Shelbe Ruis Wins First Race With Longshot

Longshot Rockport Babe not only provided an upset at odds of 20-1 in the first race May 15 at Santa Anita Park, but the 3-year-old Rockport Harbor filly also gave 25-year-old Shelbe Ruis the first win of her training career.

A native of Descanso, Calif., Ruis grew up in a family steeped in the horse business. Her father, Alvin Ruis (who owns Rockport Babe in partnership with his wife, Wendy Ruis), owned and later trained horses when she was a youngster, and her brother, Mick, was a highly regarded apprentice jockey on the Southern California circuit 13 years ago.        

Ridden by jockey Fernando Perez, Rockport Babe showed good speed out of the gate going seven furlongs and easily kept 1-5 favorite Tryst at bay through the stretch en route to an authoritative 2 3/4  length win, covering the distance in 1:21.98.

"I'm just really excited about this," said Ruis, whose first racetrack job came at the age of 16 as a summertime pony rider for the late Mike Mitchell at Del Mar.  "This filly was my fourth starter and I didn't expect her to show that much speed. But it looked like(Tryst) was the only other horse with speed, so we told Fernando that if she went, to try and sit second, and if she didn't, to just go."

In only her second start, Rockport Babe paid $42, $9, and $5 across the board.

A $49,000 Barretts May 2-year-old in training purchase a year ago, Rockport Babe picked up $33,600 for the win, increasing her earnings to $34,720.

And what might be next for Ruis' stable star?

"I think she'll run all day, but I just want to see how she comes back, and go from there," said Ruis, who now has 11 horses stabled at Santa Anita.