RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 7, 2020—Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC’s Woodys Gold, a graded stakes placed son of the Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge, is one of 103 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s Zia Futurity (RG1) trials at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s 11 400-yard heats will meet in the July 26, $375,000-est. Zia Futurity final.

A $10,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, Woodys Gold will be stretching out in distance off of his second-place finish, a neck behind winner Leading Cartel, in the 350-yard, $334,000 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) for state-bred juveniles on June 13. The sorrel gelding has earned $65,984 from two races.

Woodys Gold drew post 5 and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon for trainer Clint Crawford in the eighth trial.

Other prominent New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds entered in Friday’s trials include Vine Master, an undefeated Jesse James Jr gelding trained by James J. Gonzales II for owner Cody Cobb. Vine Master has won both of his outs, including the June 13, 350-yard Mountain Top Juvenile Stakes, and he has banked $32,400.

Cobb purchased Vine Master from breeder MJ Farms for $34,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale. Vine Master drew post 9 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. in the fifth heat.

Vine Master’s nine opponents in the fifth trial include Dalia F. Aranda’s Fly On Down, a stakes-placed son of the One Famous Eagle stallion One Handsome Man trained by Tony Sedillo. A $7,000 yearling buy, the colt has banked $12,400 from two races, and he is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind Vine Master, in the Mountain Top Juvenile.

Fly On Down drew post 10 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado.

Trainer Juan M. Gonzalez will send out eight 2-year-olds, including Kellys First Moon, a stakes-placed daughter of champion First Moonflash owned by Gonzalez Racing LLC. A $20,000 yearling purchase, the filly has banked $5,800 from two races, and she is coming off of a third-place run in the Mountain Top Juvenile.

Jaime Parga Leos will ride Kellys First Moon from post 7 in the 10th heat.

Jessies Allstar drew post 2 and will be ridden by James Flores for trainer Gerald Reed in the second trial. Purchased by owners Denis and Julie Schoenhofer for $30,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, the Jesse James Jr gelding has won one of three starts and has earned $24,824.

Courtesy New Mexico Horse Breeders Association.