Chasing AJ, under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, posting the fastest time from 19 schooling races conducted Wednesday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Ruidoso Downs Race Track

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 11, 2022–Cashing AJ, a $95,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, posted the fastest time from 19 schooling races contested on Wednesday at Ruidoso Downs. 

It was the second day of two-days of schooling races for 2-year-olds who remain eligible to this summer’s Ruidoso Triple Crown series.

Under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, Chasing AJ broke alertly from the gate and lengthened his lead with every jump to complete the 300 yards in :15.979 seconds, the only 2-year-old to break the 16 second barrier all day.

Trainer M. Heath Taylor conditions the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner Steve Holt. Don Griffin, Jr. bred the gray gelding in Oklahoma from the G3-placed Mr Eye Opener mare Eye On This Candy. Chasing AJ is a half-brother to three black type include multiple stakes winner I See Candy Paint.

Cyber Attack, a brother to Ruidoso Futurity(G1) winner Cyber Monday and the third highest seller at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale last summer, defeated Hes Judgeandjury in the opening race to get the second fastest clocking of :16.010 seconds.

Trainer Christopher O’Dell named Eduardo Nicasio to ride the $400,000 sale graduate for owner Rosenthal Ranch, LLC.  The son of leading sire Favorite Cartel is from Ruidoso Derby(G1) winner Remember Me Rose, by Corona Cartel.

Bred by Steve D. Burns, DVM, Cyber Attack is a full or half sibling to 8 black type including Grade 1 winners Powerful Favorite, Runforyoulife and the aforementioned Cyber Monday.

Jeff Jones and Steve Holt’s Oklahoma homebred Hes Judgeandjury held onto the third fastest clocking of :16.055 seconds. Also trained by Heath Taylor the son of multiple stakes sire Hes Relentless, from the Frist Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona, is a half-brother to last year’s Grade 1 Ruidoso and Rainbow Derby  winner, champion Empressum. Champion Jockey James Flores was riding.

Owens Wee Beastie, a New Mexico homebred racing for owner-breeder Trey Greenwood, got the fourth fastest clocking of :16.073 second while winning  Race 18. Trainer Michael Joiner named jockey Jose Alvarez to ride the daughter of multiple stakes sire Jumpn Chic from the Dean Miracle mare Fancy Easter Parade.

The fifth fastest time on Wednesday went to Race 6 winner Doing Something Good, a $110,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate owned by J & SM, Inc. Trainer Fred Danley saddled the New Mexico-bred son of Big Daddy Cartel from the Grade 3 winning Pappasito mare Start Something Bad. Noe Garcia, Jr. piloted the bay gelding to a clocking of :16.113 seconds. 

The MJ Farms bred 2-year-old is from the family of stakes winner Just Wanna Be Me. Golden State Futurity(G1) winner Shirley B Gayle is the fourth dam.

For a complete list of horses who competed in the 19 training races today (May 11), for individual times, CLICK HERE.