Sammy James Back In Zia Futurity Trials On Friday Afternoon at Ruidoso Downs

            RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (July 10, 2011) – Mountain Top Futurity winner Sammy James looks to stay atop the local two-year-old New Mexico-bred division when he starts in the fourth of nine trials to the $384,030 Zia Futurity on Friday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

            The 400-yard trials fill the nine-race program that starts at 1 p.m. There is always free parking and free general admission at Ruidoso Downs.

            The 10-fastest qualifiers gain eligibility to race in the Zia Futurity on July 31.

            The Zia Futurity is the richest race on the Zia Festival program. The Zia Festival features more than $1 million in purses on the stakes-filled program for New Mexico-breds. Additionally, the grandstand is filled with vendors offering arts a crafts celebrating New Mexico.

            Isbell Charolais’ Sammy James has shown steady improvement for trainer Blane Wood throughout his three-race career. He won his maiden two starts ago in his Ruidoso Downs debut when he sped to a three-quarter length win in his Mountain Top Futurity trial and set the fastest-qualifying mark. The son of Jessie James Jr. then continued to move forward in the Mountain Top Futurity when he dominated by two lengths as the 2-1 favorite.

            Ricky Ramirez has been up on Sammy James in each of his starts and they drew the seventh post position.

            The second trial pits Mountain Top Futurity runner-up Two Shine against New Mexican Spring Fling Futurity winner Preacher James.

            Beda Prieto’s Two Shine is a maiden after four starts, however has been competitive at the highest level of New Mexico-bred juvenile competition. He raced in the New Mexican Spring Fling in April at Sunland Park and scored a 10-1 surprise with his second-place effort behind Sammy James in the Mountain Top Futurity.

            Two Shine has the sixth post position and Gaspar Garcia will be aboard.

            Dick Harp’s homebred Preacher James won the New Mexican Spring Fling for trainer Jaime Aldavaz and then shipped to SunRay Park in Farmington for the $85,000 New Mexico Breeders Futurity. There he faced top juvenile Osbaldo and settled for third place while Osbaldo gained his second futurity win.

            Preacher James makes his Ruidoso Downs debut when he starts from the fifth post position with Esgar Ramirez aboard.