Baby Daddy Cartel headlines the 11th and final trial for the Restricted Grade 1 $375,000 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity on Friday at Albuquerque Downs.

© Coady Media

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–JULY 2, 2026–Friday afternoon at Albuquerque Downs features one of the biggest trial days of the New Mexico racing season, with 103 juveniles entered in 11 trial heats for the Restricted Grade 1 $375,000 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity. The two-year-olds will compete over 400 yards, and only the ten fastest times will earn a berth in the Sunday, July 19, finals. First post for the trial program is set for 1:30 p.m.

The spotlight falls on Baby Daddy Cartel, who enters the 11th and final trial as the 9-5 morning-line favorite after an impressive start to his career. Racing for Tungsten Racing Partnership and trained by Omar Vargas, the son of Big Daddy Cartel has won three of four starts and earned nearly $184,000. His résumé already includes victories in the Mountain Top Futurity at this track and the New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes at Sunland Park.

Bred in New Mexico by Paul Cervantes, Baby Daddy Cartel is out of the First Moonflash mare Baby I Du. He will break from post six with Noe Garcia Jr. aboard as he seeks another qualifying effort and aims to reach his third stakes final.

Omar Vargas enters a starter in each of the day's 11 trial heats, giving his stable a strong opportunity to dominate the qualifiers. Among his leading contenders is Big Ted, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the eighth trial. Owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, the gelding has already established himself among the state's top juveniles, finishing second in the New Mexico Breeders' Futurity and third in the New Mexico Spring Futurity.

Bred in New Mexico by Jaime Cervantes, Big Ted has earned more than $97,000. The son of Tf Im That Guy is out of the Heza Motor Scooter mare Shez Jessa Scooter. He will break from post three under Sergio Becerra Jr. as he looks to add another stakes final to his résumé.

One of the afternoon's most anticipated races is the seventh trial, where Shafer seeks redemption after a disappointing effort in the Mountain Top Futurity Finals. Trained by Rodolfo Valles, Shafer posted the fastest qualifying time in the Mountain Top trials and entered the final as the post-time favorite.

Shafer, owned by Triple R Racing Stables LLC, Tye Baca, Tungsten Racing Partnership, and Ted Rushing, was purchased for $350,000 at the Ruidoso, New Mexico, Bred Yearling Sale. The son of Big Daddy Cartel is out of the Jesse James Jr. mare Astica. He has been installed at 6-1 on the morning line and will break from post one with Christian Cardenas aboard.

Standing in his way is the 3-1 morning-line favorite Imma Dandy, who finished second in the Mountain Top Futurity after another consistent performance for trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza. The gelding has won two of four career starts and earned more than $78,000 for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez. Bred in New Mexico by Jimmy and Angela Vasquez, the son of Dandee Devil is out of the Jesse James Jr. mare Im All About It. He will break from post eight with Oscar Andrade Jr. in the saddle.

With proven stakes winners, accomplished qualifiers, and several of New Mexico's top juvenile prospects returning for another shot, Friday's Zia Quarter Horse Futurity Trials promise an afternoon of high-level competition, where every hundredth of a second could determine who advances to one of the state's richest New Mexico-bred finals.

The races at Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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