Suspension leads to uncertainty in All American Futurity trials

One of the most important weekends in Quarter Horse racing gets under way Friday at Ruidoso Downs with the running of the first card of trials for the $3 million All American Futurity, but there is some uncertainty surrounding the proceedings in New Mexico.

Trainer Trey Wood, who has entered a total of 31 horses for the Friday and Saturday trials for the All American Futurity, has been summarily suspended after one of his charges tested positive for albuterol, a Class 3 violation, which could lead to those horses being transferred to other trainers if not stopped by legal action. There was no known temporary restraining order as of Wednesday.

Wood has a hearing before the Ruidoso board of stewards on Aug. 18, said Izzy Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission.

He “was summarily suspended after entries had been taken,” Trejo said. “There are 31 horses entered in his name as trainer for the All American Futurity trials, and the commission has given the authority to the stewards, by rule, to allow trainer transfers on these horses after entries.”

Trejo said there were no known official trainer transfers on the horses as of Wednesday, but transfers could be announced as late as race day on Friday and Saturday. The stewards and a track representative could not be reached Wednesday, which is a dark day at Ruidoso.

Trejo said Gold Heart Eagle V, the Wood trainee who tested positive for albuterol, a bronchodilator from the same family as clenbuterol, would be scratched. The horse is entered in the first race – and trial – on Friday. He is coming off a maiden win July 27 at Ruidoso.

If there are trainer transfers post-entry for the trials, the new trainer or trainers would bear all responsibility for that horse or horses, including the results of any post-race tests.

There are a total of 257 horses vying for 10 spots in the starting gate for the All American. Ruidoso puts on 13 trials Friday and 13 on Saturday. The horses with the top five fastest times from each program will advance to the finale Sept. 2.

Uncle D, who was a dominant winner of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity last month at Ruidoso, goes in the seventh trial Friday. The Utah-bred is 3 for 4 for Cavenaugh Quarter Horses and trainer Clinton Crawford. Also on the Friday card, a Quarter Horse filly named Big Drama goes in the opener. In Thoroughbred racing, there is a now-retired champion sprinter named Big Drama.

Ruidoso’s weekend of trials continues Sunday with 12 qualifying heats for the $1.5 million All American Derby. The races have drawn champions Apocalyptical Jess, Flying Cowboy 123, and Flash and Roll. The horses with the top 10 times will advance to the finale Sept. 1.