Two trials were contested Saturday for the $13,500 Rocky Mountain Classic Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Oneida County Fairground,

© Oneida County Fair

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

MALAD CITY, ID—JULY 28, 2026—Gil L. Wright's homebred Gw Lighning Strike posted the fastest qualifying time from two trials Saturday for the $13,500 Rocky Mountain Classic Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Oneida County Fairground, leading the qualifiers into the August 8 final.

The black APHA filly stopped the timer in 15.563 for 300 yards while winning the second trial by a neck over Bg Dream Crusher, earning the top qualifying mark of the afternoon.

Owned, bred, and trained by Gil L. Wright, Gw Lighning Strike is a daughter of Ruthies Hotrod from the Gw Running Diamond mare Gw Running Faucet. Ridden by Fernando J. Olague, the Idaho-bred filly broke sharply, seized a narrow advantage, and "wouldn't be denied" through the stretch while holding off a determined challenge from Bg Dream Crusher by a neck for her second win in four career starts.

Second-fastest qualifier Bg Dream Crusher finished a neck behind the winner in the same trial, stopping the clock in 15.599. The filly, which races for Bryan Grant, was bred in Idaho by Becky Grant, is trained by Wasey Erickson, and was ridden by Raphael Romero.

By champion Uncle D out of Br Pleasure, by Lotta Loot, Bg Dream Crusher brushed with the winner throughout before settling for second while comfortably securing a berth in the futurity final. She was third in the Harvest Cup Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Jerome in her last start.

The opening trial was won by Harvest Cup Paint & Appaloosa Futurity winner Bg Hawks An Eagles, who recorded the third-fastest overall time of 15.860 while prevailing by a head over Bg This Is My Broom. Owned and trained by Cesar Luna, the Idaho-bred chestnut filly was bred by Becky Grant and ridden by Luis A. Collazo.

A daughter of Eagle Deluxe out of Gone By, by Hawkinson, Bg Hawks An Eagles broke alertly and gamely held on to earn the trial victory. The two-time winner has earned $5,689. 

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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