Quarter Horses: Stakes at Delta Downs, Retama Park, Ruidoso Downs

Sr Shambles brings the fastest qualifying time into Saturday night’s $274,325 Firecracker Quarter Horse Futurity at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. He is part of a 10-horse field that also includes Dont Temp Me, a local stakes winner in May, and Capitan Jimbob, who missed by a neck in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity in March at Louisiana Downs.

Sr Shambles is making his stakes debut after winning the second of six trials for the Firecracker, all run June 10 at Delta. He covered 350 yards on a fast track in 17.59 seconds under Damian Martinez, who again has the mount for Cynthia Allen and trainer Vann Haywood.

Dont Temp Me won the $81,000 Old South Futurity by a length May 13 at Delta. He rallied from off the pace one start after winning a trial for the race in his career debut April 22. Dont Temp Me was the 1-2 favorite in his trial for the Firecracker and finished second by a head to Emnent, who set the second-fastest time for the finale when winning in 17.62.

Capitan Jimbob also ran in the Old South, finishing second to Dont Temp Me. Capitan Jimbob returned one start later and romped by 1 1/2 lengths in his Firecracker trial in 17.78.

Retama: Sires’ Cup Double

There is a Quarter Horse stakes double Saturday night at Retama Park near San Antonio, with the $95,540 Sires’ Cup Futurity and the $55,190 Sires’ Cup Derby.

Shades of Gray set the fastest time for the 350-yard Sires’ Cup Futurity when he won his June 16 trial in 17.86 seconds. It was the first win for the horse, who will break from post 7 under Jorge Linares. Javier Contreras trains Shades of Gray for Jose Rodriguez.

Zoomin N Celebrating emerged as the fastest qualifier for the 400-yard Sires’ Cup Derby when he won his June 17 trial in 19.99 seconds. It was his fourth victory from five starts. Zoomin N Celebrating launched his career in April with a 3 1/4-length win at Sam Houston.

Ruidoso: Grade 3 Higheasterjet Handicap

Ruidoso Downs has Grade 3 action for Quarter Horses on Saturday, with the $50,000 Higheasterjet Handicap. Bodacious Eagle will be looking for his third straight stakes win when he breaks from post 10. He won the Grade 1 Leo in his last start and the Grade 2 Eastex before that, both during the recent meet at Remington Park.

The card also includes the $48,510 Ruidoso Derby Challenge, led by fastest qualifier Maxx, who won his 400-yard trial in 19.55 seconds June 17.