Nine quarterhorses were being saddled in the Sun Downs paddock area Sunday in preparation for the biggest race of the 10-day meet, the $44,000 Pot O'Gold Futurity.
As the couple hundred fans congregated around the paddock, they looked for clues to the readiness of each horse.
Heavy favorite Dales An Okie stood in his stall and relieved himself - bettors possibly noting he'd be lighter and thus faster, which might have been why he was the favorite.
Do Ya Dream and Vodka Soda No Fruit looked explosive as their handlers led them around the paddock. Fastlilqueen jostled and pranced her way around the area.
But only one horse, Rockin Rylee, took the time to look at the people staring at her as she meandered around the warmup area. It was as if she acknowledged that they had come to see her.
"She's just an easy horse to be around," chuckled her owner, Shannon McKay, who is leasing the horse to 3G Racing of Othello. "She's calm, cool and collected."
She proved that by winning the race, finishing in 15.59 seconds and a neck in front of Vodka Soda No Fruit.
At 34-to-1 odds, she also paid $71 for a $2 win ticket.
Jockey Joe Ruiz got a clean break from the gate from the 6 spot at the starting line 300 yards away.
But Vodka Soda No Fruit with rider Bill Ives actually broke better from the 5 spot and held the early lead.
"My header told me that by the fourth jump they were neck and neck," said McKay, who also is the mayor of Othello.
From that point on, Ruiz and Rockin Rylee were able to hang on for the win.
For Ruiz, the win was a bonus. Jaime Martinez had ridden Rockin Rylee in the trials to qualify for the Pot O'Gold. But Martinez also qualified on Girl Gone Black, who had the fastest time out of the trials.
So Ruiz got Rockin Rylee.
"Christmas has come early," Ruiz said. "They gave me the leftovers, but I got the Christmas turkey."
Ruiz knew he had a good horse, even though she had the ninth-fastest time in the trials.
"Their first time out is a surprise," Ruiz said. "But their second time out (of the gate) you know what they're made of."
Which is good stock.
"Breeding-wise, this was the best horse in here," Ruiz said.
McKay, who also doubles as the breeder as well as the trainer, agrees.
"Her sister, (3-year-old) Hannas Halo, finished second in the (AQHA) Distaff trials in the eighth," said McKay.
Their mother is Your So Special.
Ruiz also helped set a track record in the eighth when he rode Go Girl Gone, another McKay-trained horse and owned by 3G Racing out of Othello, to a track record of 19.76 seconds for 400 yards to win the first of the two AQHA Distaff Challenge trials.
Despite the cold and windy weather, an estimated 1,000 fans came out to bet a total handle of $50,409.
So what's next for the champion 2-year-old Rockin' Rylee ?
"We're going to the AQHA Challenge series in Boise, then hopefully to the finals in Louisiana," McKay said.
Meanwhile, as the mayor of Othello, McKay has something to brag about to the city council.
* Jeff Morrow: 582-1507; jmorrow@tricityherald.com.
Sunday's results
FIRST - TB mdn, 3YO&Up, 4 furlongs, Purse $1,400: 2. The Royal Pair 43.80, 9.80, 10.00. 8. Vegas Queen 9.40, 4.20. 7. Witchonachopper 2.60. TRI (2-8-7) 213.80, EX 320.60, QU 293.70. T - 48.00.
SECOND - TB clm, Clm price $4,000, 3YO&Up, 4 furlongs, Purse $1,700: 8. Laurens Cool Bug 9.40, 3.80, 3.00. 6. Totally Brilliant 3.60, 3.40. 7. My Smokes 3.40. DD (2-8) 221.40, TRI (8-6-7) 35.80, EX 22.20, QU 16.80. T - 46.40.
THIRD - Mxd brd mdn, 3YO&Up, 350 yards, Purse $1,400: 6. Hope Chicks Look 5.60, 3.00, 2.60. 8. Instant Income 3.00, 3.20. 3. Beda King 6.20. TRI (6-8-3) 28.50, EX 7.80, QU 8.10. T - 18.20.
FOURTH - Sun Downs Futurity Consolation No. 2, 2YO, 300 yards, Purse $1,500: 3. Hawks and Ruffles 12.80, 7.20, 4.00. 4. Good Morning Mr Zip 6.40, 3.60. 1. Skookum Dasher 3.40. TRI (3-4-1) 320.70, EX 87.80, QU 57.90. T - 16.08.
FIFTH - TB clm, Clm price $2,000, 3YO&Up, 6 furlongs, Purse $1,500: 3. Mr. Melcap 6.00, 2.60, 2.10. 8. Smilodon 3.40, 2.20. 6. Fairly Liberal 2.20. TRI (3-8-6) 20.10, EX 11.60, QU 8.10. T - 1:15.40.
SIXTH - Pot O'Gold Futurity Consolation No. 1, 2YO, 300 yards, Purse $4,969.20: 9 Too Fast to Judge 28.60, 27.40, 6.60. 3. RR Blazin Saddles 5.00, 3.40. 6. SC Captivator 11.00. TRI (9-3-6) 254.30, EX 79.60, QU (3-all) 3.30, QU (9-all) 5.40. T - 15.93.
SEVENTH - AQHA Distaff Challenge trial No. 1, 3YO&Up, 400 yards, Purse $2,000: 8. Go Girl Gone 4.20, 2.80, 2.80. 1. Awezoomin 3.40, 3.00. 3. Counting Fast 3.40. TRI (8-1-3) 34.60, EX 16.20, QU 16.50. T - 19.76.
EIGHTH -- AQHA Distaff Challenge trial No. 2, 3YO&Up, 400 yards, Purse $2,000: 6. Sold On Special 3.80, 2.80, 2.60. 1. Hannas Halo 7.40, 4.00. 5. Turbulent Water 48.20. TRI (6-1-5) 233.80, EX 26.60, QU 25.50. T - 19.93.
NINTH - TB clm, Clm price $6,250, 6 furlongs, Purse $1,900: 4. I'm Rough N Ready 5.40, 2.40, 2.20. 1. Snowsapassing 2.20, 2.60. 1A. Rolls of Money 2.20, 2.60. TRI (4-1-6) 16.20, EX 7.80, QU 5.10. T - 1:14.00.
TENTH - Pot O'Gold Futurity, 2YO, 300 yards, Purse $44,230.80: 6. Rockin Rylee 71.00, 18.80, 5.00. 5. Vodka Soda No Fruit 4.80, 3.80. 10. Snazzy Special Lead 5.80. DD (4-6) 44.40, TRI (6-5-10) 486.60, EX 209.60, QU 108.30. T - 15.59.
Total handle -- $50, 409.