Photo by Roberta Harris

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Sammy James Wins Maiden With Fastest Time To Mountain Top

RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (June 3, 2011) – Isabell Charolois’ Sammy James raced to his first career win in his second start while establishing the fastest-qualifying mark to the $276,000 Mountain Top Futurity for New Mexico-bred 2-year-old quarter horses on Friday afternoon.

The prospects with the 10-fastest times from the seven trials earned eligibility to race in the Mountain Top Futurity on Sunday June 19.

The Blane Wood-trained Sammy James impressed in the fifth trial when he drew out to the three-quarter-length score under jockey Ricky Ramirez. They were timed in :17.550 while defeating second-fastest qualifier Call Me A Blazin Chic, who stopped the timer in :17.661.

Sammy James, a $20,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale purchase, made his only other start in the trials to the New Mexican Spring Futurity at Sunland Park. He crossed the finish line in fourth place and was disqualified to the fifth position.

Trainer Wood is off to an excellent start of the Ruidoso Downs season. He has two qualifiers in the record-setting Grade 1, $712,000 Ruidoso Derby and a starter in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity. The trials to those races were held on May 27-28, the first two racing days, and the finals are on June 11-12.

Land M Racing and Farm’s Call Me A Blazn Chic finished third in her other start, a trial to the New Mexican Spring Futurity.

The third-fastest qualifier, Beda Prieta’s Two Shine, also came out of the fifth trial, which equaled the afternoon’s swiftest headwind of 18 miles per hour. Two Shine was winless from two previous starts and qualified for the New Mexican Spring Futurity.

The qualifiers are: