Storm Leader (pictured), a two-time stakes winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, heads a field of 12 state-bred 2-year-olds entered in Sunday’s 6-furlong, $329,947 New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Mike Abraham, Leslie Amestoy, and Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Storm Leader has earned $154,196 from five races, and his four wins include a 5 3/4-length victory in the 5-furlong, $152,000 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity (R) in June, and a 9 1/2-length win in the 5 1/2-furlong, $138,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) on August 14. The homebred bay Attila’s Storm gelding drew post 9 and will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.
Todd Fincher will send out a total of six finalists, including Better Believe, a homebred Marking filly racing for R. Lee Lewis and Brad King. Better Believe is coming off of a Ruidoso summer campaign during which she won two of three starts, including the 5 1/2-furlong, $129,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) on August 14.
Better Believe drew post 5 and will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Leave Them Behind (Enrique Gomez), 12-1
Musics My Vice (Aldo Arboleda), 20-1
Z Marks The Spot (Luis Fuentes), 9-2
M G Lookingood (Miguel Perez), 25-1
Better Believe (Drayden Van Dyke), 7-2
Rattila (Oscar Ceballos), 30-1
New Mexico Jeremy (Francisco Amparan), 15-1
George Who (Luis H. Rodriguez), 25-1
Storm Leader (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 3-1
Nacho Grande (Luis R. Rodriguez), 30-1
Sheza Hailstorm (Alejandro Medellin), 8-1
Ar Ya Weegee (Joree Scriver), 6-1