Horse tops 10 qualifiers for Ruidoso Derby

Hotsempting won a race in 19.945 seconds at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday that led the field of 10 qualifiers who will vie for the top prize in the Ruidoso Derby.

The finals for the $750,000 GI Ruidoso Derby for 3-year-olds will be held on June 6 at Ruidoso Downs.

Horses from the John Stinebaugh stable also had a banner day as the trainer qualified three horses for the finals including Kylee Joy, Katch This Bird and Cartel Charly. It was the most that any single barn qualified for the Derby.

The final field for the Ruidoso Derby includes: Hotsempting (19.945), Apollitical Papa (19.977), Kylee Joy (20.019), Tres of Hero (20.036), Cers Final Try (20.051), Katch This Bird (20.069), Running Buddy (20.109), Cartel Charly (20.120), Kleptomaniac (20.153) and Oatman Creek Senator (20.167).

In addition, the field for the $100,000 Ruidoso Invitational Stakes was also set for the 10 horses with the next fastest qualifying times that did not qualify for the Ruidoso Derby. The field includes: Why, Laser Cut, Uncle D, Elm Creek Khrome, Kj Frankie B, Avyator, Kj Mucho Macho Man, My Fast Prize, Truly a Dynasty, and Dynast C. The finals for the Ruidoso Invitational Stakes will be run on June 6.

Racing at Ruidoso Downs resumes with a full card of Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing on Monday with the featured John Andreini Memorial Stakes and a post time of 1 p.m. (MDT). For more information on how to watch and wager, visit RaceRuidoso.com.