Pandorum In John Deere Trials Friday, Precedes Rainbow Weekend at Ruidoso

            RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (July 17, 2011) – Joe Kirk Fulton’s homebred stakes winner Pandorum, the 2011 Sam Houston Race Park horse of the meet, tries to remain undefeated when she makes her third start in the trials to the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge on Friday afternoon.

            Friday’s program starts the Rainbow Derby and Rainbow Futurity racing week at Ruidoso Downs. On Saturday, fastest-qualifier Cold Cash 123 returns in the Grade 1, $899,523 Rainbow Derby after nearly breaking the 440-yard track record with his dominating trial victory. On Sunday, the nation’s second-ranked two-year-old quarter horse Mighty B Valiant heads the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity.

            First post time is 1 p.m. daily with free parking and free general admission.

            The 350-yard John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge trials run as the first five races. The horses with the 10-fastest times gain eligibility to the Grade 3 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge on August 7.

            The Jose Luis Dominguez-trained Pandorum is an individual betting interest in the All American Future Wager based on her impressive record from two starts. If she qualifies for the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge then her connections may face several options. She could race in the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge or pass that race and point to the All American Futurity trials on August 18. Or the Tres Seis filly could run in the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge and come back in the All American Futurity trials.

            Pandorum made her career debut in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge trials and dominated with a fastest-qualifying trial win by more than two lengths. She then supported that effort in stunning fashion with a three-quarter-length win in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge while setting a new track of :17.326 for 350 yards.

            Jose Amador Alvarez rides Pandorum with the ninth post position.

            AQRA Spring Futurity winner Dukes Red River takes on Pandorum in the competitive trial. The Jack and Leslie Lee Hale-owned gelding took the AQRA Spring Futurity by a head and then was a troubled sixth in his Four Coroners Futurity trial, his most recent start on June 4.

            Hall of fame trainer John Bassett will have Saul Ramirez Jr. on Dukes Red River with the fifth post position.