Tres The Favorite, piloted by Luis Martinez, wins the $112,610 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes by a neck on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Victoria Salazar/Ruidoso Down

RUIDOSO, NM–JUNE 15, 2024–After breaking sixth from the gates, Tres The Favorite prevailed for an all-out win by a neck in the $112,610 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

Luis Martinez piloted Tres The Favorite to victory in 17.404 seconds, clocking a 95 speed index. The first-place finish by a neck paid $6.00 to win on 2-1 odds.

Tres The Favorite hadn't won a race in seven career starts, but on April 21, the Jose Moreno-owned gelding broke his maiden and has yet to stop winning.  The subsequent victory was in the trials to the Ruidoso Maiden Stakes, then his return for the win in the finals, which boosted his earnings to $108,955 after cashing in the $67,566 winner's check.

Trained by David Gomez-Barraza, Tres The Favorite has lit the board eight of ten starts with a record of 3-3-2. The son of Favorite Cartel was a finalist in this year's Grade 3 West Texas Derby.

Breeder Dunn Ranch sold Tres The Favorite for $90,000 to Moreno in the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The three-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding is out of Tres Times A Lady by Tres Seis.

Bigg Picture, who was a major longshot, placed second under the guidance of Adrian Ramos. Trained by Wes Giles, the son of Big Daddy Cartel has yet to break his maiden but has lit the board five of seven starts with $35,617 in the bank. The second-place finish paid $21.20 to place on 25-1 odds.

Bigg Picture's owner, Unos Menos, bought him from breeder MJ Farms for $120,000 in the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The three-year-old gelding is out of Astica by Jesse Jame Jr.

Post-time favorite Devastating, piloted by Rodrigo Vallejo, came up fast for a game third, one 1/4-lengths ahead of the rest of the field. The son of Favorite Cartel did break his maiden in the trials, and he was a finalist in last year's All American Futurity [G1]. Trainer Heath Taylor saddled the three-year-old gelding for owner Jackpot Farm.

Devastating is a $95,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate bred by Dr. Steve Burns of California out of the Stel Corona mare Quirky.

Aj Top Secret, Lethal Demon, Stay Calm, Wm Rushmore, Zoooom Hes A Gone, Ebw Inception and Dynamic Candy round out the order of finish.

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Racing continues on Sunday, with the $350,486 Mountain Top Futurity running for two-year-old New Mexico-bred quarter horses. First post time is 1 p.m.