Mommas Cartel Leads Qualifiers in Elko Intermountain QH Futurity Trials

ELKO, NV—AUGUST 22, 2025—Four trials were contested Friday afternoon at the Elko County Fairgrounds to determine the 10 fastest qualifiers for the $54,807 Elko Intermountain Quarter Horse Futurity.

The 350-yard finals for 2-year-olds are set for Monday, September 1, 2025, and will showcase an impressive lineup led by Mommas Cartel, Heavenly Storm, and Ec Stryker, the three fastest qualifiers from today’s trials.

Mommas Cartel, a brown filly by leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Mommas Dynasty by FDD Dynasty, posted the fastest qualifying time of the day at 17.661 seconds, a 99 speed index into a 5 mph headwind, in the third of four trials.

Owned by Edward J. McNelis and trained by Farrol Cunningham, Mommas Cartel drew clear late under jockey David Alvarez Jr. to break her maiden over Cartels Speedo by two lengths. The filly was bred in Texas by Edward J. and Von Zae McNelis and has made two starts and earned $1,328.

The second-fastest qualifier came from the opening trial, where Heavenly Storm, a sorrel gelding by Genetically Gifted out of Heavenly Poison by Valiant Hero, posted a time of 17.750 seconds, a 97 speed index.

Racing for Gary D. Whited, who also bred the gelding in Utah, Heavenly Storm was guided to victory by jockey Oscar Cervantes for trainer Bret Vickery, fending off a late rally from Tempted to Send. He also scored his first win in two starts.

Third-fastest on the day was Ec Stryker, who dominated the final trial with a wire-to-wire score in 17.767 seconds, a 96 speed index.

The sorrel gelding, a $25,000 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale purchase, is by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of First Caroline Rose by Corona Cartel.

Owned by Adrian Aleman and bred in Oklahoma by William E. Smith, Ec Stryker is trained by Jorge Paredes and was ridden by Minor Arana. A winner of two of four starts he has banked $4,388.

The Elko Intermountain Quarter Horse Futurity finals promise a competitive showdown, with the top 10 qualifiers returning to battle over 350 yards on Labor Day, September 1, for the winner’s share of the $54,807 purse.

CLICK HERE for the full list of all 10 qualifiers with their times, connections, and sale notes.

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