Thursday, September 08, 2011
The 13-day New Mexico State Fair portion of The Downs at Albuquerque meet gets underway on Friday, as the track presents trials for several state-bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes.
Friday's 10-race program features 400-yard trials for the New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) and New Mexico State Fair Senor Futurity (RG3). Saturday's card includes two 400-yard trial heats for the New Mexico State Fair Breeders' Derby (RG3), as well as trials for the 6-furlong Dessie and Fern Sawyer Futurity (R) and George Maloof Futurity (R).
This year's Senorita Futurity trials drew 27 state-bred 2-year-old fillies in three heats. Sparklin Royal, a homebred daughter of Sixes Royal racing for Gary C. Kloppenburg, ran third in the April 10, $248,491 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) at Sunland Park. The filly drew post 6 in the second heat.
Also, Rita Danley's Yawl Coming is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the third heat. The homebred Rabbits Rainbow filly is coming off of a one-length victory in a 330-yard maiden dash at Albuquerque on August 24.
The Senor Futurity trials attracted 32 New Mexico-bred colts and geldings, including Hubaldo Solis' Osbaldo. The 7-5 morning-line choice in the third heat, Osbaldo has earned $223,530 from five starts, and his five victories includes the New Mexican Spring Futurity and the 350-yard, $176,040 New Mexico Breeders' Futurity (RG2) at SunRay Park on June 5.
Osbaldo will face seven opponents in his trial, including PK Bay. A chestnut gelding by Brookstone Bay campaigned by David Barrett and Sue H. May, PK Bay is coming off of a one-length victory as the 3-2 favorite in the 400-yard, $20,000 Gwendolyn Eaves Overnight Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 1.
The $50,000-added Senorita and Senor futurity finals will be run on September 24.
Eight of the 10 races on Saturday's program at Albuquerque are restricted to New Mexico-breds. A total of 19 state-bred 3-year-old Quarter Horses are entered in two New Mexico State Fair Breeders' Derby trials. Leave N Legal, a gray gelding by Illegal Runaway owned and trained by Jaime Aldavaz Jr., brings a four-race win streak into the second heat.
An earner of $134,223, of which $119,025 has been banked this year, Leave N Legal has won five of 12 races, and his current win streak includes the 400-yard, $50,000 Hard Twist Stakes (RG3) during the Lineage Day program for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque on August 21. The gelding also scored a half-length victory in the June 11, $85,000 New Mexico Breeders' Stakes (RG2) at SunRay Park.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from the Breeders' Derby trials will meet in the $50,000-added final on September 25.
Twenty-one colts and geldings have been entered in the George Maloof Futurity trials, and all of them will be vying for 10 starting spots in the $50,000-added final on September 25. Gallegos Del Norte Racing's Sapello Larue and Oak Barrel, two homebreds, are coming off of maiden wins at Albuquerque in their career debuts.
The Dessie and Fern Sawyer Futurity trials drew 17 state-bred fillies, including Roll Bloomers Roll. A homebred filly by Roll Hennessy Roll racing for Rita J. Danley, Roll Bloomers Roll won the fillies division of the Copper Top Futurity (R) at Sunland Park on April 16.
Also on Saturday, Lesters Secret is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 6-furlong, $50,000 E.T. Springer Stakes (R), which attracted a field of seven state-bred older sprinters. Lesters Secret races for Solitaire Stable and Simply The Best Thoroughbreds, and the 5-year-old Lesters Boy gelding is coming off of a second-place finish to Bonndaddy's in the August 21, $50,000 Casey Darnell Pony Express Stakes (R).