The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: $392,537 Zia Futurity Brings Forward Top NM Stars and a Possible Ticket to the AA Trials
New Mexico horsemen who are blessed to train fast state-bred two-year-old quarter horses must solve this annual puzzle: Do we win the $392,537 Zia Futurity or point the horse to the $3 million All American Futurity trials in August? Or both?
“It’s a tough decision,” trainer J.J. Gonzales said on the backside this week. He trains undefeated Vine Master, winner of the Mountain Top Juvenile June 13, the consolation for the Mountain Top Futurity. “You have to weigh the options carefully. If the horse earns the money in advance of the trials you have to consider it as long as the horse is sound, but it’s really up to the owners to decide if it’s worth the financial risk.”
Vine Master is not paid-up to start in the All American Futurity trials, and it would cost owner Cody Cobb a $50,000 supplement to go to the All American starting gate in August and shoot for the stars.
Should the horse come out of Sunday’s Zia Futurity a winner that would make four solid wins in four starts. “Since day one he’s done everything right,” Gonzales said. “We believe that the talent is there for a big run on Sunday.”
Vine Master will be number-nine in the field and is 7/2 on the morning line. He’s ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr., who leads the quarter horse jockey standings with 18 season wins.
Trainer Tony Sedillo will start Fly On Down, number-six, in the Zia Futurity final on Sunday at 15-1 odds with jockey Mario Delgado. This horse finished less than a length behind Vine Master twice already for owner Dalia Aranda.
“This colt is a hard-closer,” Sedillo said. “If he’ll just break with them I’m not worried about the final 100-yards. I believe my horse can run them down.”
A decision would also have to be made to supplement Fly On Down to the All American Futurity trials should the colt win on Sunday.
The 3-1 race favorite is expected to be Woodys Gold, owned by Donald and Fran Cavenaugh and ridden by Cody Smith. The gelding, number-seven, just missed winning the Mountain Top Futurity final by a neck to Leading Cartel on June 13. (Leading Cartel skipped the Zia Futurity with a shin issue and is expected to compete in the fall at Zia Park in Hobbs.)
“This was the first horse we picked out at the New Mexico-bred sale here last fall,” Crawford said. “He’s a big colt with tons of potential. He opened up in his trial race and won by over two lengths, and pulled up great. We’re hoping he comes back and does the same thing in the final.”
Woody’s Gold was purchased by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses, LLC, for $10,000 and has earned $70,000 to date. Crawford said the horse is not paid-up to the All American but it’s possible that a victory on Sunday would send the horse to the trials as a supplement.
Post time for the Zia Futurity weekend is 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.