Ruidoso Downs, NM, June 10, 2018

Blue Corazon won the first leg of Quarter racing’s Triple Crown, the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity, on Sunday, June 10, in his second start. The Coronado Cartel-sired gelding, trained by Rodolfo “Rudy” Valles for Newman Cattle Co, claimed the one-half-length, 350 yard victory in 17.783 seconds, under Raul Ramirez Jr.

Second-placed Suze Returns, trained by Juan Carlos Gonzalez for Joe Rios, had been the 3-1 morning line favorite. It was the High Rate Of Return daughter’s fourth start. She began her career with an overpowering two-and-one-quarter-length win in her West Texas Futurity trial and claimed the West Texas Futurity victory, before winning her Ruidoso Futurity trial.

Before the $759,000 Ruidoso Derby, which he won on Saturday, June 9, with Jess Move You, trainer Rudy Valles had never won a stakes race. But following Sunday’s $1 million Ruidoso Futurity with Blue Corazon,  the 24-year-old trainer had earned two Grade 1 stakes victories in the one weekend. The only other two trainers to win the Ruidoso Derby and the Ruidoso Futurity in the same year are hall of famers Sleepy Gilbreath (1998) and Russell Harris (2000).

Blue Corazon, a gelding by Coronado Cartel, showed his potential in the Ruidoso Futurity trials when he won his trial by one-and-one-half lengths. His time of :17.985 was the second-fastest time on the first of two days of trials. “He’s always been a pro and he acted ready,” said Valles. “This whole weekend has been a dream. It’s impossible to put into words. After the trials, (both) horses came back well, but you still don’t ever think that this can happen.”

Jess Move You will now be pointed at the trials to the $750,000 Rainbow Derby on July 8, while Blue Corazon will be entered for the trials of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity on July 6-7.