Page 98 - July 2020

RACING NEWS
Ruidoso Futurity-G1
CYBER MONDAY
by Tracy Gantz
For jockey Sergio Becerra Jr., winning the June 7 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 with Cyber Monday was especially satisfying.
“He’s done everything right from the start,” the rider said. “I helped break this colt, and we knew from the start that he had talent.”
Sergio Ibarra trains Cyber Monday for own- ers L O S LLC and Abelardo Gallegos. The con- ditioner unveiled the colt for the first time in the May 22 trials for the Ruidoso Futurity. Cyber Monday won his heat after a bobbled start.
“We had him ready for the West Texas (Futurity at Sunland Park), but unfortunately that didn’t happen,” said Ibarra, as the track closed March 17 due to COVID-19. “In the tri- als, he drew the 10 hole. They didn’t give him enough time to settle in there. He came out, stumbled, and had to work for it.”
Nevertheless, Cyber Monday won his Ruidoso Futurity trial by a half-length. His time of :18.007 for 350 yards made him the eighth-fastest qualifier.
For the final, Jettz, the second-fastest quali- fier, went off as the 8-5 favorite. Bettors sent Cyber Monday off at 10-1, the sixth choice in the 10-horse field.
“Come race day, we were actually a little nervous because he drew the four hole and we knew the inside was kind of heavy,” said Ibarra. “We were hoping for a good race. This time he got a clean break and he was in front. But he still had to work for it because there were a lot of good horses in that race.”
Cyber Monday went to the lead immediately. Seven of the 10 battled for command early, with only heads separat- ing them. But then Cyber Monday edged away, scoring a half-length win in :17.618.
The day proved warm, and so after the race, Cyber Monday was put into
the horse ambulance and taken to the test barn as a precaution.
“He was a little exhausted
from the race,” said Ibarra a
few days later. “He’s a big horse, and of course he’s a colt and I think that affects him a lot. He didn’t want to walk back to the winner’s circle. But the horse is fine.”
Ibarra and Becerra not only won the Ruidoso Futurity, they successfully collabo- rated to win the Ruidoso Juvenile two races earlier with For The Irony, owned by Diamond Racing Stables.
Dr. Steve Burns bred Cyber Monday in California from Remember Me Rose, who
is the 2019 Speedhorse Broodmare of the Year. Dr. Burns consigned Cyber Monday to the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in the name of his Burns Ranch.
L O S LLC and Abelardo Gallegos purchased the colt at the sale for $140,000.
Remember Me Rose is no stranger to Ruidoso Downs. She won the 2007 Ruidoso Derby-G1 after finishing 2nd in the 2006 Ruidoso Futurity. She won 4 other stakes and additional ones, including the
96 SPEEDHORSE July 2020
Ruidoso Downs $1,000,000 • 350 yards :17.618 • si 92
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
CYBER MONDAY, ‘18-c.
Corona Cartel
Remember Me Rose
Im Moonlighting
placed in several
Rainbow Futurity-G1. Remember Me Rose also finished 5th in the All American Futurity. Ultimately, she earned $820,895.
Cyber Monday and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. win the $1,000,000 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 by 1/2-length.
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse