Burns Folly eyes fourth straight in Hobbs Futurity

Burns Folly will put a winning streak on the line in his stakes debut Sunday in the Grade 2, $297,831 Hobbs America Quarter Horse Futurity at Zia Park. Burns Folly is out to win his fourth straight race after getting on a roll this summer at Ruidoso Downs.

The 400-yard Hobbs Futurity (race 12) shares a program with the Grade 3, $80,000 Hobbs America Quarter Horse Derby (race 11). The stakes go as the last two races on the program.

Burns Folly has shown versatility during a streak that began Aug. 3 at Ruidoso in his third career start. He broke last in that maiden race and rallied for a one-length win. Burns Folly then wired his rivals in an Aug. 21 trial race at Ruidoso and rallied from off the pace for a half-length win in a Sept. 26 trial for the Hobbs. Burns Folly covered 400 yards in 19.73 seconds, the fastest qualifying time for the Sunday finale.

Jaime Leos, who is 3 for 3 on Burns Folly, has the mount from the rail. Chris Zamora trains the horse for Alberto Villanueva.

The chief threats include Game Changes, who was fourth in the $200,000 All American Juvenile two starts ago at Ruidoso; Queen Arabella, the winner of the $50,000 West Texas Juvenile at Sunland Park; and Apollitical Ok, a one-length winner of his trial Sept. 26.

Takiana Romanova B, who won last year’s Hobbs Futurity, is back for this year’s Hobbs Derby. She ran third in her trial for the 440-yard race and will be making her third start off a layoff Sunday. Her rivals include Pycs Little Lady, a stakes winner at Sunland and Ruidoso, and Jesse Jr First Down, the fastest qualifier after winning his trial in 21.48.