Mr Innovator (pictured), a gray son of the Corona Cartel stallion Big Daddy Cartel racing for Cody Cobb, is the fastest qualifier to the June 20, $280,371 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses.
Racing against a reported 7-mph head wind at Ruidoso Downs on Friday, Mr Innovator won the second of 11 350-yard trials by 1 1/4 lengths in :17.859. Mario Delgado rode the gelding for trainer James J. Gonzales II.
“When he left the way he did, I knew he was going to stay in front,” said Delgado. “I have a little experience with this horse, and I know he’s talented. He just needed a little help to stay focused, and he ran to form.”
Mr Innovator was bred by Mikkelson Racing LLC. He is out of Total Miracle, a winning daughter of champioon Dean Miracle who ran third in the 2005 La Mariposa Handicap (G3) at Albuquerque Downs and New Mexico Quarter Horse Handicap (RG3) at SunRay Park.
Mr Innovator has won both of his races and has banked $13,894. The gelding made his debut with a 1 1/2-length victory in a 300-yard, $21,000 maiden-special-weight dash at Remington Park on April 24.
“We knew he was a standout from the time we started training him,” said Gonzales.
Second-fastest qualifier Jess Ring The Bell won the sixth heat by 1 1/2 lengths in :17.893 while racing against a reported 4-mph head wind. Adrian Ramos rode the sorrel Jess A Chicks gelding for owner NJ Farms LLC and trainer Albert Valles.
Jess Ring The Bell was bred by W.L. and Dee Mooring of Bosque, New Mexico. He has won one of his two races and has earned $3,701.
Triple R Racing Stables LLC’s Renika, the third-fastest qualifier, won the first trial by three-quarters of a length in :17.909. Emilio Tapia rode the Big Daddy Cartel filly for trainer Jason Driver.
Renika was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was a $15,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale. The filly is out of Woodys Allstar, a homebred daughter of Woodbridge who won the 2014 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.
Renika has won two of three races and has banked $26,051. The filly was coming off of a second-place finish in the May 23, 350-yard New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) at SunRay Park.
The complete list of finalists appears below:
| Horse (Sex, Pedigree) | Owner | Breeder (State) | Trainer | Time |
| MR INNOVATOR G, Big Daddy Cartel-Total Miracle by Dean Miracle | Cody Cobb | Mikkelson Racing LLC (NM) | James J. Gonzales II | :17.859 |
| JESS RING THE BELL G, Jess A Chicks-First Tinkerbell by First Down Dash | NJ Farms LLC | W.L. & Dee Mooring (NM) | Albert Valles | :17.893 |
| RENIKA F, Big Daddy Cartel-Woodys Allstar by Woodbridge | Triple R Racing Stables LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Jason Driver | :17.909 |
| AZARA F, A Royal Jess-Camelia by Tempting Dash | MRB Racing LLC | Elva Palma (NM) | Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez | :17.950 |
| TOSMA F, Big Daddy Cartel-Golly Zee by Gol | Villelas Racing LLC | MJ Farms (NM) | Wes Giles | :18.000 |
| CHICKSBABYCARTEL F, Big Daddy Cartel-Hot Indy Chick by Jess A Chicks | Aldai Transport and Samuel Leon | Jacob J. Simmons III (NM) | James Lackey | :18.015 |
| RUN TIME F, Big Daddy Cartel-First Prize Amanda by DMNV Mountable | Ezra E. Lee | Ezra E. Lee (NM) | Wes Giles | :18.030 |
| LIL REV C, A Revenant-Natalie Dash by First Down Dash | Guadalupe Cortez | R.D. Hubbard (NM) | Albert Valles | :18.035 |
| DADDYS DREAM GIRL F, Big Daddy Cartel-Frosty Dreams by Legendary Dreamer | Jose Moreno | Mark & Peggy Brown (NM) | Albert Valles | :18.046 |
| BORDERAN C, Big Daddy Cartel-Bridgette Bordeaux by Blushing Bug | Terry & Irene Stennett | MJ Farms (NM) | Trey Wood | :18.056 |