Beduino Kicker (#6) gets up over Fearless Fortitude (#4) and Caddo Lights (#8) to set the fastest qualifying time for the $75,000-est. Mile High Futurity at Arapahoe Park Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

AUORA, CO–SEPTEMBER 18, 2022–Beduino Kicker (12-1) got up at the wire in the final trial Sunday to break his maiden while posting the fastest qualifying time for the Mile High Futurity at Arapahoe Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from three trials contested over 400 yards, will return to the Colorado racetrack on Tuesday, October 4th to vie for the winner's share of a $75,000-est. purse.

Under jockey Ramiro Garcia, Beduino Kicker put in a big finish between foes to defeat post time favorite and stakes winner Fearless Fortitude by a nose.  His time of :20.204 seconds, equaled a 92 speed index into a 10 mph headwind, setting the fastest futurity trial time of the day.

Trainer Hipolito Michel-Valverde saddled the son of Dash Kicker to his first win in three starts this season for owner Alberto Martinez. Bred in Colorado by Felipe Pena, from the Separatist mare Separate Signature, Beduino Kicker has earned $4,694 this season.

Coming off a win in the Cherry Creek Futurity in her last start, August 28, Fearless Fortitude held on to the second fastest clocking of :20.211 seconds, a 91 speed index. Also second in the Rocky Mountain Futurity in July the Flare For Ivory filly races for owner Barron Racing LLC.

Trainer Jose Manuel Barron named jockey Martin Lazalde to ride the $14,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate who has earned nearly $60,000 in five starts at Arapahoe Park this year. Vaughn and Jill Cook bred the Fearless Fortitude from the Tres Seis mare Ima Fearless Fire.

Caddo Lights, a daughter of first-crop sire The Marfa Lights finished a head back in a blanket-finish in the fastest trial to record the third fastest clocking of :20.242 seconds, also a 91 speed index. Owner-trainer Hugo Ontiveros purchased the Oklahoma-bred for $10,500 at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City.

Jockey Cristian Aguirre-Erives had the riding call aboard the filly out of Caddo Ridge by Tres Seis. Bred by Ernest Summer, Caddo Lights was also a finalist in the Rocky Mounty Futurity in July and has banked $6,366 in five starts.

For a complete list of Mile High Futurity qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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For additional information on Colorado racing visit the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association website at rmqha.com/race.