Tungsten Racing & Omar Vargas Bring A Powerful Hand Into $1.2 Million New Mexico State Fair Futurity Trials

Thursday afternoon at Albuquerque Downs, the road to one of New Mexico’s richest juvenile races takes center stage, as a loaded 12-race card will feature 115 New Mexico-bred two-year-olds competing in trials for the New Mexico State Fair Q.H. Futurity.

The first post is scheduled for noon, with all 12 trials contested at 400 yards. By the end of the afternoon, the ten fastest qualifiers will earn their place in the estimated $1.2 million Restricted Grade 2 New Mexico State Fair Q.H. Futurity final on October 11.

The next ten fastest qualifiers will earn a spot in the $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Q.H. Juvenile, putting plenty on the line from the opening trial through the final race of the day.

Tungsten Racing Partnership and trainer Omar Vargas bring a particularly strong hand into the trials, led by three accomplished stakes performers, Big Ted, Baby Daddy Cartel, and Hestan.

Big Ted will line up in the second trial as the 9-5 morning-line favorite from post ten. The two-year-old filly has put together an impressive campaign, finishing on the board in all six of her starts, with four victories, one second, and one third, while earning $123,889 for Tungsten Racing Partnership.

Her season included a dominant victory in the $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes in July, where she overcame contact and drew away to win by 2 ¾ lengths. Big Ted also finished second in the Restricted Grade 2 New Mexico Bred Futurity and third in the Restricted Grade 2 New Mexico Spring Futurity, establishing herself as a consistent threat among New Mexico-bred juveniles.

The daughter of Tf Im That Guy is out of the Heza Motor Scooter mare Shez Jessa Scooter, bred in New Mexico by Jaime Cervantes. Vargas will send her out from the outside post with Sergio Becerra, Jr., aboard.

The firepower continues in race three with Baby Daddy Cartel, another Tungsten Racing Partnership runner, who enters his trial as the 9-5 morning-line favorite.

Baby Daddy Cartel enters Thursday’s trials after a runner-up finish in the Restricted Grade 1 $365,000 Zia Futurity. He held a steady bid through the 400-yard final and finished second by a neck. That effort followed victories in the Restricted Grade 2 $310,000 Mountain Top Futurity and the $100,000 New Mexico Spring Fling.

Through six starts, Baby Daddy Cartel has recorded four wins, one second, and one third, without finishing off the board, earning $255,414 for Tungsten Racing Partnership.

The son of Big Daddy Cartel is out of the First Moonflash mare Startedwithawhisper and was bred in New Mexico by Paul P. Cervantes. Vargas will saddle the colt from post seven, with Noe Garcia, Jr., aboard.

The Vargas barn will send out another major contender in race five when Hestan enters the gate as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Hestan arrives on a three-race winning streak, highlighted by his victory in the Restricted Grade 1 $365,000 Zia Futurity. The gelding has won four of five career starts and finished third in his only other outing, the $50,000 Mountain Top Juvenile Stakes. His near-perfect record has generated earnings of $176,009 for Tungsten Racing Partnership and Rancho El 48, LLC, which purchased him for $200,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The son of Eye Am King, out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Donelli, was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms. Vargas will send Hestan from post six, with jockey Jose E. Ortiz aboard.

With Big Ted, Baby Daddy Cartel, and Hestan combining for 12 victories in 17 starts, Tungsten Racing Partnership and Omar Vargas enter Thursday afternoon with an imposing trio of proven stakes performers. But with 115 juveniles vying for only ten coveted spots in the $1.2 million final, there will be little room for error as the clock determines who moves one step closer to New Mexico State Fair Futurity glory.

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

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