White Lightenein, under jockey Mario Delgado, races to fastest time in Saturday's $205,265 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred QH Deby trials at Ruidoso Downs.

© Bailey Ivey / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO, NM–JUNE 3, 2023–A royally bred $32,000 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Sale graduate of 2021 posted the fastest qualifying time from 61 state-breds that competed in seven trials for the $205,265 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred QH Deby Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the mountain racetrack on Saturday, June 17 to vie for the $86,211 winner's purse going 400 yards.

Under jockey Mario Delgado White Lightenein bumped at the start but was much the best as he cruised to a 1-1/2 length win while clocking :17.429 seconds, a 95 speed index into a 17 mph crosswind, the fastest of the day.

James Gonzales, II trains the son of leading second-crop sire Eye Am King for owners Denis and Julie Schoenhofer. Today's win was the second in seven starts for the 3-year-old gelding who finished his 2-year-old campaign with a second-place effort in the New Mexico State Fair Futurity(RG2) in his last start September 25, 2022, at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Out of the AQHA Racing champion and champion producing First Down Dash mare Alice K White, White Lightenein has banked $156,938, nearly five-times his purchase price.

White Lightenein was the first of five Mountain Top Derby finalist bred by MJ Farms. They also bred 5th fastest Jesses Wish, 6th fastest Codex and 8th fastest Wood Dee Queen.  Vintage Bourdeaux and Fine Am Eye, both MJ Farms bred 3-year-olds, will shake for the final spot after they tied for the 10th fastest time.

For a complete list of Mountain Top NM-Bred QH Futurity qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Live racing retuns to Ruidoso Downs tomorrow with six trials for the $123,452 Ruidoso Maiden Stakes (not black type). First post is 1:00 p.m. (MDT).