First set of trials for Rainbow Futurity on Friday

Ruidoso Downs is putting on 32 trials for its $1 million Rainbow Futurity over its Friday and Saturday cards in New Mexico. The Rainbow is the middle leg of Ruidoso’s series for 2-year-old Quarter Horses that concludes with the $3 million All American Futurity in September.

First Valiant Sign won the first leg, the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity. As such, he is the lone horse eligible for a Ruidoso Triple Crown bonus of $4 million were he to sweep the three races. First Valiant Sign will run in the final trial Saturday.

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Horses with the five fastest qualifying times on each card will advance to the Rainbow on July 19.

There are 301 horses entered in this year’s trials for the Rainbow, compared with 214 last year.