Llano Teller Races To Gutty Win In Richest Ruidoso Derby on Saturday

RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (June 11, 2011) – Llano Teller, owned by Wootan Racing with Reed Land and Cattle Company, parlayed a sharp start and a game finish into a professional victory in the record-setting Grade 1, $702,896 Ruidoso Derby on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The $702,896 purse surpassed the previous record purse of $569,143 set last year and the $351,449 first-place check earned by Llano Teller is more than the total purse of $308,267 in the 2009 running.

Llano Teller, with hall of fame jockey G.R. Carter Jr. aboard, covered the 400 yards in :19.553 to win by a neck over Dominyun while JD Baccarat was another three quarters of a length back for third place.

Llano Teller, in the second post position, raced side-by-side with second-place finisher Dominyun, in the first post position, in what turned out to be a virtual match race.

“He warmed up like a pro and it was uneventful in the gate, just what we want,” said Carter, who scored his first win Ruidoso Derby win. “He broke about a neck in front and Dominyun may have gotten his head in front about halfway down there. But, he took on the challenge and got the win.”

The son of All American Futurity winner Teller Cartel had a consistent and productive 2-year-old campaign and now is leading the top-tier of the 3-year-old division.

“It really looks like he can run on down the track (440 yards),” said winning trainer Heath Reed. “He tore up a quarter (part of his hoof) last year and we’ve changed his shoeing. He lost a shoe in his trial, but he didn’t hurt himself.”

Llano Teller’s tenacity last year resulted in a win in the Grade 1, $200,000 Remington Park Futurity and a close third-place finish in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity from his first four starts, all at Remington Park. He then came to Ruidoso Downs and qualified for the Grade 1, $625,000 Rainbow Futurity and moved on to Lone Star Park near Dallas to qualify for the Grade 1, $1,037,000 Texas Classic Futurity.

The gelding earned $485,388 last year and pushed his career earnings to $837,987 with the record-setting Ruidoso Derby first-place check.

“This is really a nice little horse. He lasted all of last year and has matured this year,” said Carter.

Following minor surgery and a 6-month rest, Reed brought Llano Teller back for the Ruidoso Derby trials and the gutty gelding stepped up with a one-half length win while losing the shoe. In that trial he defeated Dominyun by one-half length while Unanchored, who also qualified for the Ruidoso Derby, finished third.

“He might not be the fastest horse in the race, but he really tries, said Reed.

Runner-up Dominyun and third-place finisher JD Baccarat each turned in efforts that assured their connections.

“We’re really proud of him,” said Dominyun’s breeder-owner Bobby Cox. “He ran well; he just came up short.”

The powerful son of Mr Jess Perry is a few close margins away from substantially adding to his career bankroll of $304,995. He was third, just beaten by a head in the Grade 1, $2,000,000 All American Futurity on Labor Day and then third, defeated by one-half length, in the Grade 1, $463,000 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park.

Third-place finisher JD Baccarat was gelded before the Ruidoso Derby trials and it has paid off for the member of the Paul Jones barn.

“He has matured and gelding him has really helped,” said Lisa Saumell, who runs the Jones’ New Mexico operation.

Another son of Mr Jess Perry, JD Baccarat was winless from four starts last year, although he qualified for the All American Futurity. He the won his maiden in his Ruidoso Derby trial and showed promise with his third-place run in the Ruidoso Derby.

“This whole race was pretty even,” said Saumell. “Llano Teller was the best horse and deserves the win.”