Pavel (pictured), a son of the Corona Cartel stallion Czar Cartel MV owned and trained by Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr., is the fastest qualifier to the April 6, $353,981 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) for New Mexico-bred juveniles.
At Sunland Park on March 16, Pavel won the sixth of 10 300-yard trials by three-quarters of a length in :15.451, a clocking accomplished against a reported 10-mph head wind. Luis Martinez rode the bay gelding.
Pavel was bred by MRB Racing LLC, and he was purchased as a yearling by Sanchez for $6,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is out of Camelia, an 11-year-old daughter of champion Tempting Dash, and he is a half brother to 2021 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) runner-up Azara.
Pavel was winning for the first time in two outs and increasing his earnings to $8,040.
Jaime Martinez’s Purple Queen, the second-fastest qualifier, won the ninth heat by a half of a length in :15.466 while racing against a reported 8-mph head wind. Daniel Amaya rode the sorrel Eye Am King filly for trainer Jose Meraz.
Purple Queen was bred by Edilberto Estrada-Cano, and she making her career debut. The filly is out of Cherokee Purple, a winning daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Ivory James.
Jett Black Rocket set the third-fastest qualifying time with her half-length victory in the second trial. Ridden by Daniel Amaya for owner and trainer Jose Meraz, the brown daughter of the Game Patriot stallion Jet Black Patriot went 300 yards in :15.478 against a reported 8-mph head wind.
Jett Black Rocket was bred by Mark and Annette McCloy, and she was an $8,500 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City. The filly is out of Rocket Seis, a winning 7-year-old daughter of champion Tres Seis who ran third in the ’19 Rainbow Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. Her second dam, the Holland Ease mare Going To The Hague, won two graded stakes from 2005-06, including the 2006 Lazy E Derby (RG2) at Remington Park.
The complete list of New Mexican Spring Futurity qualifiers appears below. A shake was held between the two horses who tied for the 10th-fastest qualifying spot, Merrmaid and Fast Copy King.
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| PAVEL G, Czar Cartel MV-Camelia by Tempting Dash | Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr. | MRB Racing LLC (NM) | Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr. | :15.451 |
| PURPLE QUEEN F, Eye Am King-Cherokee Purple by Ivory James | Jaime Martinez | Edilberto Estrada-Cano (NM) | Jose Meraz | :15.466 |
| JETT BLACK ROCKET F, Jet Black Patriot-Rocket Seis by Tres Seis | Jose Meraz | Mark & Annette McCloy | Jose Meraz | :15.478 |
| SUSPICIOUS JESS C, Suspicious Interest-Lovely Lily Rose by Mr Jess Perry | Tungsten Racing Partnership | La Feliz Montana Ranch (NM) | Eric Valenzuela | :15.535 |
| LEFTIE G, Big Daddy Cartel-C Twister Seis by Tres Seis | Empire Racing, Pavon Racing LLC, and Heysol Howlet | MJ Farms (NM) | Marco A. Flores | :15.564 |
| BV BRIDGETTE CARTEL F, Big Daddy Cartel-Bridgette Bordeaux | Tungsten Racing Partnership | MJ Farms (NM) | Eric Valenzuela | :15.573 |
| SAMURI G, El Damazo-Asian Brook by Brookstone Bay | Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez | Randy & Linda Schalla (NM) | Jesus Rondan Jr. | :15.615 |
| ROW BY ROW G, Big Daddy Cartel-Anakena by Woodbridge | J & SM Inc. | MJ Farms (NM) | Fred Danley | :15.621 |
| JBP IN RED F, Jet Black Patriot-The Diamond Cartel by Valiant Hero | Adelita Lopez | Mike & Yealonda Logan (NM) | Ebert Munoz | :15.663 |
| *MERRMAID F, Big Daddy Cartel-Ms Riptide by Ocean Runaway | Tomas L. Avila | MJ Farms (NM) | Emily Cardenas | :15.675 |
| *FAST COPY KING G, Eye Am King-Fast Copy Miss by Heza Fast Man | Heavy Hitters Racing Stables | MJ Farms (NM) | Eric Valenzuela | :15.675 |