Mining Gold faces 11 in futurity

Mining Gold put up the best qualifying time but still has something to prove Monday as he heads a field of 12 juveniles ready to go six furlongs in the $15,000 Yavapai Downs Futurity. The race goes as the seventh race on a nine-race card, as the meet winds down with closing day on Tuesday.

Mining Gold, owned by Jack Whyman and trained by Kevin Lewis, did some good work at Turf Paradise in the spring, enough to warrant a trip to Santa Rosa in northern California for a stakes try there Aug. 7. He stalked the pace but tired to end up fifth of nine at 19-1.

He came back to Yavapai Aug. 21, and posted the top qualifying time for this race, 1:10.80 for six furlongs. He opened up a big lead into the lane and just held on over Queen Razyana. Berkley Packer rides.

Brighton Book, a filly, is unbeaten in two starts for 12 Gates Racing and trainer Sarina Obergfell, including a rallying win from midpack in another Aug. 21 qualifier for this race. Leading rider Miguel Hernandez has the call.

Peeples Valley was the heavy 4-5 favorite in the qualifier won by Brighton Book. But he got into a duel and it left him weakened, and he couldn't fend off Brighton Book. Carl Williams is back aboard Peeples Valley, who is owned by Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by James Thompson

Queen Razyana, another filly, is still a maiden. She closed smartly to be third (disqualified to sixth) in her debut here Aug. 1 and then nearly caught Mining Gold in her trial. Trained by Ronald Chappell, she'll be ridden by Jorge Rocha.