The Marfa Lights brings winning pedigree into All American Futurity

Jim Helzer won the All American Futurity for Quarter Horses as an owner in 1990 with Refrigerator, and on Monday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, he will attempt to accomplish the same feat as a trainer. Helzer will saddle The Marfa Lights for owners Beth and Michael Harper.

“It’s a tough race to win, but the toughest part is getting through those darn trials,” said Helzer.

The Marfa Lights was among the 10 horses who earned a spot in the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity after 30 time trials spanning two days. He will be making his stakes debut in the 440-yard classic that closes out the meet. Others set to start include Apolltical Chad, the field’s lone Grade 1 winner; Imperial Eagle, the fastest qualifier on Day 1 of trials who is seeking his fourth straight win; and Coronas First Diva, who led all qualifiers by time on Day 2.

The Marfa Lights is an up-and-coming sort who has won his last two starts, including his All American trial by a commanding 2 3/4 lengths Aug. 19.

“This is only going to be his fourth race, and he’s just now maturing and coming into his own,” Helzer said. “It appears to me that he is just peaking at the right time.”

Helzer feels that 440 yards, which The Marfa Lights ran in 21.51 seconds during trials, suits the colt.

“It’s hard for us to find a 440 horse, just like it is for Thoroughbred owners and trainers to find a mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Helzer said. “He’s definitely a 440 horse.”

The Marfa Lights also is one of the best-bred horses in the All American. He is a son of One Famous Eagle and out of the First Down Dash mare Your First Moon, who was a champion at 2.

“Everything that mare has produced has run,” said Helzer.

The Marfa Lights is a half-brother to champion Moonist, who died in June due to complications from colic surgery. At the time, Moonist was the nation’s top-ranked older Quarter Horse. Your First Moon also has produced the Grade 1 winner Moonin the Eagle.

Larry Payne has the mount on The Marfa Lights from post 5.

Apolltical Chad won the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity in June, edging A Revenant by a head. A Revenant returned to win the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs and was the top-ranked 2-year-old Quarter Horse heading into trials for the All American but scratched from his heat. Apolltical Chad, meanwhile, was the second-fastest qualifier on Day 2, when he won his trial in 21.68. Adrian Ramos has the mount for Nueve Racing and trainer Wes Giles.

Imperial Eagle was a 1 3/4-length winner of his trial, covering the distance in 21.49. Imperial Eagle registered the top time for the series in the final trial on a 15-race card on Day 1. Esgar Ramirez has the mount for Charles Robinson and trainer Tony Sedillo.

G.R. Carter Jr., who retired last year, is back in the saddle for the All American, picking up the mount on Koolnfamous. Earlier on the card, Carter is named to ride Dashing Runner in the $500,000 All American Juvenile, the consolation race for the All American.

J.R. Valenzuela, the older brother of Patrick Valenzuela who made a riding comeback a few months ago, has the mount on One More Thats It in the All American Juvenile. The race comes immediately following the $50,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship, in which Pat Valenzuela will ride Hush’s Storm.

“J.R. and Pat haven’t ridden together at the same track in maybe 10 or 11 years,” Jodi Mackey, the agent for both riders, said Friday.

Mackey said J.R. Valenzuela was working as an agent but wanted to return to race-riding and has lost 110 pounds since last August.

“He’s inspired a lot of people,” she said.

The card Monday also includes the $152,972 Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity, led by Another Brother.