PHOENIX, AZ—DECEMBER 10, 2017—Coming off a runner-up finish in the Western States Breeders' Futurity last September, Running Your Wagon dominated the opening trial for the Southwest Futurity at Turf Paradise Sunday by defeating Texas Tornadoe by 1-˝ lengths.

The son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon, from the All American Futurity(G1) winner Runnning Brook Gal by Brookstone Bay, posted the top qualifying mark of :17.571 seconds, a 99-speed index for 350 yards with a 9 mph tailwind. Mark Jasso had the riding call.

Trainer Tyler Gibbs saddled the Utah homebred for A and C Racing and Roping. Running Your Wagon has compiled a (5) 3-1-0 record this season and banked $26,500. His only off-the-board performance was a fifth-place effort in the Hadley/Giles Memorial Futurity in May.

The aforementioned Texas Tornadoe, winner of the AQRA Turf Paradise Futurity on October 29, held on for the second fastest clocking of :17.812 seconds, a 92-speed index.

The son of top ten second-crop sire Texas Icon is owned by Angel Valenzuela and conditioned by Ralph Valenzuela. Jockey Andres Osuana had the riding assignment aboard the Arizona bred from the Dixieland Heat (TB) mare It's A Dry Heat (TB).

Bred by Ralph and Carolyn Fales, Texas Tornadoe has won three of eight starts and earned $22,787. Pirteville Cartel was a half-length winner in the second trial to secure the third fastest time of :18.046 seconds for owner Hector Pinedo and trainer Jesse Pinedo.

Jockey Carlos Marquez rode the Flair For Dancing colt out of the Strawflyin Buds mare Buds Pretty In Blue. It was the second win in five starts for the sorrel colt who was fifth in the AQRA Turf Paradise Futurity in October and seventh in the Desert Classic Futurity last April. Bred by Alex Megariz, Pirteville Cartel has earned $7,769 this year.

Texas Icon was the leading qualifying sire with four the six qualifiers. Trainer Matthew Fales saddled three finalist and Tyler Gibbs qualified two.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Turf Paradise on Saturday, December 30th to vie for the winners' share of yet to be announced purse.

For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.