Highly Lethal V, who broke the track record at Albuquerque Downs while winning the Ruidoso Futurity on June 7, was not entered for this weekend’s trial races, which take place Friday and Saturday. The 10 fastest finalists from the 30 trial heats will advance to the Rainbow Futurity on Sunday, July 12.
In his absence, 284 juvenile Quarter Horses will compete for a chance to reach the starting gate. Fifteen trial heats, all at 400 yards, will be run both Friday and Saturday. The following day, 3-year-olds will take the spotlight during trials for the Rainbow Derby and Rainbow Oaks.
Without Highly Lethal V in the lineup this weekend, the Quarter Horse Triple Crown—which has been accomplished only twice since 1981—remains one of the most elusive prizes in horse racing.
Lethal Wind, runner-up to Highly Lethal V in the Ruidoso Futurity, has been installed as the 7-5 favorite in Friday’s third trial heat, which begins at noon.
Trained by Wes Giles and owned by Whos N And Out, Lethal Wind has yet to win but has finished second in all three of his career starts, earning more than $187,000. Bred in Oklahoma by Stone Chase Stables LLC, the son of Dulce Sin Tacha will be ridden again by Noe Garcia Jr. The pair will break from the rail in the nine-horse dash.
The leading money earner heading into the Rainbow Futurity trials is El Huracano V, who most recently finished second in the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Trained by Raymond Valerio for Valeriano Racing Stables—the same connections that won the Ruidoso Futurity—El Huracano V has earned more than $206,000, winning once in three career starts.
Listed on the morning line as the 3-2 favorite in Friday’s fourth trial heat, El Huracano V will be ridden by Francisco Calderon and will break from post seven in the nine-horse sprint.
Friday’s 15-race card will wrap up with the Omar Vargas-trained GBH Cowboy, winner of the Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park in his most recent start.
The Texas-bred son of Flying Cowboy 123 has won three of four career starts, with his only loss coming in the West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park in April. Owned by the Tungsten Racing Partnership, GBH Cowboy will break from post two under Jose Enriquez as the 9-5 morning-line favorite.
Saturday’s trial heats will be headlined by a pair of multiple winners each looking for their first stakes victory.
Trainer S. Trey Wood will saddle Tell A Scout in Saturday’s third trial heat with Ricky Ramirez in the irons. The son of Tell Cartel has two wins from four starts and was fifth in the Ruidoso Futiurity last time out. The 9-to-5 morning line favorite will break from post seven in the nine-horse dash.
Trainer Jason Olmstead will send out Ask Her To Fly, who finished third in the Ruidoso Futurity. The daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 has two wins from four career starts, with earnings topping $122,000. She will break from post six in Saturday’s 14th trial heat and has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line choice.
For more information on the Rainbow Futurity trials, check out the official page for Albuquerque Downs on equibase.com.