Rm Dulce Valiente, a recent winner of the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby, headlines the opening trial for the 2026 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes on Sunday at the Downs of Albuquerque.

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By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–MAY 29, 2026–The Sunday afternoon card at the Downs of Albuquerque will feature ten races, with the spotlight on the 2026 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Trials. Twenty-nine hopefuls will compete in the first three races of the day, each aiming to secure one of ten coveted spots in the June 13 final of the estimated $100,000 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes, which includes $25,000 added.

Open to three-, four-, and five-year-old Quarter Horses that were non-winners as of March 1, the trials present a special chance for late bloomers and emerging talents to compete for a generous payday. Featuring several recent maiden winners and established stakes contenders, the event promises a competitive day starting from the first race.

The first trial features Rm Dulce Valiente as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The gelding enters in sharp form after breaking his maiden on March 3 in the $45,000 AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby. He rallied from a bobbled start to prevail by a head in a hard-fought finish. The Oklahoma-bred has earned $36,550 from ten career starts and appears to be finding his best stride at the right time.

Owned and trained by Heber Deyta-Melendez, Rm Dulce Valiente was bred by Kiowa Creek Perf Horse and is by Valiant Hero, out of the Teller Cartel mare Teller Shes Sweet. Brian C. Barraza has the riding assignment from post seven.

The second trial brings in a fresh face from Remington Park, as Get Gone 123 ships west after his maiden-breaking victory on April 19. The gelding has been remarkably consistent throughout his brief career, finishing on the board in four of five starts and earning $22,250.

Bred and owned in Texas by J & SM, Inc., Get Gone 123 is a son of Flying Cowboy 123, out of the Desirio mare Wild Mares Milk. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh will saddle the gelding from post six, with Francisco Zamora aboard. Listed at 5-2 on the morning line, he is expected to draw strong support from bettors seeking another forward move.

The final trial of the afternoon is led by the 9-5 morning-line favorite, Racy 123. The Oklahoma homebred enters off a maiden-breaking victory on April 17 and brings valuable experience against quality competition. As a two-year-old, he qualified for the Grade 3 La Fiesta Futurity and finished a respectable third in the $457,000 final.

Owned by Tomas L. Avitia, Racy 123 is by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the First Down Dash mare Racy Cowgirl. Trainer Amulfo Cardenas sends the gelding from the rail post, with Jorge Nieto-Saenz in the saddle.

With twenty-nine entrants set to leave it all on the racetrack, Sunday’s Ruidoso Maiden Stakes Trials promise plenty of drama from the opening gate. For many of these runners, a maiden victory was only the beginning. Now, the challenge is to earn one of ten spots in the final and take the next step toward a career-defining score in the estimated $100,000 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes.

The races at the Downs of Albuquerque can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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