Challenge


Cherokee Senator Runs Fastest Qualifying Time in Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge Trials
Cherokee Senator(inside) leads the top four qualifiers into the $56,474 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge at Ruidoso Downs Saturday afternoon.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs
Cherokee Senator Runs Fastest Qualifying Time in Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge Trials

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 1, 2020—Cherokee Senator, a son of multiple stakes sire Louisiana Senator, pulled the top four qualifiers into the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge after winning a blanket finish in the first of two trials by neck Saturday afternoon.

Ridden by jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr., Cherokee Senator kept on well over the 400 yards to stop the time in :19.721 seconds, equaling a 94 speed index over a "good" racing surface. It was the second win in five career starts for the brown gelding who broke his maiden in the Ruidoso Futurity trials last summer.

"He seems to be a different horse this year," said Ramirez, Jr. "I think last season he was late to mature and now he seems to have grown into himself. He got out-broke by the 3 horse but then came running."

Trainer Michael Joiner conditions the Oklahoma-bred for owner-breeder Wootan Racing. Cherokee Senator is out of the Lit Bit Cuervo mare Eyesa Lil Cuervo. He has earned $9,865.

Graded stakes winner Rrelentless drifted out in the second trial under jockey Cody Smith to win by a neck and set the fifth fastest time of :20.004 seconds.

Trainer Gregg Sanders saddled last year's Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge winner for the Rrelentless Partners. Bred in Oklahoma by Bill Robbins, the black colt has won three of 15. Career starts and earned $95,183.

Out of the First Down Dash mare First A Princess, Rrelentless was also second in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2), third in the Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge and finalist in the Oklahoma Futurity(G2) last season.

The finals for the $56,474 Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge will be run on August 15th.

For a complete list of qualifiers to the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Racing at Ruidoso Downs continues tomorrow with the feature race, the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap. This 400-yard Grade 2 stakes race for 3-year-old and older Quarter Horses is the ninth race in the program, and approximate post time is 4:28 PM (MDT).

In addition, the seventh race will be the Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial Stakes to be run at 1000 yards. This mixed stake race for 3-year-olds and older has a purse of $20,000. Approximate post time is 3:36 PM.

Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico.

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Racing continues tomorrow with the feature race, the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap. This 400-yard Grade 2 stakes race for 3-year-old and older Quarter Horses is the ninth race in the program, and approximate post time is 4:28 PM. In addition, the seventh race will be the Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial Stakes to be run at 1000 yards. This mixed stake race for 3-year-olds and older has a purse of $20,000. Approximate post time is 3:36 PM. Post time is 1:00 PM MDT on Sunday. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering, please visit www.raceruidoso.com.