Thirty-two New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds, all but one of whom will be making their first career starts, are entered in Saturday’s 5-furlong Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity (R) trials at Ruidoso Downs.
Fill The Bill, an $82,000 yearling purchase from breeder Fred Alexander at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, drew post 7 and will be ridden by Enrique Gomez in the third of four trials. A bay daughter of Attila’s Storm trained by Fred Danley for owner J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas, Fill The Bill is out of Ringback, a winning daughter of the Gone West Stallion Gone Hollywood who has produced three winners from as many starters.
Fill The Bill is a half brother to Hollywood Henry, the winner of last year’s Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.
Fill The Bill’s seven opponents in the third heat include Quick Laugh, a $60,000 yearling buy from breeder Mike Abraham. Trained by Casey Lambert for owner Jana Trotter of Hereford, Texas, the chestnut Laugh Track colt is out of the stakes-winning Devon Lane mare Quickkey, and he is a half brother to three-time stakes winner Key’s Band.
Quick Laugh drew post 2 and will be ridden by Isaias Enriquez.
Rogue Wave was purchased for $52,000 from breeders Tom and Leslie Goncharoff. A chestnut gelding by Attila’s Storm out of the winning Pulpit mare Beach Club, Rogue Wave is a full brother to Storm The Beach, the winner of the 2017 Manzano Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.
Rogue Wave drew the rail post and will be ridden by Luis A. Fuentes for owners Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, Derrol Hubbard, and Shaun Hubbard, and trainer Todd Fincher.
Owner J & SM Inc. and trainer Fred Danley will also be represented by Bully Baby, a $50,000 yearling purchase from breeder Bar Y Equine LLC. A bay daughter of the Artax stallion Diabolical, the filly is out of Shamrock Girl, a 12-year-old daughter of the Holy Bull stallion King Bull who won two stakes in New Mexico from 2010-11, including the $125,000 La Senora Stakes (R) at Sunland Park in 2011.
The first- and second-place finishers in all trials will make the June 20, $125,000-est. Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity final. They will be joined by two of the four third-place runners, to be determined by a shake in the race office.