Preview Racing


Rich Zia Futurity Heads Second Zia Festival Day Today
De Loach was the fastest qualifier for the $392,253 Zia Futurity, the richest race during the two-day Zia Festival, on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Rich Zia Futurity Heads Second Zia Festival Day Today

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 27, 2014—Terry and Irene Stennett’s fastest-qualifier De Loach heads the $392,253 Zia Futurity, the richest race during the two-day Zia Festival, today (Sunday) at Ruidoso Downs.

The Zia Festival starts on Saturday. The Zia Festival honors New Mexico-bred racing and also offers New Mexican and Southwestern arts and crafts in booths throughout the grandstand. First post time is 1 p.m. with the booths open several hours before the first race.

De Loach, one of four qualifiers bred by MJ Farms, raced to a three-quarter-length trial win and his time of :19.471 for 400 yards was the top mark from 10 trials. The Blane Wood-trained gelding raced to his second win from four starts.

Another MJ Farms’ bred qualifier, Tuscan Redd, came through with the second-fastest qualifying time of :19.510 for trainer Jackie Riddle. He raced to his first win in his fourth start with the trial victory.

Trainer Todd Fincher, who had six qualifiers to Saturday’s Senorita Futurity, comes back on Sunday with five qualifiers in the $154,380 Senor Futurity.

Fincher won all three of the Senor trials with Born A Ruler, Roll On Red Raider and Glide Path.

Helen Nave’s homebred Born A Ruler was second in the $45,000 Totah Stakes and then won her maiden when he took his Senor Futurity trial by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Roll On Red Raider won his Senor trial by one-and-one-quarter lengths after qualifying for the Mountain Top Futurity and the colt division of the Copper Top Futurity.

R.D. Hubbard’s Glide Path made a huge step forward when he won his Senor trial in his second start. He won his trial by one length after he finished a well-beaten fourth in his debut. Also on Sunday’s program are thoroughbreds racing in the $50,000 Land Of Enchantment at seven-and-one-half furlongs, the $50,000 Sierra Blanca Handicap at five-and-one-half furlongs, the $50,000 Road Runner Handicap at five-and-one-half furlongs and the Lincoln Handicap at six furlongs.

In the Land Of Enchantment, Sam and Latane Stevens’ That’s Who totes high weight of 123 pounds as the defending winner. The Joel Marr-trained gelding won last year’s Land Of Enchantment by four-and-three-quarter lengths. He should be ready after a three-quarter-length win in the Jack Cole Handicap on April 26 with front-running tactics.

In the Sierra Blanca, Lester Wright’s Devons Ca Ching makes his first start since an upset win in the $85,000 Mount Cristo Handicap back in March at Sunland Park. The Ray Ashford-trained gelding has two wins and a second from three 2014 appearances.

In the Road Runner Handicap, Fincher could be dangerous with Brad King and Dale Taylor’s Roll Out The Band. The winner of last year’s Rio Grande Senor Futurity is back in sharp form after a gate-to-wire allowance win on July 6 at Ruidoso Downs.

In the Lincoln Handicap, trainer Henry Dominguez saddles the J. Kirk and Judy Robison’ Lakehouse Fun. She was third in the La Coneja Stakes at Sunland Park and then won a Ruidoso Downs allowance race by one-and-three-quarter lengths.