$3 Million All American Futurity Trials to be Held Friday & Saturday
Ruidoso Downs, NM—Trial races for the $3 Million All American Futurity will be held at Ruidoso Downs Race Track this Friday and Saturday with first post time scheduled for 11 a.m. both days. Scattered showers and light winds are in the forecast for the trials which will determine the field of ten two-year-old quarter horses that will compete at 440-yards on Labor Day for the biggest prize in quarter horse racing. There will be 16 races both days with the top-five fastest times advancing to the September 5 final.
Both winners of the triple crown races held earlier this summer at Ruidoso Downs are entered in Saturday’s race card. Otts Boy, winner of the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity at 350-yards on June 12, is the 3-2 favorite as number-six in the eleventh race on Saturday. The gelding is undefeated in three career races for owner Luke Goebel, trainer Toby Keeton and trainer Ramon Sanchez.
Tres Crystals, winner of the 350-yard $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park May 28, is number-three in the eleventh race on Saturday. The gelding has won all four of his races for owner Elizabeth Logan, trainer Dee Keener and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. Tres Crystals has morning line odds of 8/5 in the same race as Otts Boy.
Eye On The Card, this season’s winner of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at 400-yards, will compete in the ninth race on Saturday. Owner Omar Hernandez paid a $50,000 supplemental fee in order to start the colt that has four wins in five career starts and will be number-two at even- money odds. With jockey Juan Pulido on board, Eye On The Card went off at 6-1 in the Rainbow Futurity July 24 upsetting favorites Cyber Attack and Getthere Fast for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.
Immediately following the races on Friday and Saturday, the public is invited to the Ruidoso Downs Sales Pavilion for the annual New Mexico- bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Sale. About 225 state-bred yearlings are expected to be sold at auction.
The weekend of racing continues on Sunday when trials will be conducted for the $460,824 All American Oaks and the $808,264 All American Derby for three-year-old quarter horses at 440-yards. There will be 14 trial races with first post scheduled for 1 p.m.