RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 10, 2016—West Texas Futurity third-place runner Groupie James is in a competitive trial during the five trials to the $59,400 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge for quarter horses on Friday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

A pair of futurity winners in the same trial will also highlight three trials to the $173,000 Mountain Top New Mexico-bred Thoroughbred Futurity at Ruidoso on Friday.

First post time is 1 p.m. The John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge trials are the first five races and the Mountain Top New Mexico-bred Futurity trials are the final three races on the nine-race card.

In the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge trials, Carlos Trujillo Jr.’s Groupie James makes his first appearance since his third-place run in the Grade 2, $217,904 West Texas Futurity on April 30.

The Sal Soto-trained Ivory James gelding raced with the leaders before finishing third by three quarters of a length.

Groupie James drew the sixth post position in the second trial (second race) and regular rider Esgar Ramirez will be aboard.

Facing Groupie James will be $440,000 Oklahoma Futurity qualifier Feature Moonflash, $69,000 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile fourth-place finisher Gustafame and $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile competitor Shenanigans Regard.

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