2025 All American Futurity winner King Of The Tide headlines the New Mexico State Fair QH Futurity trials on Friday at the Downs of Albuquerque.

@ Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–September 15, 2025–Friday’s card at Albuquerque Downs will be dominated by trial action, with fourteen heats for the New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity Trials.

A massive field of 132 New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds has been entered, each covering the 400-yard distance in hopes of recording one of the ten fastest qualifying times of the day. Those ten will advance to the $1.2 million (est.) New Mexico State Fair Futurity finals on October 12.

Leading the way is King Of The Tide, the standout winner of the (G1) $3 million All American Futurity earlier this month. The Eye Am King–Ms Riptide, by Ocean Runaway, gelding has been brilliant in five career starts, recording three wins, a second, and a third, while amassing $1,589,287 in earnings.

Purchased for $130,000 at the Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Sale by owners Tod, E. Gene Bradley, and Ware Brown, he races from post seven in trial nine. Trainer Trey Wood sends him out with Ricky Ramirez aboard.

Another top contender is Luxurie, the (G2) $346,000 Mountain Top Futurity winner in June. Lightly raced, the Big Daddy Cartel–Astica, by Jesse James Jr, gelding is undefeated in two starts with $149,324 earned for owners Triple R Racing Stables, LLC; Wallace Lynn Landrum; Ted Rushing; and Rancho El 48, LLC, who purchased him for $300,000 at the Ruidoso sale. Bred by MJ Farms, Luxurie competes in trial four from post seven with Christian Cardenas up for trainer James Gonzales III.

In trial eleven, fans will get a look at Mw Bcause Im First, a filly with three consecutive wins. After breaking her maiden at Los Alamitos in April, she shipped to Ruidoso Downs, where she captured both her Mountain Top and Zia Futurity trials. The B. Cause I’m a Hero–Blazen Alena, by Favorite Cartel, homebred filly, has earned $16,455 for owners/breeders Larry Marcum and Nancy Wells. Trained by James Gonzales III, she will also be ridden by Christian Cardenas.

Trainer Tony E. Sedillo sends out another top contender in Fire Powwer (2-1), entered in trial six. The Big Daddy Cartel–Dahlia, by Walk Thru Fire, gelding has proven to be a model of consistency with two wins and five in-the-money finishes from as many starts. He captured the $50,000 New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes in April and was runner-up in the (G2) $216,000 New Mexico Breeders Futurity.

His lifetime earnings amount to $69,781 for owners CHR Racing, who purchased him for $40,000 at the Ruidoso sale. Bred by La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC, Fire Powwer will start with Luis Martinez aboard from post six.

The night's final trial features Jingle Wood, who ran third in the Mountain Top Futurity despite a troubled break. The Woodbridge–Ms Jingles, by Bigtime Favorite, gelding has one win from four starts and has earned $50,691 for owners Downtime Enterprises, LLC, Christopher J., and Melody Lykins, who purchased him for $77,000. Bred by MJ Farms, he will race from the outside post nine in trial fourteen under jockey Jacob Enriquez for trainer Clinton Crawford.

With a deep and competitive group of 132 juveniles, Friday’s trials promise high drama and fast times as New Mexico’s best chase their chance at a spot in the (est.)  $1.2 million New Mexico State Fair Futurity Finals on October 12.

The Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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