Q-Racing Blog: Ready for Sunshine

By Ty Wyant

Trusty Jess started the Ruidoso Downs season with an impressive debut when he raced to the fastest qualifying time on the first of two days of trials on May 26 to the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity (G1). It’s the kickoff to a summer season that surely will be filled with sunshine and sparkling racing. 

Owned by Ray Willis, Cheri Michelet Snyder and Clifton Eldridge, Trusty Jess covered the 350 yards in :17.394. It was also the top time from the two trial days with 16 trials on each program.

Trial runner-up Relentless Eagle finished one-half length behind Trusty Jess in :17.463 for the day’s fourth-fastest time and the fifth-fastest overall mark.

Each of the horses had similar trips. Relentless Eagle had an advantage in the first half of the race, however Trusty Jess was right with him and well within striking distance. Trusty Jess made his move in the last half of the contest and got up for his first win in his first start. Relentless Eagle also made his debut in the trials.

They each ran during the first of two days of 300-yard training races on May 1 at Ruidoso Downs. Neither won their training race but clearly learned valuable lessons. Trusty Jess was tardy getting out of the gate and then found his stride to get up to fourth place in the five-horse field. He was timed in :15.74. Relentless Eagle battled for the lead in his training race, however came up just short at the finish with a time of :15.56.

Trusty Jess is out of the multiple stakes-winning producer Entrust, a daughter of Relagate (TB).

Entrust is also the dam of champion distance horse Executive Trust, Ruidoso Derby (G1) winner Executive Brass and All American Futurity (G1) third-place finisher Sippin Hayden.

Second dam Effortless Again, by Special Effort, is the dam of Ruidoso Futurity (G1) winner and Grade 1 producer All About Ease.

Third dam Dash Again, by Dash For Cash, won the Kindergarten Futurity. She then produced All American Futurity winner Elans Special, stakes winner and Kansas Derby runner-up Reach Together and Jet Deck Handicap (RG3) winner Special Elan. She is the second dam of champion Catchmeinyourdreams and is the third dam of multiple stakes winner and sire One Valiant Hero.

The fountainhead of this family is fourth dam Elan Again, by Jet Deck. She was champion aged mare, won seven stakes and produced Master Salls Handicap winner Greene Again.

Lance Bland’s Relentless Eagle is out of the Volcom-sired Volcoms Delight, second in the Retama Park Derby Challenge.

Volcoms Delight produced Rainbow Juvenile runner-up One Eagles Delight, Evangeline Downs Futurity (RG3) second-place finisher Delight Interest and Evangeline Downs Derby third-place finisher One Slick Delight.

Much of the strength in this pedigree comes from second dam Lethal Delight, a daughter of Dean Miracle who won the Shue Fly Stakes (RG1) and was second in three open Grade 1 stakes. 

Lethal Delight thrived as a broodmare with her produce including the Volcom-sired All American Futurity (G1) winner JM Miracle; Mr Jess Perry stakes winner Lethal Lil, who placed in the Rainbow Futurity (G1) and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1); the Volcom-sired Ruidoso Juvenile winner Lethal Express; and The Pink Roses Handicap second-place finisher The Lethal Cartel.

Third dam Miss Lethal, by Chicks Beduino, produced champion 3-year-old filly and Volcom daughter Volcom Bay, Rainbow Futurity third-place finisher Lethal Class and Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) second-place runner and Volcom son Lethal Volt.

Fourth dam Lethal Weapon, sired by Tolltac, produced AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship (G1) winner Shez Lethal, Ojai Handicap winner Lethal Artillery, Autumn Handicap winner Lethal Bay and Prescott Downs Futurity (G3) second-place runner A Lethal Dose.

Once again, Trusty Jess and Relentless Eagle show that Grade 1 futurity horses usually come from productive families. That, like the warm temperatures and bright sunlight, will surely continue.

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