Ariatt, ridden by Luis Martinez, wins his trial heat and qualifies with the fastest time from day one to the $3,000,000 All American Futurity on Friday at the Downs at Albuquerque

© Coady Media

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–AUGUST 9, 2024–14 trials were held on Friday for day one of the $3,000,000 All American Futurity at the Downs of Albuquerque, of which five contenders qualified for the finals. The next five two-year-olds to qualify to the finals will run on day two of the trials, Saturday, August 10.

Ariatt, a New Mexico-bred two-year-old quarter horse born and raised at La Feliz Montana Ranch, upset the field in the fifth trial race, winning by a length, and set the fastest time of the day in 20.974 seconds.

With jockey Luis Martinez on board, Ariatt won for the second time in four career starts for owner Javier Rodriguez and his brother, trainer Xavier Rodriguez. The son of Tempting Dash has earned $14,780 after cashing in the $6,000 winner's check from the trials.

“He’s an April baby, so he still needs to mature and improve,” Rodriguez said. “There is a lot of room for improvement with this horse for the finals.”

Ariatt returns to the winner's circle after winning his trial heat to the All American Futurity on Friday. © Coady Media

Ariatt went off at 8-1, defeating the favorite Highly Regarded V and jockey Francisco Calderon. The gelding paid $19.40, $4.80 and $4.40.

Ariatt is out of the Corona Cartel stakes-winning mare Lethal Lil, a half-sister to All American Futurity [G1] winner JM Miracle. His second dam is Grade 1 winner and new track record setter Lethal Delight, half-sister to champion Volcom Bay.

Piloted by Bryan Candanosa, Triple Crown hopeful Hezgothelook Z won trial three with ease, wire-to-wire by a length, for the second-fastest qualifying time in 21.108 seconds. The son of Favorite Cartel has won the last five of six races, including the Rainbow Futurity [G1] and Ruidoso Futurity [G1].

Tommy Dinwiddie bred Hezgothelook Z in Oklahoma out of the FDD Dynasty mare Shezgothelook Z. The Toby Keeton-trained gelding has earned $858,300 for his owner, Triple One Ranch LLC.

Highly Regarded V, ridden by Francisco Calderon, clocked the third fastest time with his second-place finish to Ariatt. The winning son of Apollitical Jess was a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity [G1] and has earned $31,500 for owner Valeriano Racing Stables LLC. P.K. and Kim Thomas bred Highly Regarded V in Texas out of Lethal Class by Tres Seis.

Mountainaire, ridden by Bryan Candanosa, qualified with the fourth-fastest time from trial 12. Toby Keeton trained the $150,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate for owners Roger Beasley and Wootan Racing.

Toby Keeton trains the Texas-bred colt sired by Favorite Cartel. Mountainaire has won two of three starts with $15,900 in the bank. He was bred by Bobby D. Cox out of Preyn Onthemountain by Ivory James.

Ariatt's stablemate Fdd Dreams, piloted by Luis Martinez, was runner-up to Hezgothelook Z in trial 3, securing the last spot to the finals from day one. The son of FDD Dynasty has lit the board five of six times with three wins and two seconds and $204,019 in earnings.

Fdd Dreams placed second in the Rainbow Futurity [G1] to Hezgothelook Z and was a finalist in the West Texas Futurity [G2]. The New Mexico-bred gelding is out of Treasured Dreams by Apollitical Jess.

CLICK HERE for complete details on day one of the $3,000,000 All American Futurity [G1] trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey.

The five best times from day one of the trials who did not qualify for the All American Futurity will be allowed to run for $200,000 All American Juvenile.

Favorite Fire V, ridden by Francisco Calderon, won the second trial of day 1, clocking the fastest time to the juvenile in 21.266 seconds. Trainer Heath Taylor saddled the daughter of Favorite Cartel for owner/breeder Valeriano Racing Stables. The bay filly out of Fire On Ice V by First Down Dash has two wins from four starts with $74,000 in the bank and was a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity [G1].

CLICK HERE for complete details on day one of the $200,000 All American Juvenile trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey.

Finals for the All American Futurity and Juvenile are to be run on Monday, September 2, 2024 at the Downs at Albuquerque.