Whos Kissin Carter won the Rocky Mountain Futurity at Arapahoe on July 13.

© Coady Photography

AURORA, CO—JULY 29, 2014—A total of 72 2-year-olds, topped by local stakes winner Whos Kissin Carter, has been entered in Friday’s 400-yard Mile High Futurity trials at Arapahoe Park near Denver.

Arapahoe Park’s 12-race program will include four Mile High Derby trials for 3-year-olds.

A homebred daughter of champion Carters Cartel racing for Thomas Bradbury and Lisa Beauprez, Whos Kissin Carter is coming off of a neck victory at odds of 13-1 in the 350-yard, $90,000 Rocky Mountain Futurity at Arapahoe on July 13. The filly, who is trained by the meet’s perennial leading trainer, John Hammes, has earned $50,056 from three starts.

Whos Kissin Carter drew post 4 and will be ridden by Raul Gutierrez in the first of eight trials.

Dana Yoshida-Orozco’s Toshi Yoshi, a Colorado-bred gelding by the Shazoom stallion Pool trained by Manuel Orozco, will be ridden by Ramiro Garcia from post 8 in the sixth heat. Toshi Yoshi will be making his first start since June 15, when he outran his 28-1 odds to win the 330-yard, $75,000 Cherry Creek Futurity (R) for state-breds.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $130,000 Mile High Futurity final on closing day, August 17.

Mile High Derby

The 400-yard Mile High Derby trials have attracted 39 sophomores, including 2014 stakes winners Jo Jo Hot Legs, Midori N Smoke, and NCC Firefly.

A Texas-bred Executive Menace gelding campaigned by Orlando Guerrero from the barn of Jose Manuel Barron, Jo Jo Hot Legs won the April 28, $51,395 Arizona Quarter Racing Association Spring Derby at Turf Paradise. Alejandro Luna has been named to ride the gelding from post 5 in the first trial.

Midori N Smoke races for Margo Schares and is trained by Hammes. A homebred daughter of world champion Special Leader, the filly has won two of her four outs during the current Arapahoe meet, including the 350-yard, $55,000 Lucille Rowe Derby (R) for Colorado-breds on June 14.

Tony Guymon will ride Midori N Smoke from post 7 in the second trial.

NCC Firefly is coming off of an upset three-quarter length victory in the July 12, 350-yard Rocky Mountain Derby for owner Lupe Chavez. Manuel Gutierrez will ride the bay daughter of Furyofthewind in the last heat for trainer Guadalupe Chavez.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s trials will face off in the $75,000 Mile High Derby final on August 16.

All Arapahoe Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.