Preview Racing


Twenty-Six 3-Year-Olds Entered in Rillito Derby Trials
Zia Juvenile winner Gemologist is among 26 sophomores entered in Sunday's 300-yard Rillito Derby trials at Rillito Park.

© Ruidoso Downs Race Track
Twenty-Six 3-Year-Olds Entered in Rillito Derby Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

TUCSON, ARIZONA--February 3, 2023
--Stakes winners Gemologist and The Rev Rocker are among the 26 sophomores entered in Sunday's 300-yard Rillito Derby trials at Rillito Park.

A $9,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Gemologist is a son of Jess A Chicks trained by Eloy Navarro for owner Jose Aguilar Mendoza. The bay gelding has won six of 11 starts, including last year's 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Invitational Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds, and he has earned $67,261. He opened his 3-year-old season with a half-length victory in a 350-yard, $9,500 second-level allowance dash at Turf Paradise on January 12.

Gemologist drew the rail post and will be ridden by Ernie Aispuro in the second of four trials.

The Rev Rocker is coming off of a 2-year-old season during which he banked $42,178 from seven races and won the 350-yard, $47,000 John Deere Pocatello Downs Juvenile Challenge Stakes in Idaho. Juvencio Canales trains the gelded son of champion A Revenant for owner LG Racing LLC.

The Rev Rocker drew post 4 and will be ridden by Martin Osuna in the first heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the February 26, $15,000-added Rillito Derby final.

All Rillito Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com