Fastest qualifier drew post 3 for Saturday’s 400-yard, $887,880 Ruidoso Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM-—JUNE 2, 2020—Hotsempting, a bay daughter of champion Tempting Dash and the fastest qualifier, drew post 3 for Saturday’s 400-yard, $887,880 Ruidoso Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Trained by Sergio Ibarra for owners Miguel Y. Gallegos and Mauricio Gallegos, Hotsempting has won both of her outs this season, including the seventh of 11 Ruidoso Derby trials on May 24. All told, the filly has earned $65,293 from seven races, and he was a finalist in last year’s Grade 1 Rainbow and Ruidoso futurities.

Hotsempting is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the field of 10 sophomores. The filly will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez.

Other contenders include Oatman Creek Senator, a homebred Louisiana Senator gelding owned by Wootan Racing and trained by Mike Joiner. Oatman Creek Senator made his 3-year-old season debut with a three-quarter length victory in the 10th Ruidoso Derby trial.

Oatman Creek Senator has won two of five outs and has banked $111,300, and his 2-year-old record included a third-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Fernweh, in the 350-yard, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity (G1). He drew post 2 and will be ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr.

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

1. Apollitical Papa (Jose A. Alvarez), 9-2
2. Oatman Creek Senator (Raul Ramirez Jr.), 10-1
3. Hotsempting (Esgar Ramirez), 5-2
4. Tres Of Hero (Alan Hernandez), 15-1
5. Katch This Bird (Benito Baca), 20-1
6. Cartel Charly (Raul A. Valenzuela), 5-1
7. Cers Final Try (Alfredo Sigala), 8-1
8. Kylee Joy (Francisco Calderon), 7-2
9. Kleptomaniac (Ricky Ramirez), 30-1
10. Running Buddy (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 15-1

Ruidoso Invitational Stakes

Also on Saturday, 10 3-year-olds are entered in the 400-yard, $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational Stakes.

KJ Frankie B, a sorrel son of world champion Apollitical Jess, drew the rail post and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos. Trained by Wes Giles for owners John and Kathy Lee and I. Ruben Mares, the gelding has won three of four races and has earned $55,061, with his only setback being a second-place finish, a nose behind winner Aggressive Driver, in the 400-yard, $184,000 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park on March 7.

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

1. KJ Frankie B (Adrian Ramos), 4-1
2. KJ Mucho Macho Man (Alan Hernandez), 5-1
3. Avyator (Rodrigo Vallejo), 15-1
4. My Fast Prize (Jesus Olivas), 8-1
5. Why (Cody R. Smith), 12-1
6. Dynasty C (Noe Garcia Jr.), 20-1
7. Elm Creek Khrome (Jose A. Alvarez), 8-1
8. Truly A Dynasty (Manuel Gutierrez), 15-1
9. Laser Cut (Francisco Calderon), 9-2
10. Apollitical J Wild (Paul O. Garcia), 6-1
11. AE-Hes Back (Raul A. Valenzuela), 20-1
12. AE-Ratification (Francisco Calderon), 30-1

All Ruidoso Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.