La Fiesta Futurity, Derby Trials Preview

Friday's nine-race program at Albuquerque Downs will be dominated by trials for the La Fiesta Futurity (G3) and La Fiesta Derby.

Post time for the first race is set for 1:30 p.m. (MDT).

Friday's La Fiesta Futurity trials have attracted 42 juveniles in five 400-yard heats .Irish Seis, a stakes winning son of champion Tres Seis owned by CHR Racing and trained by Jesus Rondan Jr., drew post 4 and will be ridden by Luis Martinez in the first trial. The gelding has earned $143,090 from six starts, all in New Mexico, and his three wins include a neck victory in the April 1, 300-yard West Texas Juvenile Stakes at Sunland Park. His resume also includes a third-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Lets Leave, in the June 11, $1-million Ruidoso Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Other prominent 2-year-olds entered include Alberto Villanueva's Wired 440, a gelded son of champion Tempting Dash and a $135,000 purchase at last year's Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Wired 440 is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which he banked $267,500 from five races and ran second, a nose behind Lets Leave, in the Ruidoso Futurity.

Wired 440 drew post 2 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. for trainer Eric Valenzuela.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the October 22, $100,000-added La Fiesta Futurity final.

Four 400-yard La Fiesta Derby trials are also on tap for Friday. The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the October 22, $75,000-added final.

Isidro Esparza's Ezee Money will be shortening in distance off of her head victory in the September 3, 440-yard All American Oaks (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. The One Fabulous Eagle filly has earned $587,643 from eight outs this season, and her four wins include the 440-yard, $478,000 Rainbow Oaks (G1).

Ezee Money drew post 8 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Jaime Aldavaz Jr.

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