Carson City Girl favored in Zia Futurity

Three years ago, David Barrett was part owner and Fred Danley was the trainer of a 2-year-old named The Four J’s who came within a head of upsetting the Grade 1 Zia Futurity at 12-1. They had to settle for $71,105 instead of the winner’s share of $165,912 of the $395,028 purse.

Barrett and Danley will get another shot at the six-figure Zia Futurity on Sunday, this time with the favored filly Carson City Girl in the 400-yard race for New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses. The $379,896 Futurity is one of three stakes for Quarter Horses on a 10-race program that includes six stakes for Thoroughbreds.

Carson City Girl overcame a slow break and a bump to dominate her trial two weeks ago with the fastest qualifying time of 19.88 seconds. It was her second win in three lifetime starts.

Carson City Girl’s stiffest challenge likely will come from Beerun, who is 2 for 2 at the meet since being transferred to the barn of Blane Wood. Beerun recorded the second-fastest qualifying time of 19.92 seconds.

Wood also trains Faster Version, whose only loss in three career starts came in last month’s Mountain Top Futurity.

◗ The Grade 2, $50,000 Zia Handicap at 400 yards pits the 3-year-old Moonstruck Love, whose three-race winning streak was snapped in last month’s Mr Jess Perry Derby, against Foxy Moonflash, a three-time graded stakes winner last season who was ninth in his lone start this year in the $252,720 Remington Park Invitational Championship in May.