Supplemental entry Silver For Me, at 9-1, overcame a rough start to win the $500,000 G1 Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday, June 12. The $250,000 winner’s payout validated the decision of trainer Jackie Riddle and owners G.W. Hartstack and B and B Electric to pay gelding Silver For Me’s $15,000 late entry fee.

“We didn’t get away the best,” said rider Carlos Madeira. “At about fifty yards he just kicked it in.” The 350-yard dash was the richest Quarter Horse victory for Madeira, a top-ranked New Mexico Thoroughbred rider, who piloted undefeated Peppers Pride to all 19 of her wins.

Back In The Pack, a $9,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and the only filly in the field, finished a neck behind Silver For Me for second, at 22-1; Ochoa, at 9-1, was third. Both Silver For me and Back In The Back are sired by Corona For Me.

Silver For Me, runnerup in the Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes, qualified for the Ruidoso Futurity with the fourth fastest time (:17.629) from 195 entrants in 21 trials. His winning time in the Ruidoso Futurity was :17.481.

Fastest qualifier (:17.502) Fly First Down, a $300,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, finished seventh.

Llano Teller takes Ruidoso Derby
Llano Teller parlayed a sharp start and a game finish into a $308,267 win in the G1 Ruidoso Derby on Saturday, June 11, at Ruidoso Downs. The race’s record purse of $702,896 was more than double the amount of the 2009 Ruidoso Derby.

Trained by Heath Reed for Wootan Racing and Reed Land and Cattle, Llano Teller covered 400 yards in :19.553 to win by a neck over Dominyun.

“He broke about a neck in front and Dominyun may have gotten his head in front about halfway down there,” said rider G.R. Carter Jr. “But he took on the challenge and got the win.”

It was the second start of the year for the gelded son of Teller Cartel, whose win boosted his career earnings to $837,987.