Delbert Too (pictured, green cap), a stakes-winning son of the Bernardini stallion Marking, is one of 20 state-bred 2-year-olds entered in Saturday’s 6-furlong New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) trials at Albuquerque Downs.
Delbert Too is trained by Todd Fincher for owners B4 Farms LLC, Lee Owens, and Dale Alan Doby. A $25,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, the bay gelding is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong, $135,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Delbert Too is out of On Stride, a winning daughter of Ghostly Moves and a half sister to stakes winners Pocketfullapozzies and Bethreefullpockets. The gelding drew posts 7 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr. in the first of two trials.
Delbert Too’s nine opponents in the first heat include Digger’s Gold, a homebred Quinton’s Gold gelding trained by Todd Fincher for owner Helen Nave and the runner-up to Delbert Too in the Senor Futurity; Pierre and Leslie Amestoy’s Atill I Chime, a homebred Attila’s Storm filly trained by Jimmy Padgett and the runner-up to Comic Hot Toddy in the 5 1/2-furlong, $134,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs; and J & SM Inc.’s Fill The Bill, a stakes-placed Attila’s Storm filly and an $82,000 yearling purchase trained by Fred Danley.
Digger’s Gold is one of eight winners from 11 starters foaled by Pot Of Concern, an unraced Concern mare and a half sister to Tromso, a stakes winner at Canterbury Park in 1997.
Atill I Chime is one of two winners from four starters produced by Pocketfullachime, a daughter of Chimes Band who won the ‘07 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R).
Fill The Bill is one of four winners from as many starters foaled by Ringback, a winning daughter of Gone Hollywood, and she is a half sister to 2019 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) winner Hollywood Henry.
One Mark, a son of Marking trained by Todd Fincher for owners Ted Rushing and R. Lee Lewis, is the likely favorite in the second trial. An earner of $33,483 from two outs, One Mark was placed second in the 5-furlong, $163,000 Mountain Top Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs in June. The gelding is one of three starters produced by Cherry One, a daughter of Sir Cherokee who won the 2009 El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park, and the ‘10 First Lady Handicap at Ruidoso Downs.
One Mark drew the rail post and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.
Horses who finish first through sixth in each trial will make the September 20, $275,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity final.