Drest For Success Tops Qualifiers to New Mexico Classics Quarter Horse Futurity

Drest For Success, a sorrel daughter of the Game Patriot stallion Jet Black Patriot, is the fastest qualifier to the November 26, $170,000-added New Mexico Classics Quarter Horse Futurity (RG2) for state-bred 2-year-olds at Zia Park.

Racing in the fourth of six 350-yard trials on Saturday, Drest For Success defeated second-fastest qualifier Mr Jess Effort by a half of a length in :17.512. Noe Garcia Jr. rode the filly for owners Copper Springs Ranch and Ellison Carter, and trainer Jose R. Gonzalez Jr.

Drest For Success was bred by Copper Spring Ranch, and she was coming off of a sixth-place finish in a 400-yard New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG2) trial on September 22 at Albuquerque Downs. The filly is out of Devilwitha Bluedress, a 10-year-old Corona Cartel mare. Her second dam, the winning Sixarun mare Run The Dash, ran third in world champion Bono Jazz’s 1998 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos and was a finalist in that season’s Ruidoso Futurity (G1).

Drest For Success has won two of six races and has earned $23,680.

Mr Jess Effort covered his 350-yard trip in :17.599 under jockey Sergio Becerra Jr. Eric Valenzuela trained the homebred son of the Feature Mr Jess stallion TF Featured Effort for owner Carlos E. Paez.

Mr Jess Effort is out of Beyond 15, a winning daughter of the Strawfly Special stallion Desirio and a finalist in the 2017 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park. The bay gelding has won one of six outs and has banked $96,370, and he was a finalist in the October 15, $1.2-million New Mexico State Fair Futurity (RG2).

Third-fastest qualifier Young Emperor won the third heat by a neck from fifth-fastest qualifier Miss Baby Cartel. Ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr., the sorrel Eye Am King gelding stopped the timer in :17.601. Eric Valenzuela trained Young Emperor for owner Martin Ybarra.

Young Emperor was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was a $30,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is out of Ima China Rush, an 8-year-old daughter of the Agouti stallion Rushago who won the 2017 Oklahoma Futurity (G3) at Remington Park.

Young Emperor traces back to his third dam, the stakes-winning Okey Dokey Dale mare Ima Lazie Too. An ’05 Arkansas-bred foal, Ima Lazie Too produced stakes winners PV Queen Bee Candy and Pevs Cherokee Kid.

Young Emperor has won three of five starts and has earned $108,956. His record includes a third-place finish in the July 23, 400-yard Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs, and he was a finalist in the New Mexico State Fair Futurity.

Following is a complete list of New Mexico Classics Futurity qualifiers: