GRANTS PASS, OR—SEPTEMBER 22, 2019—Grants Pass kicked off their first-ever commercial race meet today with two trials for the Far West Futurity. The annual fall futurity in the Pacific Northwest had been contested at Portland Meadows in the past.

Two-time futurity winner Maximo II rolled to a 1-¼ length win in the second of two trials to set the fastest qualifying time of :17.718 seconds, a 96 speed index, in the second trial Sunday. Jockey J. Luis Torres was aboard. .

Trainer Jose Rosales Gomez saddled the Idaho-bred son of Concorde's Appeal (TB) to his fifth career win for owner Uriel Arreola. Bred by Vicente Treyes Valencia, from the Bono Jazz mare Race To Riches, Maximo II won the Rupert Downs Overnight Futurity, Oneida County Futurity and was third in the Elko Intermountain Futurity in his last start September 2nd. He has banked $25,857 this season.

Matt Huse's homebred One Flyin Foose was an impressive four-length winner in the opening trial to get the second fastest qualifying time of :17.746 seconds, a 95 speed index with no wind.

Freddy Ibarra trains the Prineville QH Futurity winner by champion sire Foose from the One Famous Eagle mare One Famous Strawfly. A winner of four of seven career starts the bay filly has earned $13,633 this season.

Ridden by jockey Jaime Lopez. One Flying Foose was a finalist in the Pot'O Gold Futurity, Grants Pass Firecracker Futurity and fourth in the John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge in her last start August 25.

The eight fastest qualifiers will return to Grants Pass Downs on Sunday, October 13th to vie for the winner's share of a $20,000-added purse.

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

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Following the announced closure of Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon, earlier this year, Grants Pass-based TMB Racing applied for the license to host and operate live commercial racing with simulcasting rights.

The application was approved by the Oregon Racing Commission in March, and the company signed a 50-year lease agreement with Josephine County in August for use of Grants Pass Downs, formally marking an epicenter shift for horse racing in Oregon.

Significant upgrades to the track and facility have been completed at Grants Pass Downs in advance of the meet.

Races will be held every Sunday and Monday through Nov. 4, with 14 race days scheduled in total for the meet and all post times at 1 p.m. Admission is $4, and parking is free.