Effectiveimmediately tests streak

Back in May, Effectiveimmediately was the fastest qualifier for the Kindergarten Futurity and favored for that race when she was scratched after suffering a stall injury. A spring and summer campaign was lost.

Effectiveimmediately returned to racing in time trials for the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders' Futurity at Los Alamitos on Sept. 12 and quickly restored her reputation. Effectiveimmediately set the fastest qualifying time, running 350 yards in 17.39 seconds, to remain unbeaten after three starts.

Once again, trainer Jaime Gomez is hopeful that she can win her stakes debut in Saturday's $476,000 PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity.

"If the filly gets a good break, I think we have an excellent chance," Gomez said. "She's doing super."

Bettors have taken a fancy to Effectiveimmediately. Owned by the List family's Double Bar S Ranch, Effectiveimmediately has been favored in both of her trial races and is likely to have the same role in Saturday's final.

Gomez is relieved that the springtime injury was not more severe.

"She got hurt in the stall and cut herself," he said. "I had to take my time."

Effectiveimmediately is one of six fillies in the PCQHRA Futurity and will break from post 3 in a field of 10. The inside draw does not concern Gomez.

"She's run well from the inside," he said.

Four of the finalists have run in futurity finals before, including Miss Eye Stocks, who was second in the California Juvenile Championship at Los Alamitos on Aug. 28.

Jumpn Beduino was the 8-5 second choice in the Governor's Cup Futurity in July but failed to finish the race after unseating jockey Francisco Rubio in the final yards. Trained by Patricia Visscher, Jumpn Beduino returned to finish second in a division of the PCQHRA Futurity trials after a bad start. Her final time of 17.53 seconds was a good enough for the 10th and final qualifying berth.

Visscher, who trains Jumpn Beduino for Ed and Carol DeNike, said she is not thrilled with the outside post but does not fear that the filly will repeat her antics from the Governor's Cup Futurity. Cesar DeAlba has the mount Saturday.

"She'll break good this time," Visscher said. "Last time, she broke well and lost her back end. She was lucky to qualify. She was really lost two lengths behind the field and came running."