| ||
|
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (August 12, 2011) – Royal Dream Ranch’s Urbanite separated from her rivals in the final strides to win the first of two trials and set the fastest-qualifying time to the Merial Ruidoso Distaff Challenge on Friday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs. The fillies and mares with the 10-fastest times return on August 28 in the Merial Ruidoso Distaff Challenge. Urbanite got a slight weather advantage in the first trial with an eight mile-per-hour crosswind while, in the second trial, second-fastest qualifier Famous Mariah raced into a 15 mile-per-hour as a thunderstorm approached Ruidoso Downs. The Alex Sanchez-trained Urbanite, a daughter of Check Him Out and Imjumpn, won the first trial by one-half length with a :19.848 time for the 400 yards. Jacky Martin was aboard the 8-5 favorite. Urbanite won her maiden in her previous start when she dominated by four lengths at Gillespie Fairgrounds. She wrapped up her 2010 season by qualifying for the Sunland Winter Derby and then was second in a Sunland Park maiden race after a nearly four-month layoff. Lana Merrick and R. Kent Jackson’s Famous Mariah prevailed in a very tight second trial under G.R. Carter Jr. The top four horses were separated by three noses and a head. The Tres Seis-sired Famous Mariah, from the Heath Reed barn, was timed in :19.905 for her second career win. She won her maiden at Remington Park in March, however was stakes-placed last year when she finished second in the John Deere Will Rogers Downs Challenge and the Quarter Racing Journal Stakes. The qualifiers and their times are Urbanite (:19.848), Famous Mariah (:19.905), Full Moon Dasher (:19.907), Illegal Fireworks (:19.912), Tylers Feature (:19.918), Pl Okey Chick (:19.923), Features Lucky Charm (:19.938), Gilded Gold (:20.003), Dreamers Cartel (:20.017) and Take Me If You Can (:20.022).
|
