RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 10, 2018—Before Saturday’s Grade 1, $759,000 Ruidoso Derby, trainer Rodolfo "Rudy" Valles had never won a stakes race and following Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Futurity the 24-year-old trainer had two Grade 1 stakes victories.

Valles won the Ruidoso Derby with Jess Move You and then Blue Corazon rushed to win the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity.

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).

On Sunday’s undercard, Eduardo Mendoza Jr.’s Em Bodacious Chick won the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile (see related story), for two-year-olds who did not qualify for the Ruidoso Futurity. She finished in the eight path after starting from the fourth post position.

Newman Cattle Company’s Blue Corazon went in from the fifth post position at the start of the Ruidoso Futurity and then quickly gained his composure to rally. He grabbed the one-half length victory over Grade 2 winner Suze Returns in his second career start. Suze Returns finished neck ahead of third-place runner Jest Famous.

Raul Ramirez Jr. was aboard for the win in :17.768 second.

"He veered in and then he went to running," said Ramirez Jr.

Blue Corazon, a gelding by leading first-crop sire 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, the horses came back well, but you still don’t ever think that this can happen."

A $30,000 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale graduate, Blue Corazon was bred in Arkansas, by Corner K Quarter Horses LLC, from the Takin On The Cash mare Bye Bye Baby Goodbye.

Jess Move You will now point at the trials to the Grade 1, $750,000 (est.) Rainbow Derby on July 8 while Blue Corazon will target the trials of the Grade 1, $1 million (est.) Rainbow Futurity on July 6-7.

Joe Rios’ Suze Returns, a daughter of High Rate Of Return, suffered her first defeat after three consecutive wins. The Juan Carlos Gonzalez-trained filly won the Grade 2, $269,528 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park.

Rios purchased Suze Returns for $13,000 in the September Heritage Place Yearlings Sale from breeder Flag Ranch LLC. She is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Brown Eye Suze.

Ridden by regular rider Jaime Leos, Suze Returns has banked $316,818 this season.

A $200,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling graduate, Jest Famous earned half that back for this third-place effort. Trainer G. Blane Wood saddled the son of leading sire Mr Jess Perry for owner MRB Racing LLC.

Jon and Donna McPherson bred the sorrel gelding in Louisiana from the Corona Cartel mare Famous Corona Lady, a finalist in the Ruidoso Futurity(G1) and All American Derby(G1). Jest Famous, who has earned $104,800 in two starts is her first foal. Champion jockey Ricky Ramirez was riding.

Pj Splash Of Joy, Im Jess Special V, Tempting Special, Flash And Roll, Corona Squared and One Famous Stone completed the field. The Runaway Favorite was scratched.

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