Runnning Brook Gal's last assignment before break

Runnning Brook Gal will be making the final start of her All American Futurity-winning season on Sunday at Zia Park, when she runs in the Grade 1, $305,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship for Quarter Horses.

The 440-yard race is an invitational, and the other Grade 1 winners in the field are First Klas Fred, the second-ranked 2-year-old in the nation behind Runnning Brook Gal; Ragazzo, winner of the Heritage Place Futurity; and First Prize Leesa, winner of the Remington Park Futurity.

"This is a tough race Sunday, but she'll be tough herself," said Paul Jones, who trains Runnning Brook Gal. "She's going good."

Jones said Runnning Brook Gal will be freshened following the Southwest Juvenile.

"This will be her last start of the season and hopefully she'll be back for the derbies next year," he said. "She had a great campaign this year. We couldn't have asked for it to be any better. She qualified to three futurities, and won the All American."

Runnning Brook Gal last raced on Oct. 11, and was second by a neck to First Klas Fred in the Grade 3 Hobbs America Futurity at Zia. She found herself much farther back than usual in that 400-yard race, and closed from sixth. Runnning Brook Girl on Sunday will start from post 7 in the field of 11.

"We'd like to break out of the gates on top like she can do," Jones said. "Hopefully, she can break on top and get out to the lead then be in a good position to have a clean trip. That's all we can ask."

Ramon Sanchez has the mount on Runnning Brook Gal.

First Klas Fred won the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity back in June. Ragazzo and First Prize Leesa enter the Southwest Juvenile off of trial races at Lone Star Park on Nov. 14.