Row By Row is one of 127 New Mexico-bred two-year-olds slated for Friday's Mountain Top Futurity [RG2] trials at Ruidoso Downs.

© Coady Photography

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–MAY 27, 2024–A total of 127 New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses are entered in Friday’s 350-yard Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) trials at Ruidoso Downs.

Thirteen trials will be contested, starting at 1 p.m. (MDT). The last heat is scheduled to go off at 6:12.

Row By Row, a graded stakes placed son of Big Daddy Cartel trained by Fred Danley for owner J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas, drew into Friday’s sixth trial. A $60,000 purchase from breeder MJ Farms at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the gray gelding will be stretching out in distance off of his second-place finish, a head behind winner Pavel, in the April 6, 300-yard New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.

Row By Row drew post 8 and will be ridden by Ali Rivera.

Samuri is coming off of a third-place finish, a neck behind Row By Row, in the New Mexican Spring Futurity. An $8,700 yearling purchase by owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vazquez at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, the gelded son of the Desirio stallion El Damazo has earned $46,087 from three outs.

Samuri drew the rail post and will be ridden by Emilio Tapia for trainer Juventino Ruiz in the sixth trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Friday’s trials will meet in the June 16, $350,000-est. Mountain Top Futurity final.

All Ruidoso Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.