Reef Ridge is the Fastest Qualifier to the August 7, $379,410 Zia Futurity

Reef Ridge (pictured), a son of the Dash Ta Fame stallion Woodbridge racing for Gene Bradley and Tod Bradley, is the fastest qualifier to the August 7, $379,410 Zia Futurity (RG1) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs.

Racing in the 10^th of 12 trials and aided by a reported 12-mph tail wind on Friday, Reef Ridge defeated eighth-fastest qualifier Jess A Response by 1 1/2 lengths while covering 400 yards in :19.696. Ricky Ramirez rode the brown gelding for trainer Trey Wood.

Reef Ridge was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico, and he was purchased by the Bradleys as a yearling for $70,000 at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding is out of Fast Copy Miss, a winning and multiple graded stakes placed Heza Fast Man mare, and he is a full brother to 2018 New Mexico Cup Futurity RG2 winner Woodys Copy Cat.

Reef Ridge has won three of five races and has earned $84,382, and his record includes a second-place finish, two lengths behind winner Pick Your Pour, in the June 19, 350-yard Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.

“The less I did with this horse, the better he ran,” said Ramirez of Reef Ridge. “This horse has genuine speed. There’s not much you can do but hold on.”

Pick Your Pour posted the second-fastest qualifying time with his 1 3/4-length win in the 11^th heat. Prepped by James Gonzales II for owners Orlando Granillo, Azucena Mendoza and Rene Mendoza, the gelded son of Jesse James Jr went 400 yards in :19.726. Mario Delgado rode Pick Your Pour.

Pick Your Pour was bred by MJ Farms and was a $25,000 purchase at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The gelding is out of Tangled Vines, a homebred Dash Ta Fame mare, and he is a full brother to 2012 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity (RG3) winner Rex Hill.

Pick Your Pour was winning for the third time in as many starts and pushing his bankroll to $154,087.

Codex, the third-fastest qualifier, won the first trial by two lengths in :19.763. Adrian Ramos rode and Wes Giles trained the gray Big Daddy Cartel gelding for owner Uno Mas.

Codex was purchased from breeder MJ Farms for $160,000 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The gelding is out of Astica, a homebred Jesse James Jr mare and the AQHA champion sophomore filly in 2015.

Codex is a full brother to Fanncee, the winner of the June 25 Rita Danley Distaff Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding has won one of three outs and has earned $6,580.  

The complete list of finalists appears below: