Mr Tres Effort (pictured), a homebred son of the Feature Mr Jess stallion TF Featured Effort racing for Carlos F. Paez, is the fastest qualifier to the October 30, $325,000-est. New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park.
Racing in the sixth of eight trials on October 8 and aided by a reported 15-mph tail wind, Mr Tres Effort defeated seventh-fastest qualifier Elias Esperance by 1 1/4 lengths while covering 350 yards in :17.550. Luis Flores-Garcia rode the sorrel gelding for trainer Eric Valenzuela.
Mr Tres Effort was coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the 400-yard, $100,000 New Mexico State Fair Juvenile Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs on September 25. The gelding has won four of eight races and has earned $101,002, and he was a finalist in the April 3, $313,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park.
Also aided by a reported 15-mph tail wind, Second-fastest qualifier Flash Divine won the eighth heat by three-quarters of a length in :17.574. Noe Garcia Jr. rode the homebred First Moonflash colt for owners Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vazquez, and trainer Wes Giles.
Flash Divine is out of Girlonthego, a 10-year-old daughter of Manonthemove who won the 2014 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs. The colt has won two of three outs and has banked $26,485, and he was a finalist in the May 23, 350-yard New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park.
MRB Racing LLC’s First Lady On Canvas, the third-fastest qualifier, won the seventh trial by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by Esgar Ramirez for trainer Xavier Rodriguez and aided by a reported 15-mph tail wind, the homebred First Moonflash filly stopped the timer in :17.592 while posting her second win in six races and increasing her bankroll to $15,585.
First Lady On Canvas is out of Paint On Canvas, a winning PYC Paint Your Wagon mare and a finalist in the 2018 Ruidoso Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. Her second dam, the Executive Menace mare Executive Looks, won the ’08 Manor Downs Futurity (G1) in Texas.
The complete list of New Mexico Cup Futurity qualifiers appears below:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| MR TRES EFFORT G, TF Featured Effort-Beyond 15 by Desirio | Carlos F. Paez | Carlos Paez (NM) | Eric Valenzuela | :17.550 |
| FLASH DIVINE C, First Moonflash-Girlonthego by Man On The Moon | Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vazquez | Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vazquez (NM) | Wes Giles | :17.574 |
| FIRST LADY ON CANVAS F, First Moonflash-Paint On Canvas by PYC Paint Your Wagon | MRB Racing LLC | MRB Racing LLC (NM) | Xavier Rodriguez | :17.592 |
| RC JESSA FLASHN F, A Passion For Flashn-Remember Me Jess by Mr Jess Perry | RC Racing LLC | RC Racing LLC (NM) | Martin Orona Sr. | :17.691 |
| FLASH ME THE PRICE G, First Moonflash-First Prize Mine by Mr Jess Perry | Samuel R. Natera | Bianca Varela (NM) | Guadalupe Munoz Jr. | :17.700 |
| MOON JUMPN JESSICA F, Jumpn Chic-Le Mishka Jess by Mr Jess Perry | Barbara H. Saunders and Kim Saunders | Barbara H. Saunders and Kim Saunders (NM) | Jimmy Collier | :17.737 |
| ELISAS ESPERANCE F, Jumpn Chic-Esperance by Eyesa Special | Brad Bolen, Cole Clinger, and Luis Humberto Rodriguez | Holly Hooper (NM) | Brad Bolen | :17.754 |
| WOULD BE YOU F, Woodbridge-Wish You Had One To by Stel Corona | Haskell E. Rich and Jacque M. Rich | MJ Farms (NM) | Casey Lambert | :17.760 |
| IMA ALERTLY G, A Royal Jess-Camelia by Tempting Dash | MRB Racing LLC | MRB Racing LLC (NM) | Xavier Rodriguez | :17.804 |
| FLECHA GRIS F, Osbaldo-VN Dos Por Tres by Tres Seis Nueve | Cristal Valencia | Hubaldo Solis (NM) | Raul Vega | :17.808 |