Heartswideopen Has Last Work Before Ruidoso Derby
Trials
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (May 12,
2008) – Champion and All American
Futurity winner Heartswideopen turned in her final serious preparation for her
2008 debut in the trials to the Grade 1, $300,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby on May 24
when she worked 220 yards in :11.21 on Friday morning at Ruidoso Downs.
“She rolled like a big black train. She was laughing and smiling,” said trainer
Carl Draper.
Javier and Manny Rodriguez’s Heartswideopen has not started since winning the
All American Futurity on Labor Day. She then had knee surgery in Weatherford,
Texas and recorded several works at Sunland Park before moving to Ruidoso Downs
on April 23.
“I always want my horses to get a feel for the track they’ll be racing over by
working on it,” said Draper. She will have 15 days between the bullet work and
the 400-yard Ruidoso Derby trials.
Heartswideopen overwhelmingly won the 2007 champion two-year-old and champion
two-year-old filly titles by 22-2 margins. Before her Grade 1, $1.9 million All
American Futurity win, she won the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity in
stakes-record time and raced to the fastest 440 yards ever by a female when she
won her 440-yard All American Futurity trial in :20.92.
She has won six of her seven career starts and earned $1,282,690.