32 trials over two days set for All American Futurity

It would appear that just about every promising 2-year-old Quarter Horse in the land will be at Ruidoso Downs on Friday and Saturday.

More than 300 runners are set to compete for 10 starting berths into the $3 million All American Futurity.

The Labor Day classic closes out the Ruidoso meet Sept. 5.

Trials for the All American are a summer tradition, and there will be 16 of them Friday and another 16 on Saturday. The horses with the five fastest times from each card will earn a spot in the starting gate for the All American. The trials will each be run over 440 yards, and each has a purse of $8,000.

First post for each of the cards is 11 a.m. Mountain.

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The two highest-profile juveniles at the current Ruidoso meet will be in action Saturday. Eye On the Card, who won the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity in his last start July 24, goes in the ninth race. He will start from post 2 for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr.

Otts Boy, winner of the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity, will make his first start since the June 12 race in the 11th trial. He will break from post 6 for trainer Toby Keeton. Otts Boy led throughout when winning the Ruidoso.

“The horse has been jumping from the gate like that throughout his training, and we’re all amazed at what this youngster can do,” Keeton told track publicity following the Ruidoso.

Tres Crystals will take on Otts Boy in what will be his first race since winning the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity on May 28 at Remington Park. Tres Crystals will break from post 3 for trainer Dee Keener.

There are a total of 152 horses entered on Saturday’s card of trials. Trainers John Stinebaugh and Trey Wood will saddle 12 entrants each Saturday. Trainer Eric Valenzuela has 11 horses entered on the card, and fellow horseman Heath Taylor has 10.

There are a total of 153 horses entered on Friday’s card of trials. Wood has 12 entered, giving him a total of 24 runners in trials for the All American. No other trainer has more horses entered. Stinebaugh and Valenzuela each have a total of 23 and Taylor has 20.

* Ruidoso announced purses are being increased by 20 percent and as part of the boost there will be some new overnight stakes for closing weekend in September.