Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Friday, July 10, 2020

Today was the Zia Quarter Horse Futurity Trials, consisting of eleven races with the top 10 fastest times going to the finals. There was minimal wind through much of the day with a mild tailwind during a handful of races. The fastest qualifier came in the very last trial, when Cristom, ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr. and trained by Fred Danley, blew them away to post a 19.764. Cristom entered off a maiden win June 21st, the gelding's lone outing prior to today.

Until the nightcap the fastest had come from the barn of J.J. Gonzales out of the fifth race. Vine Master, ridden in all three of his starts by Sergio Becerra for Gonzales, didn't get away that cleanly from the gates, but after losing footing initially was quick to the lead and powered home in 19.872.

What was originally the third-fastest time of the day at 19.877 was a supplemental nomination named Eagles and Dragons from the barn of Juan M. Gonzalez. A winner today by two-and-three-quarters lengths, the
victory came while drifting out badly throughout the stretch; upon review by the stewards as well as an objection by the trainer of the third-place finisher from that race, Eagles and Dragons was disqualified and placed third and will therefore not have a qualifying time fast enough to make the finals. Rider Jaime Parga Leos told Juan Carlos Gonzalez, son of Juan M., that something spooked the horse. "It was so sudden," said Juan Carlos. "He did that last time as well. So there's something about him that makes him lug out."

Trainer Wes Giles sent out Fanncee in the tenth race who came home a winner in a quick time of 19.917. This filly's mother was the tremendous mare Astica who was AQHA  champion three-year-old filly of 2015. "She's been hit and miss," said Giles, while commenting it was perhaps too soon to compare to her mother. "One time she worked really good...the next time she didn't leave the gates. She just figured it out finally."