RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 24, 2019—Working from the barn that housed last year's All American Futurity winner Apocalyptical Jess, Blane and Trey Wood — along with first-call rider Ricky Ramirez — have been working all winter in hopes of defending their championship.

"Hey, let's go win it again — that's our attitude," Trey said as team Wood starts an army of runners in this weekend's trials to the $1-million Ruidoso Futurity, the first-leg of quarter horse racing's triple crown.

"Once you get that taste in your mouth of winning the All American, it makes you try just as hard to have your babies ready," Trey said. "It's a process for us — starting with the Ruidoso trials this weekend."

Jockey Ramirez has been working with almost all of the youngsters since December when they started training at the Wood family's ranch in Lubbock. Ramirez is expected to ride 27 horses this weekend, missing only one qualifying heat race in two days.

"I know that's a lot of horses," Ramirez said. "But if the horses start performing successfully and you're having some success, then your adrenaline kicks in and the day starts becoming even more fun."

Ramirez has several favorite two-year-old youngsters in the barn, including Mr Tres Points, who is 12-1 on the morning line as number 10 in the 11th race on Friday.

"He's a nice colt. He ran third in his schooling race the other day but that was only 300-yards and he's bred for the standard 440-yard distance. I think he'll be one to watch later in the summer, but we're interested to see how he does on Friday," Ramirez said.

Ricky's top pick on Friday is Tf Ima Corona Cartel, number-nine in the 13th race. The filly is the 6/5 morning-line favorite, having won her maiden this spring at Remington Park by two lengths.

"I never really even asked her that day," Ramirez said. "We're going to unleash her on Friday to see what she can really do."

For Saturday's trials, Ramirez pointed to first-time starter Fernweh as one of his favorites. She is number-six in the second race and 6-1 on the morning line.

"She's never been outworked in training or in a schooling race," Ramirez said. "She set the fastest time of the day in her schooling races going 300-yards, and she does it so easy. I'm going to ask her for her A-game on Saturday. I think she's going to be one to watch all summer."

Also on Saturday, Ramirez will ride Apollitical B King as number 10 in the 11th race. He has 7/2 morning-line odds.

"He had the fastest time in all three days of schooling races," Ramirez said. "He has shown plenty of talent back in Lubbock and we're very high on him."

First post for the futurity trials will be noon on Friday and Saturday.

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