RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 25, 2021—Under jockey Francisco Calderon, Jess Savin Candy determinedly got up at the wire to defeat Cc Hocks by a nose in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Sunday.

After winning the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Ruidoso Futurity last month the son of leading second-crop sire Jess Good Candy could become the first 2-year-old since Special Effort, 40-years-ago, to win the Ruidoso Triple Crown.

The $30,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate will have to make it through next month's All American Futurity qualifying round before getting his Triple Crown shot!

Heavy rains began to fall at Ruidoso Downs shortly before the beginning of the race day which forced the cancellation of the first three races on the afternoon card. Live racing continued in the fourth race through the end of the day with track officials carefully watching to ensure the surface continued to be safe to race.

Under a determined ride by Calderon, Jess Good Candy broke fourth but used every inch of the 400 yards to stop the clock in :19.600 seconds, a 97 speed index over the sloppy (sealed) racing surface into a 2 mph crosswind.

"When we broke I could tell that he really wasn’t grabbing the surface well," jockey Francisco Calderon said. "He was slipping and sliding and I had to urge him forward just enough to keep him trying. We were closing on them (CC Hocks) and I asked (Juan) Pulido after we crossed the finish line who he thought had won it—we both knew it was going to be a close photo."

Trainer John Stinebaugh, who just won the Mr Jet Moore Handicap(G2) at with Calderon in the prior race (see related story), saddled Jess Savin Candy to his third win in four starts for owner Dutch Masters, III.

"Forty-yards to the finish line I thought we were beat," trainer John Stinebaugh said in the winner’s circle. "I knew he was making up ground and could tell he just needed a little more. We’re fortunate that he got up in time."

Bred in Oklahoma by Jim and Donna O'Neal, from the Pappasito mare Savin Grace, Jess Savin Candy picked up $420,000 for his Rainbow victory, boosting his bankroll to $846,000.

Runner-up Cc Hocks lead throughout but drifted out under jockey Juan Pulido to lose the nod. Trainer Santos Carrizales, Jr. conditions the son of a leading third-crop sire Kiss My Hocks for owner HV Ranch LLC. Bred in Oklahoma by Danny Jo Miller, from the Holland Ease mare Cassandra Crest, Cc Hocks earned $180,000 for second.

A $50,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, Cc Hocks is a half-brother to three-time AQHA Racing champion and All American Futurity(G1) winner Apocalyptical Jess.

Double Duty, a $36,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate for owners Derrol Hubbard and Joan Dale Hubbard finished a neck back in the blanket-finish to earn $100,000 for third.

Trainer Michael Joiner named jockey Raul Valenzuela to ride the daughter of leading first-crop sire A Revenant from the Thoroughbred daughter of Devon Lane, Brickyard Lane. D. Hubbard and Lee Lewis bred the chestnut filly in Texas.

Jess Saving Candy paid $4.60, $3.40 and $2.60 in a winning time of 19.60 seconds for 400-yards in the tenth race. The gelding’s sire is Jess Good Candy out of the mare Savin Grace by Pappasito. CC Hocks finished second and Double Duty finished third.

Completing the field were Fdd Scout, Candy Dice, Significant Dynasty, Kj Desparado, Lethal Avenger, Bf Shes Outrageous and Lethal Viper.

Racing continues next weekend at Ruidoso Downs with the annual Zia Festival that includes multiple stakes races for New Mexico-breds. First post time is 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and more information is available at raceruidoso.com.

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For more information about the Ruidoso Downs 2021 racing schedule or to reserve your tickets and plan your visit, go to RaceRuidoso.com.