Talbott (pictured), a gray son of Big Daddy Cartel racing for Manuel Camacho, on Friday set the fastest qualifying time to the September 25, $625,689 New Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-olds at Albuquerque Downs.
Trained by Juan Carlos Gonzalez and ridden by Carlos Guillen Chacon, Talbott won the ninth of 11 400-yard trials by a half of a length from third-fastest qualifier White Lightenin. The gelding stopped the timer in :19.611 while earning his first win in five starts.
Talbott was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was purchased by Camacho as a yearling for $23,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is out of Diamondia, a winning daughter of 1994 AQHA champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry and a half sister to ’07 Rainbow Futurity (G1) winner and All American Futurity (G1) finalist Wild Six.
Raced exclusively in New Mexico, Talbott has earned $5,060.
Second-fastest qualifier Codex won the 10th heat by 1 1/2 lengths in :19.625. Adrian Ramos rode the gray Big Daddy Cartel gelding for owner Uno Mas and trainer Wes Giles.
Codex was bred by MJ Farms and was a $160,000 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The gelding is out of Astica, a graded stakes winning daughter of Jesse James Jr and the sport’s champion 3-year-old filly in 2015. Codex is a half/full brother to graded stakes winner Wente and stakes winner Fanncee.
Codex has won two of five races and has banked $42,281, and he was a finalist in the August 7, 400-yard Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs.
Third-fastest qualifier White Lightenin stopped the timer in :19.684. Mario Delgado rode the gelded son of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Eye Am King for owners Denis and Julie Schoenhofer and trainer James J. Gonzales III.
White Lightenin was bred by MJ Farms, and he was purchased by the Schoenhofers for $32,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale. A half brother to Astica, the gelding is out of Alice K White, a daughter of First Dash and the 2009 AQHA champion sophomore filly.
White Lightenin has won one of five starts and has earned $27,000. His record includes a third-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner Gemologist, in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 7.
MJ Farms bred six of the 10 qualifiers, while trainer Wes Giles qualified three of the finalists.
The complete list of qualifiers is below:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer |
| TALBOTT G, Big Daddy Cartel-Diamondia by Mr Jess Perry | Manuel Camacho | MJ Farms (NM) | Juan Carlos Gonzalez |
| CODEX G, Big Daddy Cartel-Astica by Jesse James Jr | Uno Mas | MJ Farms (NM) | Wes Giles |
| WHITE LIGHTENIN G, Eye Am King-Alice K White by First Down Dash | Denis & Julie Schoenhofer | MJ Farms (NM) | James J. Gonzales III |
| FLASHTOGLORY F, First Moonflash-JP Glory Be by Feature Mr Jess | David Meridyth | David Meridyth (NM) | David Meridyth |
| BLAZIN CHAMISA C, Jess A Chicks-A Major Chamisa by Major Rime | Gary C. Kloppenburg | Mike Abraham (NM) | Wes Giles |
| DRINKING CHAMPANE G, Big Daddy Cartel-Champagne Perry by Mr Jess Perry | Lucky Six Partnership | MJ Farms (NM) | Mike Joiner |
| 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. |
| FINE AM EYE F, Eye Am King-Starsmith by Tres Seis | Backdoor Thoroughbreds LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley |
| WOOD DEE QUEEN F, Eye Am King-Miss Woody Dee by Woodbridge | J & SM Inc., Don Reynolds, and M. Lane Reynolds | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley |
| SHES SO SALTY F, TF Featured Effort-Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle by Maknmoves | Jason T. Giles | Jason T. Giles (NM) | Wes Giles |