Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Saturday, June 13, 2020

The first of two stakes races today came with the Mountain Top QH Juvenile Stakes for two-year-olds who did not qualify for the Futurity Finals as race eight. Of the ten entrants in this event, the one to run fastest in the trials was Vine Master, trained by J.J. Gonzales and ridden by Sergio Becerra, Jr. He was again the fastest of these runners today, posting a half-length win in 17.991. "He's really spectacular," said Becerra, who was aboard for today's victory as well as his trial for this and the training race before that. After breaking a bit awkwardly in his trial, Becerra said "He came back even better. He shies away from the whip a lot of the time. But he finished strong." After shying out from a left-handed whip early in today's race, Becerra went to hand riding and maintained the lead to the wire despite drifting out a bit late. Gonzales reiterated what was said by Becerra and praised him, saying "Last time in the trials we had a little trouble away from the gates. If not, we'd have been in the finals today. I think he really deserves to be in the finals but things didn't pan out and that's the way it is, you gotta be thankful for today...He's [Becerra] on fire right now...he works hard, he's a good rider and I'm very proud of him and very happy for him." Fly On Down, trained by Tony Sedillo and ridden by Manny Gutierrez, chased from second but could make no headway while Kellys First Moon, ridden by Juan Rivas and trained by Juan M. Gonzalez just held third. Vine Master will next be pointed to the Zia Futurity Trials, also for New Mexico breds.

The tenth race was the featured Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Quarter Horse Futurity Finals (Grade II), won by the impressive Leading Cartel in 17.953. Trained by Mike Robbins and ridden by Esgar Ramirez, this gelding didn't get away the best today. "He was kind of slipping a little bit behind," in the early going, said Ramirez. Surfz Up had the early lead, "But when I started asking he started going really fast and I was confident in him." Ramirez has had a long relationship with this runner. "I went and broke him, helped Cody and Mike at the farm...with Covid-19, you know, I couldn't go ride him in Oklahoma." It was a happy reunion here in Ruidoso though. "He's been doing everything right," said Robbins. "He's a nice colt and we've had a lot of hopes for him all along." The Zia should also be next for this one. Finishing up well were Woodys Gold, trained by Clint Crawford and ridden by Francisco Calderon, a neck back in second, and Midnight Train Mo, trained by Juan Triana and ridden by Alfredo Triana Jr., another head back in third, while Surfz Up weakened to be fourth.