Page 163 - August 2019

Zia Futurity-RG1
MISTER RIPTIDE
by Michael Cusortelli
Mister Riptide is headed to the All American Futurity-G1 trials following his dominating 2 1/2-length victory in the 400-yard $434,210
Zia Futurity-RG1 at Ruidoso Downs on July 28. Ridden by Ricky Ramirez and racing
against a reported 11-mph head wind, Mister Riptide covered 400 yards in :19.687, posting a 94 speed index. Trey Wood prepped the geld- ing for owners Mark and Annette McCloy, who purchased the gelding for $22,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs.
The outcome of the Zia Futurity was never in doubt from the start, as fastest qualifier Mister Riptide broke on top from the 3-post and kept getting stronger as the race progressed.
“He stood perfectly in the gate,” said Ramirez, who has ridden Mister Riptide in three of his four races. “You couldn’t have asked for a better start. I asked him, and he took off.”
Raced exclusively at Ruidoso Downs, Mister Riptide has won three of four races, and his resume includes a fifth-place finish,
1 1/2-lengths behind winner Colby James,
in the 350-yard, $404,000 Mountain Top Futurity-RG2 on June 15. The $182,368 win- ner’s share of the $434,210 Zia Futurity purse -- the richest in the stakes’ 29-year history -- increased his earnings to $209,407.
The 440-yard All American Futurity trials are set for August 16-17 at Ruidoso Downs.
“He’s sound, and we’re going to point him to the All American trials,” Wood said.
Mister Riptide was bred
by Mac and Janis Murray’s
MJ Farms, which bred seven
of the 10 Zia Futurity final-
ists, including second-fastest qualifier Six Pack Fame and third-fastest qualifier Zee Daddy.
Mister Riptide is out of Sam Houston Distaff Challenge winner Ms Riptide, who
ran second in the 2010 AQHA Sam Houston Derby Challenge-G3 and third in that season’s Texas QHA Sires’ Cup Derby-RG3. The Texas Hi-Point Aged Mare has produced 100% money earners from three starters. Mister Riptide is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Mister Riptide’s second dam, Sixes Ms Perry, won the 2004 AQHA Texas Distaff Challenge Stakes-G3. She produced Acorn In The Grove, a half-sister to Ms Riptide who ran third in Triple Vodka’s 2011 Texas QHA Sale Futurity-RG2 at Retama Park.
Mister Riptide’s third dam, Mame Smashed, won the
1988 World’s Championship Classic-G1 at Ruidoso Downs and produced 2003 Remington Park Gold Cup-G2 winner So Royally Smashed and stakes winner and 2000 Ruidoso Derby-G2 finalist CK One.
Colby James (Jesse James Jr-Sandy June Bug) finished second for owner Rex Wells. A $15,000 yearling purchase at
last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, he was ridden by Alan Hernandez for trainer Rudy Valles.
Six Pack Fame (Jesse James Jr-Sandys
Fame), a $26,000 buy at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, finished third for owner Diamond Racing Stables. Sergio Becerra Jr. rode the gelding for trainer Jose Luis Muela.
Jess Tequila Talkin (Jesse James Jr-Wish You Had One To) ran fourth and was followed by Blu Sunset (First Moonflash-The Blues Girl), Zee Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Golly Zee), Major Regard (Chicks Regard-Ima Major Chamisa), and Honky Tonk Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Jenna James). Shes More and Flashing Moolah were scratched.
Ruidoso Downs $434,210 • 400 yards :19.687 • si 94
Dash Ta Fame
Woodbridge
Champagne Lane
MISTER RIPTIDE, ‘17-g.
Oceans Runaway
Ms Riptide
Sixes Ms Perry
Mister Riptide & Ricky Ramirez go wire-to-wire in the $434,210 Zia Futurity-RG1
SPEEDHORSE, August 2019 161
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