Trial winners Jornalero (pictured) and Diggers Gold are among 10 New Mexico-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings entered in Sunday’s 5 1/2-furlong, $134,667 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
The 3-1 morning-line favorite and a $4,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, Jornalero races for US Alliance Logistic from the barn of trainer Arnulfo Ascencio Jr. The Chipshot colt has earned $11,337 from three starts, and his two wins include a 1 3/4-length victory in the second of two trials on July 24.
Jornalero drew post 8 and will be ridden by Luis H. Rodriguez.
Diggers Gold is trained by Todd Fincher for owner Helen Nave, who also bred the bay son of Quinton’s Gold. Diggers Gold broke his maiden with a three-quarter length win in the first trial.
Diggers Gold is a full brother to Mr. Digger, the winner of the 2015 Totah Stakes (R) at SunRay Park. The gelding drew post 9 and will be ridden by Shane Laviolette.
Todd Fincher will also send out stakes winner My Storm Warrior, a homebred Attila’s Storm gelding owned by Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC. My Storm Warrior has banked $82,908 from three outs, and his early-season resume includes a victory in the 5-furlong, $163,000 Mountain Top Futurity (R) on June 20.
My Storm Warrior drew post 4 and will be ridden by Tanner Fincher.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Cheese Tray (Jimmy Ray Coates), 15-1
Smooth Blues (Francisco Amparan), 12-1
Right Jab (Miguel Fuentes Jr.), 6-1
My Storm Warrior (Tanner Fincher), 8-1
Delbert Too (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 10-1
Pub (Enrique Gomez), 15-1
Diabolical Package (Ricky Ramirez), 20-1
Jornalero (Luis H. Rodriguez), 3-1
Digger’s Gold (Shane Laviolette), 9-2
Aisle Runner (Luis A. Fuentes), 7-2