Lovethewayyoulie tops cast for New Mexico Juvenile Challenge Futurity

One of the top-ranked 2-year-old Quarter Horses in the nation will make an appearance Saturday at Ruidoso Downs in the $64,620 John Deere New Mexico Juvenile Challenge Futurity. Lovethewayyoulie will vie for favoritism in the 350-yard race following her May 31 win in the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park.

Lovethewayyoulie ranks fourth in a poll of 2-year-olds put out by the American Quarter Horse Association. She has raced once in the nearly two months since the Heritage Place and finished second in her trial for the John Deere. Lovethewayyoulie came from farther off the pace than usual when beaten three-quarters of a length in the July 18 race. She would seem to have a reason to move forward for Conda Maze and Tyler Graham and trainer Toby Keeton.

Cody Jensen has the mount from post 5.

The field of 10 also includes Apolitical Pac, who set the fastest qualifying time for the John Deere when she won her 350-yard trial by a length in 17.38 seconds. Trained by John Buchanan, she is one of six horses in the field eligible for the All American Futurity trials Aug. 14-15, according to Ruidoso.

The stakes action at Ruidoso on Sunday includes the Grade 3 Mr Jet Moore, which is the local prep for the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup. The field is led by Jody Pops Zoomer.

Girlonthego, Mighty Moonflash target All American series

Girlonthego and Mighty Moonflash, winners of the Zia Futurity and Derby for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs last weekend, will start in time trials in the All American series in mid-August.

Girlonthego won the $393,253 Zia Futurity over 400 yards last Sunday for her first stakes win. Owned by cousins Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez of Carlsbad, N.M., Girlonthego will be supplemented to the All American Futurity trials for $50,000. She is trained by Juan Gonzalez.

Girlonthego earned $164,746 for her win in the Zia Futurity.

The 440-yard trials are Aug. 14-15, with the five quickest times each day, regardless of finishing positions, advancing to the $2.6 million final Sept. 1.

Mighty Moonflash is eligible for the All American Derby trials on Aug. 16. The $2.3 million final is Aug. 31. The 10 fastest times from the trials advance to the final.

Owned by Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and trained by Pierre’s brother, Ross, Mighty Moonflash won his first stakes in the $139,493 Zia Derby. The gelding has won 3 of 10 starts in his career.

Stakes set for Lone Star Park

The Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity on Nov. 15 will once again highlight Lone Star Park’s meet for Quarter Horses. The season opens Sept. 19. Lone Star has scheduled 11 stakes for Quarter Horses, including four Grade 1 races.

The Texas Classic Futurity, which will be run over 400 yards, will share the closing-night card with the Grade 1, $400,000 Texas Classic Derby. The latter race will be run at 440 yards.

The Grade 1, $450,000 Dash For Cash Futurity at 400 yards is set for Oct. 11. It will share a card with the Grade 2, $150,000 Dash For Cash Derby. The meet’s other major stakes is the Grade 1, $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards Oct. 4.

Stall applications are due Aug. 20.

◗ Heritage Place, the prominent auction house in Oklahoma City, has cataloged 841 Quarter Horse yearlings to an upcoming auction. The sale will run Sept. 18-20. It is the 36th annual September yearling auction at Heritage Place.

– additional reporting by Steve Andersen