Cowboys Gun Z in good order, ready for Texas Classic

Cowboys Gun Z emerged from his win in the $3 million All American Futurity on Monday at Ruidoso Downs in good order and will soon ship to Lone Star Park, said trainer Michael Joiner.

Joiner was at Lone Star on Thursday setting up his stable for the track's meet that opens Friday night. He said Cowboys Gun Z is currently stabled at Ruidoso Downs, but will arrive in the next few days at Lone Star.

“He came back really good, so we’re very fortunate there,” said Joiner.

Joiner said Cowboys Gun Z will be pointed for the Oct. 26 trials for the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity. The finale is Nov. 18. The Texas Classic Futurity is run at 400 yards and it highlights the meet at Lone Star.

:: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets.

Cowboys Gun Z won at 440 yards in the All American. He broke on top and led at every point of a call for a half-length win in what was his fourth career start. He covered the distance in 21.57 seconds.

“To win a race like that, everything’s got to go perfect,” Joiner said. “He’s got to be perfect, and that’s pretty much what happened. He pretty much ran a mistake-free race.”

Joiner, 67, was winning his first All American Futurity after a 45-year career with Quarter Horses.

“I’ve probably qualified 17, 18 times,” he said.

Joiner said he liked how Cowboys Gun Z developed during the course of the Ruidoso meet. The horse was the Day 2 fastest qualifier for the All American.

“He had some issues in the gate his first couple of races, so he didn’t put everything together in his first couple of races, first couple of trials,” he said. “He’s finally matured mentally, is figuring it out. The last two races, he couldn’t have been any better in the gate. That made all the difference, because the colt’s always had lots and lots of talent. He just didn’t quite have everything together mentally.”

Cowboys Gun Z races for West Texas Partners. The winner’s enclosure after the All American was overflowing with those connected to the Oklahoma-bred son of Flying 123.

“There was barely room for the horse,” quipped Joiner.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.