Impressive performances in Senor and Senorita trials

Impressive performances by Rita Danley’s homebred La La La Dandy in the trials to the $159,744 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity and Mountain Top Futurity winner Thermal came through with another victory in the trials to the $172,026 Rio Grande Senor Futurity on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

There were four five-and-one-half-furlong trials to each of the futurities. The finals will be held during the Zia Festival program on July 29 at Ruidoso Downs. An estimated $1,000,000 in purses will be awarded to New Mexico-breds during the Zia Festival card.

The top-two finishers in each trial qualify for their respective finals. There will be a blind draw from all the third-place finishers to determine the final two spots in each futurity’s field.

La La La Dandy impressed in the first Senorita Futurity trial when she ran away from her competition to win by nearly 12 lengths under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. The Fred Danley-trained filly raced in the Copper Top Futurity at Sunland Park and was then second in a Ruidoso Downs maiden race.

The rest of the Senorita Futurity first- and second-place qualifiers are No Late Nights, Lakehouse Fun, Way To Go Gerda, KB’s Princess, Back Seat Roll, Desertsmagic and Lisa Sue.

R.D. Hubbard’s homebred Thermal, the 3-10 favorite, raced to his third win from four starts when he won his Senor Futurity trial by a handy one-and-one-quarter lengths.

Thermal settled off the pace for jockey for jockey Duane Sterling and then circled the field to draw out for the win in 1:07.60.

A gelding by Attila’s Storm from the Todd Fincher stable, Thermal used the same tactics to win the Mountain Top Futurity by one-and-three-quarter lengths at nearly 15-1 odds.

The remaining Senor Futurity qualifiers as first- or second-place finishers are Ramblin’ Starr, Dandy Guy, Marty Squall, Penny Ante Cat, Veil’s Vengeance, Kiss My Hennessy and Slew Up His Sleeve.

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