RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 24, 2018—The promising fastest-qualifier Mr Amor Secreto looks to step forward in the $68,940 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge (see related story) on Saturday afternoon during Military Appreciation weekend at Ruidoso Downs.

Every Saturday at Ruidoso Downs, $1,000 is added to the fifth race trifecta pools. Saturday’s fifth race is a five-furlong maiden race.

First post time is 1 p.m. with the 400-yard Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge running as the eighth race and the 350-yard Higheasterjet (see related story) following as the ninth race.

In the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge, Kelly Perez’s homebred Mi Amor Secreto comes off setting the fastest-qualifying time from four trials with a :20.271 mark for the 400 yards. It was his second win from three starts this year and his second career victory.

Mi Amor Secreto won his maiden when he took his trial to the $95,800 Sam Houston Classic in his 2018 debut and then was a head-bobbing second in the finals.

A gelding by The Louisiana Cartel, was off the board in two starts last year.

He is a tall, late-developing horse. "Everything is coming together for him," Perez said. "By the end of the year, he’ll be even better."

Regular rider Santos Carrizales will ride Mi Amor Secreto, the 3-1 morning line favorite, from the seventh post position for trainer Marcos Carrizales.

Reliance Ranches’ Sc Vapor Trail was second to Mi Amor Secreto in their trial and is the 7-2 second choice. The Corona cartel-sired filly won the $44,000 Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge last fall. Two starts ago she won her trial to the Heritage Place Derby, however her time was not fast enough to reach the finals.

Trainer Robbins and rider Smith team up and they start from the 10th post position in the full field.

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