Pavel, under jockey Luis Martinez, setting the fastest qualifying time for the $150,000-added New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2).

© Coady Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 16, 2024—With a strong finish under jockey Luis Martinez, Pavel bounced off a fourth-place effort in his career debut to finish strong today while breaking his maiden to set the fastest qualifying time for the New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) at Sunland Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from 10 trial races, will return Saturday, April 6, to vie for the winner's share of a $150,000 purse going 300 yards.

Trained by Jorge Sanchez, Pavel won the sixth trial by three-quarters to clock the fastest time of :15.541 seconds, an 88 speed index into a 10 mph headwind.

Owner Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr. paid $6,000 for Pavel at the Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Sale last August. The sorrel gelding is by Czar Cartel Mv, a brother to leading sires Pyc Paint Your Wagon and Ivory James, from the stakes producing Tempting Dash mare Camelia.  

Bred by MRB Racing LLC, Pavel is a half-brother to restricted G2-placed Azara, runner-up in the Mountain Top QH Futurity(RG2) at Ruidoso Downs last year. of Ruidoso Derby(G1) winner Wicked Winner is the third dam. This if the family champion Eagle Jazz.

Purple Queen, under jockey Daniel Amaya, was a half-length winner in trial 9 to record the second fastest clocking of 15.466 seconds, an 87 speed index into an 8 mph headwind.

Jose Meraz trains the daughter of leading sire Eye Am King for owner Jamie Martinez. Edilberto Estrada-Cano bred the first-time starter from the Ivory James mare Cherokee Purple. Purple Queen earned $6,540 of the $10,000 trial purse.  

Jose Meraz also saddled the third fastest qualifier Jett Black Rocket, a half-length winner in the trial 2 to get the third fastest time of :15.478 seconds, an 87 speed index into an 8 mph headwind.

Also owned by Meraz and ridden by Amaya, the daughter of multiple stake sire Jet Black Patriot bumped at the start but rallied to break her maiden in career debut. Thhe $8,500 Heritage Place Fall Mixed gradate as bred by Mark and Fay Annett McCloy from the Grade 1-placed Tres Seis mare Rocket Seis. This is the first crop of foals for the third-place Rainbow Futurity finisher.

Big Daddy Cartel led all sired with four qualifiers, Eye Am King and Jet Black Patriot had two each. Trainer Eric Valenzuela sent out three qualifiers to lead all trainer.

For the complete list of New Mexican Spring Futurity(RG2) finalists with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second 10 fastest qualifiers from today's trials are preferred invites to the $50,000-Guarnteed New Mexical Spring Fling that will also run back on Saturday, April 6. For a list of those horses CLICK HERE.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Sunland Park with a 12-race card featuring trials for the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity. First post is 12:25 p.m. (MDT).