Big Ted rolls into N.M. Breeders’ Futurity as fastest qualifier

FARMINGTON — Tungsten Racing Partnership’s Big Ted will enter the starting gate for the $120,000-added New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity as the fastest qualifier following trials, held Friday, April 24 at SunRay Park and Casino. 

Trained by Eric Valenzuela and ridden by Jordy Muniz, Big Ted won his trial heat in a time of 17.219 seconds racing 350 yards, winning by 1 1/4 lengths as the post time favorite.

Big Ted came into Friday’s trials having already raced twice, including a third place in the New Mexican Spring Futurity earlier this month at Sunland Park, has now won twice from three starts. The son of TF Im That Guy was bred in New Mexico by Jaime Cervantes and has amassed more than $51,000 in career earnings.

Big Ted was one of two qualifiers for the N.M. Breeders Futurity trained by Valenzuela, who will also be represented by Super Patriot, the 10th fastest qualifier for the finals, which will be held on Saturday, May 16 and will be run for an estimated purse of more than $176,000. 

There were a total of six trials held for the N.M. Breeders’ Futurity, with finalists coming from all but one of the five heats. 

Big Ted, winner of the day’s second trial, produced two finalists. The third trial heat produced three qualifiers, led by King of the Jingle, one of two runners from the barn of trainer Wes Giles.

King of the Jingle, ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr., narrowly won his trial heat in a time of 17.484 seconds, making the son of Eye Am King the third fastest qualifier for the N.M. Breeders’ Futurity. Owned by Melvin Neugebauer and Susan Neugebauer and bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, King of the Jingle was second in his only other career outing earlier this month at SunRay Park.

Giles will also be represented by Thats Amoree, winner of the fifth trial on the card, who checked in with a time of 17.549 seconds making him the sixth-fastest qualifier of the day.

Thats Amoree, owned by Ezra Elton Lee and bred in New Mexico by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC, was also ridden to victory by Noe Garcia, Jr.

Royal Dynasty MRB, who finished second behind Big Ted, earned the role of second-fastest qualifier for the N.M. Breeders Futurity for owner/trainer Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr.

The daughter of Running Buddy, bred in New Mexico by Mrb Racing LLC, also entered the day with a pair of starts under her belt. She was most recently seventh in the New Mexican Spring Futurity. 

Trainer Tony Sedillo is also scheduled to send a pair of runners into the starting gate for the N.M. Breeders’ Futurity. Eye Am Super, runner-up to King of the Jingle will be joined by stablemate Dahlias Destiny, who finished third behind Splitting Aces and Perrys Alibi in the first trial heat for the race.

Sedillo, who won the N.M. Breeders’ Futurity last year with S Super King, finished the most recent season at Sunland Park as one of the meet’s top trainer with nine wins from 61 starters and earnings topping $365,000.

For a complete list of qualifiers for the New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity, log on to https://stallionesearch.com/info.asp?section=18&storyid=3838.