Quick Update - Both Clones Win in Trials

Both clones won their respective heats and they will race against one another tomorrow. The high drama was a late jockey change on the Ruby Thomas trained Idaho Gem. The named jockey, Alejandro Garcia was falling down drunk, and fell off of the mule in the post parade. Ruby nearly killed him. Jesse Perez got the pickup mount. The Gaming Control Board called the bulls, who gave the disgraced jock a breathelizer and then took him off to the clink. He resisted arrest, so they had to cuff and stuff'em in grand fashion, I'm told. More to come.

Before Alejandro Garcia fell off Idaho Gem in the post parade, Ruby led them in the walking ring.

After collecting the loose mule Ruby was exasperated, as she led Gem back to the paddock. Not seen in this picture is the drunken jockey stumbling behind. One groom yelled to her that her jockey was walking after them, presumably to regain the mount. Ruby exclaimed, "I don't like that jockey. I want a new one."

Idaho Gem is seen here going on to win his trial on Saturday with Jesse Perez up.


Idaho Star also won his race, carded one race before Gem ran. His win added to the pressure, as Ruby dealt with circus like antics. After Star's win, Roger Downey, owner/lessee, hugs his jockey Jesse Perez. This picture was taken by a freelance photographer that gave it to me for this blog and thus its quality is far superior to that of my pictures.