Zia Festival weekend begins Friday with trials for the Rio Grande Señorita and Rio Grande Señor, for two-year-old New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds going five and one-half furlongs, the former restricted to fillies and latter to colts and geldings. There are horses who ran in the Mountain Top trials, some who ran in maiden races, and others making their debuts.

Trainer Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr. has three fillies entered, one in each of the three trials for the Señorita. "All three of our fillies are doing very well," he said. "They're the main reason our stable came to Ruidoso for the summer. Hopefully, they can prove us right on Friday. If we get clean trips we should have a very legitimate shot." All three are by new stallion Bernster. Ragtime Rythm, in race two, exits a maiden score here July 12th in her second attempt despite drifting a bit in the stretch. Fire Fling runs in race four and was supplemented to this race following a close second on debut the second week of racing here. Rio Sand Dancer, in race six, finished third behind Fire Fling in that maiden race. "Most of our two-year-olds have run very well this summer and all have run completely medication-free and no lasix," said Gonzalez. "My stable is trying to lead the charge in this regard. Hopefully they continue to run well."

Joel Marr has four fillies in the Señorita trials. Assistant to Marr, Clay Sparks, said he especially liked Speedy Wildcat and Our Soaring Angel, though the latter "will need to go farther." Speedy Wildcat drew just outside of frequent workmate Atill I Chime in race two, and their fourth filly is Indian Fireblossom in race four who was bumped at the break in the Mountain Top trial and who would benefit from a better start.

The filly who crossed the wire first in the Mountain Top Final before being disqualified for interference, Fill The Bill trained by Fred Danley, will go in race six.

In the two divisions of the event for colts and geldings, of the 19 entered 10 come from the barn of Todd Fincher and six from Casey Lambert. One of the more intriguing of Lambert's entrants is Stay Away Jonesy in race 10. "He's a pretty good horse," Lambert said. "We've always thought a lot of him." This gelding was in tight at the start in his debut in the Mountain Top trial then hesitated at the break in his next out but still managed to get up and win that maiden race after having to go wide. "He wants to run farther and hopefully he'll get away better."

Of all the horses Fincher has entered we won't be seeing what was perhaps his best one. Proofsinthepuddin, a New Mexico-bred filly, won a maiden race here June 28 against males and open company by seven and three-quarters lengths and extended the margin on the gallop out past the wire by another dozen at least or maybe two dozen in what was one of the most impressive debuts we have seen here in years. "She hurt her shin," in that race according to Fincher. "She'll be fine but probably won't run again this year. She's sound everywhere else so she should have a good future. Never hurts to let them mature but for now, she's done." With some other good runners, and so many, he should still have some shots to take the top prize, but we'll be hoping this one makes it back soon and will show her stuff down the road.