Improving filly Estelline tops PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity

The 2-year-old filly Estelline left the Pacific Northwest in late summer as a stakes-placed maiden. Less than two months later, her career has bloomed at Los Alamitos in advance of Saturday’s $365,000 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Futurity.

Estelline won her California debut and first start for trainer Danny Montes in a maiden race on Aug. 25. She set the fastest qualifying time of 17.55 seconds for 350 yards for Saturday’s futurity with a win by a solid 1 3/4 lengths in a division of the time trials on Sept. 16.

An Oregon-bred owned by breeder Hayden Brothers Ranch, Estelline is likely to be favored in a field of 10 that includes four other trial race winners – Callender, Conquering Marie, Jess Bein Me, and Majestic Mr Perry.

In May, Estelline was second in the Pot O’ Gold Futurity at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Wash., when trained by Hector Magallanes. The race was won by Ladys a Cartel, who is trained by Montes.

Estelline will be ridden by 45-year-old Saul Ramirez Jr., who recently left training in Texas to resume riding. Ramirez was aboard for the trial race win.

Estelline breaks from post 2. Her main rival is Conquering Marie, if she can mind her manners. Conquering Marie broke through the starting gate before the time trials, and still performed well despite the mishap, winning by a neck in 17.65 seconds.

Jess Bein Me won a division of the trials in 17.79 seconds for her second consecutive win, preceded by a win in a maiden race in August.

In July, Jess Bein Me finished fourth in the Governor’s Cup Futurity, but was disqualified and placed 10th for causing interference midway through the 350-yard race.

The lone stakes winner in the field is Red Hawk Cartel, who won the California Breeders’ Freshman Stakes in July, his lone win in four starts. Red Hawk Cartel was second to Conquering Marie in the time trials.