RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 26, 2017—Fastest qualifier Maxx will face nine rivals in the $48,510 Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

First post time is 1 p.m. with free parking and free general admission. The Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge runs as the sixth race while the Higheasterjet Handicap-G3 (see related story) is the ninth race on the 10-race program.

Judd Kearl will also saddle 2-1 morning-line favorite Maxx in the $48,510 Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge. The gelding made two starts at Sam Houston Race Park this spring and was disqualified in each race, including a second-place run in the Grade 3, $198,000 Sam Houston Derby.

Irma Vargas’ Maxx made his 2017 Ruidoso Downs’ debut in the trials to the Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge and responded with a neck win as the 7-10 favorite. His time of :19.555 was the quickest qualifying mark.

Last year, The Pyc Paint Your Wagon-sired Maxx won the $69,000 John Deere Sam Houston Challenge and qualified for the Grade 1, $1-million Texas Classic Futurity.

Jose Amador Alvarez rides Maxx with the third post position.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds--

1. Stella Lou (G R Carter, Jr.),12/1
2. Riverside Revolution (C U Vidana),30/1
3. Maxx (A Alvarez), 2/1
4. Just a Little Wagon (A Ramos),15/1
5. Sinsational Tacha (M Salcedo), 20/1
6. Mbv Mvp (R Ramirez), 6/1
7. Rock About It (J Baca), 7/2
8. Marseille (E Ortiz), 15/1
9. B Double U (A Silva), 8/1
10. Born to B Bad (R Ramirez, Jr.), 9/2

For complete Ruidoso Downs’ information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.