Stakes-Tested Juveniles Headline New Mexico Classic Futurity Trials Saturday At Zia Park

A competitive field of 35 New Mexico-bred two-year-olds will take the track at Zia Park on Saturday, October 31, for five trials for the Restricted Grade 2 Est. $350,000 New Mexico Classic Futurity, with several stakes-tested juveniles aiming to earn a place in the November 22 championship.

The 350-yard trials are scheduled as races two through six, beginning at approximately 12:32 p.m. Leading contenders include Mountain Top Futurity runner-up Imma Dandy, three-time trial winner Perrys Alibi, and Bogarts Brown Sugar, who enters after a strong qualifying performance in the New Mexico State Fair Futurity trials.

Sonuva Butch headlines the opening trial in race two as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. Owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, the two-year-old has a record of one win, one second, and one third in four starts, earning $36,605.

Sonuva Butch enters Saturday's trial after a close runner-up finish to Jess a Corona Dash in the September 24 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trials. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza will saddle Sonuva Butch from post five, with jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr., aboard.

Big Avery, the 3-1 second choice, enters the opening heat with $32,315 in career earnings. The Renee K. Wilson trainee finished third in the September 24 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trials and previously competed in the $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes, finishing fifth. Jacob Enriquez has the mount from post six.

Adding stakes experience to the field is Bogarts Dreamgirl, the runner-up in the $50,000 Mountain Top Juvenile Stakes earlier this season. Trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez will send Bogarts Dreamgirl from the inside post, with jockey Luis Martinez aboard.

The second trial, scheduled as race three, features Perrys Alibi as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The David M. Gomez-Barraza trainee has compiled a productive juvenile campaign, winning three of seven starts and earning $55,034 for owner Jose A. Moreno.

Perrys Alibi has captured qualifying trials for the Mountain Top Futurity, Zia Futurity, and New Mexico State Fair Futurity this season. The two-year-old also gained valuable stakes experience in the Restricted Grade 2 $310,000 Mountain Top Futurity final in June. Jockey Christian Ramos will ride Perrys Alibi from post 7.

Toppa the Moon, the 5-1 second choice, gives the Gomez-Barraza barn another contender in the second heat. Owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, Toppa the Moon has won two of six starts and earned $27,808, including a third-place finish in the $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes. Oscar Andrade, Jr., will ride from post six.

Bogarts Brown Sugar brings one of its strongest recent performances into the third trial, scheduled as race four. The 8-5 morning-line favorite enters after a 1 1/4-length victory in the September 24 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trials, earning a career-best 97 speed index.

Trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez will saddle Bogarts Brown Sugar from post seven, with jockey Luis Martinez aboard, as the two-year-old looks to build on its impressive qualifying effort.

Among the challengers is Sheza Big Daddy Too, the 2-1 second choice. The two-year-old finished second to Bogarts Brown Sugar in a March 14 trial at Sunland Park, posting an 83-speed index in its career debut.

Trainer Donnie Meridyth will send Sheza Big Daddy Too from post six, with jockey Jacob Enriquez aboard, setting up another meeting between the two juveniles.

Imma Dandy brings proven stakes credentials into the fourth trial, scheduled as race five, and is the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

The David M. Gomez-Barraza trainee finished second in the Restricted Grade 2 $310,000 Mountain Top Futurity in June, then returned to win a September 24 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trial. Imma Dandy most recently finished third in the $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes on October 11.

With $61,714 in career earnings, Imma Dandy ranks among the more accomplished runners entered for Saturday. Jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr. will ride from post three.

Acrylic, the 5-2 second choice, will look to challenge from the inside post. The Renee K. Wilson trainee enters with a career-best 88 speed index and will be ridden by Jacob Enriquez.

The fifth and final trial, scheduled as race six, has Big Morning Breeze as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Big Morning Breeze returns after a third-place finish behind Bogarts Brown Sugar and Bridger in the September 24 New Mexico State Fair Futurity trials. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza will saddle Big Morning Breeze from post five, with Oscar Andrade, Jr., aboard.

Jd Heart Strings, the 5-2 second choice, will also aim to secure a qualifying spot in the final heat. Trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez will send Jd Heart Strings from the inside post, with jockey Luis Martinez aboard.

With established stakes performers and improving juveniles spread across five heats, Saturday's trials promise a competitive afternoon of Quarter Horse racing at Zia Park. The fastest qualifiers will advance to the Restricted Grade 2, Est. $350,000 New Mexico Classic Futurity final on Sunday, November 22.

The races at Zia Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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