Barbara, ridden by Jacob Enriquez, wins the $69,108 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Quarter Horse Futurity by 1 1/2-lengths on Monday.

© Coady Media

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 9, 2024–Barbara led the field from gate-to-wire for her third victory this season in the $69,108 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Quarter Horse Futurity on Monday.

Trainer Rigoberto Guillen named Jacob Enriquez to ride Barbara in the 350-yard finals. The daughter of champion sire Tempting Dash was alert for the entire trip, crossing the wire 1 1/2-lengths ahead of Conflict and Emilio Tapia.

Barbara clocked a 95 speed index in 17.587 seconds. The slight upset paid $16.60 to win on 7-1 odds. Post-time favorite Apollitical Iceman, ridden by Luis Martinez, followed 3/4-length behind Conflict for a third-place finish.

The winning connections of Jess Mr Mayito accept the $69,108 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Quarter Horse Futurity trophy at Turf Paradise on Monday. © Coady Media

The $35,549 winner’s share of the purse increased Barbara’s lifetime earnings to $51,149.

The California-bred filly has three wins from four starts for owner-breeder Balgo Racing Team, Inc. She is out of Jess And Molly by Mr Jess Perry.

Trainer David Gomez-Barraza trains runner-up Conflict for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez. The son of Separate Interest has lit the board nine of 12 starts with $111,248 in the bank, including a second place finish in the Ruidoso Downs Juvenile Challenge-G3, Four Corners Futurity and was a finalist in the John Deere AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2.

Conflict was bred in California by Dr. Steve D. Burns, DVM, out of Remember The Cartel by Corona Cartel. His owners bought his from Dr. Burns for $42,000 in last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Gomez-Barraza also saddled third-place finisher Apollitical Iceman for owner Rancho La Aventura, LLC. The two-time winner has earned $96,256 from nine starts, including a second-place finish in the La Fiesta Futurity-G3.

Dunn Ranch bred Apollitical Iceman in Oklahoma out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Sea. The son of Apollitical Jess was a $110,000 Heritage Place Yearling sale graduate in 2023.

Bluffn You, Favorite Regrets, Zoomin On Home, Jess Thru A Cartel, More Than I Candy, Everleigh Raes Girl and Bartlett complete the field.

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