Valenzuela, Rodriguez, Wood trainees dominate NM Spring Futurity trials
SUNLAND PARK — Bridger made a strong first impression Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, winning the fourth of 13 trial heats and proving to be the fastest qualifier for the $402,000 New Mexican Spring Futurity, the first major stakes race of the season for 2-year-old statebred quarter horses.
Trained by Eric Valenzuela and owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Rancho El 48, LLC, the 2-year-old son of Eye Am King impressively won his trial heat by two lengths, stopping the timer in 14.978 seconds for 300 yards under jockey Jose Ortiz.
Bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, Bridger was a $155,000 purchase at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He is out of the Blushing Bug mare Bridgette Bordeaux, a three-time winner from nine career starts. The damsire was a two-time stakes winner who earned more than $185,000 during his racing career.
Bridger’s trial heat victory, along with victories by Super Patriot in the eighth trial and Big Ted in the sixth race, secured Valenzuela three qualifiers for the New Mexican Spring Futurity, a restricted Grade 2 dash which will be held here on Saturday, April 4.
Super Patriot, the fourth fastest qualifier of the day with a time of 15.158 seconds is owned by Equestix Consulting LLC, and was bred in New Mexico by Dan Delaney. The son of Jet Black Patriot was an $8,500 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale.
Big Ted, also owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, won the sixth trial heat of the day with a time of 15.177 seconds, good for the seventh-fastest time of the day. The son of TF Im That Guy was bred in New Mexico by Jaime Cervantes.
Trainers Xavier Rodriguez will also have three starters in the New Mexican Spring Futurity.
Rodriguez saddled Bigg Twist, beaten just a nose by Super Patriot in the eighth race, as well as first race winner Bogarts Brown Sugar and Moonin The Moon, a close second behind Royal Dynasty MRB in the final trial heat of the day. Trainer S. Trey Wood may well be represented by a pair of starters in the New Mexican Spring Futurity. Pepa Jet, winner of the ninth trial heat, finished the day as the eighth-fastest qualifier with a time of 15.185 seconds.
Start Big, who won the 12th trial heat by three lengths for trainer Taurino Gutierrez, finished with the same final clocking of 15.210 seconds as Bernin Daylight, who finished second in the sixth trial heat. A shake will be conducted in the Sunland Park racing office Sunday morning to determine which of the two runners will be the 10th finalist for the New Mexican Spring Futurity and the fastest qualifer for the $50,000 New Mexican Spring Fling Stakes.