Lori Ritz / Coady Photography - Michael Cusortelli for SureBet

Feature Mr Bojangles is Prompt Choice in Hobbs America Futurity

Hobbs, NM – Oct. 9, 2011 - Fastest qualifier and odds-on favorite Feature Mr Bojangles sprinted to a half-length victory in Sunday's $259,943 Hobbs America Futurity (G2) at Zia Park.

Prepped by Roberto Sanchez for owners R.D. Hubbard, James E. Helzer, S/M Cattle Export Co., and Jaime Dominguez, Feature Mr Bojangles covered 400 yards in :18.989, earning a 103 speed index and breaking by 19/100ths of a second the previous stakes record set by AQHA champion First Klas Fred in 2009. The sorrel colt's clocking also missed by just 22/1000ths the track record of :18.967 set by Prospect To The Top in last year's Hobbs America Futurity trials.

“This horse was on his toes the whole time, during warmups and even in the paddock,” said G.R. Carter Jr., who rode Feature Mr Bojangles in the colt's 2 1/4-length win in the second of five Hobbs America Futurity trials on September 24. “He warmed up really strong, and he was good in the gate. He broke good and ran strong to the finish.

“A horse like this makes a jockey's job really easy,” he added.

Feature Mr Bojangles was bred in Texas by Joyce D. Erickson. The colt's sire, Feature Mr Jess, was a son of Mr Jess Perry who won the 2000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) and '01 Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Feature Mr Jess' top performers include AQHA champions Jess You And I, Heartswideopen, Stylish Jess BR, and Brenda Beautiful. The stallion was died at the age of 11 in 2009 due to complications from laminitis.

Feature Mr Bojangles' dam, Catch This Dash, is a 15-year-old daughter of 1987 world champion and all-time leading Quarter Horse sire First Down Dash. The mare has foaled five winners from six starters, and she has produced a yearling filly by the Heza Fast Man stallion Heza Motor Scooter.

Feature Mr Bojangles' second dam, the Six Fols mare Beat Your Pants Off, won a futurity at Laurel Brown Racetrack in Utah in 1988.

Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, Feature Mr Bojangles has won six of seven races, and the $124,772 winner's share of the Hobbs America Futurity purse increased his earnings to $541,612. The colt has won a total of three stakes, including the 400-yard, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on July 24, and the 350-yard, $120,000 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park on June 19.

“This was a good race for him – I think he's proven that he is one of the best 2-year-olds in the country,” said Hubbard. “He had some bad luck in the All American trials, but we're happy we made the decision to enter him in this race. We're looking forward to a great 3-year-old season from him.”

Hubbard added that Feature Mr Bojangles would be pointed toward next year's Grade 1 derbies at Ruidoso Downs.

Feature Mr Bojangles returned a $2.80 win mutuel as the 2-5 favorite, and he combined with runner-up VGC Moon Walk for a $25.60 ($2) exacta. Fridaysoneandonly finished third and was followed by Lalia, Mr Taka B, Zoomin Hearts, Grey Embers, Top Gun B, Silver For Me, and Big Time Fantasy.

VGC Moon Walk is a sorrel colt by Walk Thru Fire racing for Valle Guadiana Corporation. An earner of $49,896 from six outs, VGC Moon Walk ran third, three-quarters of a length behind winner Foolin The Chicks, in the April 16, $50,000 West Texas Juvenile Stakes at Sunland Park.

Fridaysoneandonly is a homebred gelding by the Calligrapher stallion TGIF Call. He has banked $25,523 from four starts for his owner, Gary L. Thompson.