, R.D. Hubbard of Ruidoso and Johnny T.L. Jones Jr., former owner of Walmac Farms, a prominent Thoroughbred breeding center near Lexington, KY.
On Sunday at Ruidoso Downs, fastest qualifier Running Brook Gal meets undefeated stakes winner GBH Steppin Johnny in the $500,000, G1 Ruidoso Futurity.
The Ruidoso Futurity is the first of three Grade 1 futurities contested every summer at Ruidoso Downs. The 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity is followed by the $625,000 Rainbow Futurity (July 19) and the $2 million All American Futurity (September 7).
Running Brook Gal, from the first crop of Brookstone Bay, surprised in the 17th and final Ruidoso Futurity trial when she dominated by nearly two lengths after being overlooked at 12-1 odds. It was her first start and her time of :17.638 moved her to the top of the qualifiers’ list.
Kenny Muntz, who also rode Ruidoso Derby fastest-qualifier Brenda Beautiful, was up for Running Brook Gal’s trial win and will be aboard in the futurity. They will start from the seventh post position in the 10-horse field.
The Jackie Riddle-trained GBH Steppin Johnny was a known horse coming into the Ruidoso Futurity trials and lived up to his reputation. He pulled away to win by more than two lengths and qualified for the futurity with a :17.809 time.
GBH Steppin Johnny earned respect at Sunland Park when he won his first two starts before claiming a three-quarter-length win in the $120,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity.