Sixteen New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds are entered in Saturday’s Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity (R) trials at Ruidoso Downs.

Eight 2-year-olds are entered in each 5-furlong trial. The top five finishers from each heat will qualify to the $125,000-est. Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity final on July 3.

Seven of the eight juveniles entered in the first Mountain Top trial will be making their career debuts. Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC’s First-time starter Mark’s Warrior, a homebred son of the Bernardini stallion Marking, is a half brother to My Storm Warrior, an Attila’s Storm gelding who won last year’s $163,415 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity. Aldo Arboleda will ride Mark’s Warrior for trainer Todd Fincher.

First-time starter Charlie Dynasty is a Shame On Charlie colt trained by Rafael Barraza for owner Marina Velazquez. Duane Sterling has been named to ride Charlie Dynasty, who is a full brother to 2019 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) winner Shame On Powers and 2015 C.O. “Ken” Kendrick Memorial Stakes (R) winner Shug’s Hope.

Pierre and Leslie Amestoy’s Warriors Mark, a homebred Marking colt trained by James Lackey, will also make his career debut in the first trial. Warriors Mark is a half brother to 2011 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) winner Our Flying Angel and 2015 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) winner Storm Warrior. Jimmy Ray Coates will ride Warriors Mark.

Evil Temptation, a daughter of Marking trained by Dick Cappelucci for owners Glen Robertson and Bobby J. McQueen, will make her debut in the first heat. The filly is a half sister to multiple stakes winner My Mirage. Enrique Gomez will ride Evil Temptation.

R. Dwain Yarbar’s Wheres Brayden drew the rail post and will be ridden by Enrique Gomez for trainer Greg Green in the second Mountain Top trial. A homebred son of the Artie Schiller stallion Artful Run, the colt made his career debut with a second-place finish, 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Bye Bye Matty P, in the 4 1/2-furlong, $58,000 C.O. “Ken” Kendrick Memorial Stakes (R) at SunRay Park on May 23.

Mr. Mercedes will make his debut in the second heat for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Mike Abraham. A homebred son of Attila’s Storm trained by James Lackey, the dark bay or brown colt will be the fifth starter produced by Our Flying Angel, a daughter of the Robyn Dancer stallion Abajo who won two 2-year-old stakes in 2011, including the New Mexico Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes (R) at Zia Park.

First-time starter Chippster is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Sippin and stakes winners Mancation and Two Stepper. Francisco Amparan will ride the Attila’s Storm colt for owner Jana Trotter of Hereford, Texas, and trainer Casey Lambert.

Trainer Todd Fincher will send out first-time starter Life Jacket for owners Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC and Bob Matney. A homebred Abstraction gelding, Life Jacket is a half brother to Roll Out The Band, a three-time stakes winner who won the $191,150 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) in 2013, and 2014 Copper Top Futurity (R) winner Raider Red. Aldo Arboleda has been named to ride Life Jacket.

The first Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity trial will be the fourth race on the Saturday Ruidoso Downs program, and it has a scheduled post time of 2:18 p.m. (MDT). The second heat will be the sixth race and is scheduled to go off at 3:10.