Doing Magic heads new names in Rainbow Futurity

Fastest qualifier Doing Magic leads a group of promising - but unheralded - 2-year-olds in he Grade 1, $594,273 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday afternoon.

The winner of the 400-yard Rainbow Futurity traditionally becomes a favorite for the Grade 1, $2 million All American Futurity on Labor Day. All American Futurity trials are Aug. 16.

The winners of the two Grade 1 futurities this year in New Mexico are not in the Rainbow Futurity. West Texas Futurity winner Illusioneiress died from colic complications on July 5 and Ruidoso Futurity winner Red Clay of Texas did not run fast enough in the Rainbow Futurity trials to qualify for the finals.

This opened up the Rainbow Futurity field.

Doing Magic, trained by John Boegner, ran the best race of his four-race career in the trials when he recorded the fastest qualifying time.

With Juan Vasquez aboard, Doing Magic won his maiden with a 19.796-second time for the 400 yards to win by 1 1/4 lengths over fellow qualifier Delightful Fortune.

While the trial win was Doing Magic's first career victory, the gelding has shown promise. He was third in the Grade 2 Manor Downs Futurity on April 8.

Loveable Streak, the second-fastest qualifier, appears to be a gelding that is finding his top form during the lucrative summer months for trainer Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath.

Loveable Streak parlayed a crisp start to a three-quarter-length trial win in 19.840 seconds. Fourth-fastest qualifier Not Better Than This was second.

Loveable Streak will race as an entry with 10th-fastest qualifier Phenomenal Fantasy won her maiden by a handy half-length on June 2 and then dominated her Rainbow Futurity trial by 3 1/2 lengths, the biggest winning margin from the 17 trials. Her 19.905-second time for the 400 yards was the third-fastest clocking.

SC Chiseled in Stone, fourth in the Ruidoso Futurity, won the first trial and was the sole qualifier from the first five trials.

Gilbreath has Derby talent, numbers

Gilbreath will saddle four 3-year-olds in the Grade 1 $162,148 Rainbow Derby on Sunday, including 2000 Rainbow Futurity winner Feature Mr Jess.

Gilbreath will also be represented by Picabo Tass, Shotgun Six, and The Way You Want Me.

Feature Mr Jess has always been among the best of his division. Last year, in addition to winning the Rainbow Futurity, he was second in the Grade 1 Dash For Cash Futurity and third in the Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity.

Gilbreath kept Feature Mr Jess on the sidelines for seven months before running him in the Rainbow Derby trials on July 5. The colt responded with a half-length trial win over Heza Motor Scooter, winner of the Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby and the Cypress Handicap at Los Alamitos this year.

Feature Mr Jess's time of 21.426 seconds for the 440 yards was the quickest from the five trials.

Whosleavingwho has been a rock-solid campaigner at Ruidoso Downs and Los Alamitos. Last summer at Ruidoso Downs, he was the only horse to qualify for the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities.

Whosleavingwho went to Los Alamitos to finish second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Million and then win the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Trained by John Bassett, Whosleavingwho won his Rainbow Derby trial by a half-length with the seventh-fastest qualifying time of 21.541 seconds for the 440 yards.