Quarter horse fans will gather at Whoop-up Downs Sunday, the second final weekend of the Spring meet, to witness the running of the Quarter Horse Futurity and Derby Finals, with eight horses in each race.
Trainer William Leech has a pair of horses in each race, to widen his chances over the field, but there are faster horses, via the trials, in the field. Former jockey, now a trainer, Randy Cunningham, also has a pair of horses in the Futurity, the eighth race on the card.
Following are the eight Futurity horses, running 300 yards, in order of gate position; with the gate number, the horse, trial time, trainer, and rider: 1. Caraves Waves, 15.739, Randy Cunningham, Ramiro Sanchez Castillo; 2. Taylor Meyer, 16.414, Wade Eno, Freddy Fuentes; 3. Honor The Fast Man, 16.056, Tom Kenway, Martin Ortiz; 4. Poutn On The Wagon, 16.069, William Leech, Ricardo Moreno; 5. Zerelda James, 16.152, Donalda Cochrane, Scott Sterr; 6. Eagle Quay, 16.159, Randy Cunningham, Larris Allan; 7. Streakinbabe, 16.019, William Leech, Jose Rocha; 8. Eye On Desirio, 16.145, Allan Goodsell, Juan Apango.
The eight Futurity horses are running for a $59,055 guaranteed purse while the Derby, over 350 yards, has a guaranteed purse of $32,550.
Those qualifying for the Derby Finals, the fourth race on the card, with the gate position, horses, trial time, trainer, and rider are: 1. Fiscal Fast, 18.288, Angelle Carter, Ramiro Sanchez Castillo; 2. Sheaintaehiskylulaby, 18.147, William Leech, Freddy Fuentes; 3. ER Café, 17.946, Donalda Cochrane, Scott Sterr; 4. Northfork Jess, 18.009, Ron Scott, Jose Rocha; 5. Go Jessin Beaver, 18.271, William Leech, Ricardo Moreno; 6. Better Knickers, 19.199, Riley Rycroft; Larris Allan; 7. Fly Bye Cruise, 18.174, Tom Kenway, Martin Ortiz; 8. Experimental Rocket, 18.169, Allan Goodsell, Juan Apango.
There will be six other races on Sunday’s card, the opening being a 350-yard run. The seventh race Sunday is a five-horse, seven furlong run.
Saturday, there’ll be seven races on the card, opening with a seven-horse, 350-yard maiden.
There’ll be three Fillies and Mares races, the second for three year olds and upwards; and the sixth and seventh race, again for three year olds and upwards. The sixth race is seven furlongs, and the second and eighth both five and a half furlongs.
The fifth race, for three year olds and upwards, has eight horses entered including Debbie Cunnington’s Dr. Mackee, Les Webb’s Unwavering Roar, two Dallas Birdrattler entries (Stamp of Approval and Langfuhr’s Star), and Calvin Strandquist’s Casanova King.
Friday night’s card has six races, two of them covering seven furlongs and two over a distance of 300 yards.
With one weekend to go, July 2 and 3, Jose Rocha is the leading rider with 23 wins while Freddy Fuentes has 19. Laurie Ferguson has 12 wins in the trainer’s division while William Leech has 11. Ferguson however, does not have an entry in Sunday’s Futurity or Derby.