Page 42 - Summer 2020

RUIDOSO DOWNS
Mountain Top Futurity (RG2)
by Michael Cusortelli, photos by Jake Rogers/Ruidoso Downs
Big Daddy Cartel
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
Leading Diva
Special Leader
Sandras Task
LEADING CARTEL
Sent to post as the 11-10 favorite in a field of seven New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds, Reliance Ranches LLC’s Leading Cartel kept his perfect record intact in the June 13, $334,069 Mountain Top Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.
Leading Cartel covered 350 yards in :17.953 under jockey Esgar Ramirez, and his margin of victory was a neck from 8-1 longshot Woodys Gold. Mike Robbins saddled the bay son of the Corona Cartel stallion Big Daddy Cartel, who earned $152,097 from his first stakes win.
Leading Cartel was coming off of a wire-to- wire, three-quarter length win in the eighth of 13 Mountain Top Futurity trials on May 29.
“This horse is special to me because I helped break him,” said Ramirez. “You can ask him to give you more, and he responds.
“He slipped just a little coming out of the gate, and then I asked him and he grabbed the lead,” the rider added. “He’s done everything right (in) three races now.”
A $45,000 yearling purchase at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Leading Cartel was bred by Mac and Janis Murray’s MJ Farms at Veguita, New Mexico. The gelding’s sire, Big Daddy Cartel, is an 11-year-old stallion who earned $121,800 from five races and was
a finalist in the 2011 All American (G1) and Rainbow (G1) futurities.
Big Daddy Cartel has sired the earners of more than $8.05 million from five crops, including multiple graded stakes winners Bigg Daddy and Mamacita Cartel. A half brother to stakes winner Miss Racy Eyes, the stallion is owned by and stands for a $5,500 fee at MJ Farms.
Leading Cartel is out of Leading Diva, a daughter of world champion Special Leader who won the 2000 Manor Downs Lassie Futurity (G3) in Texas and is a full sister to AQHA champion Leading Spirit. The gelding is a half brother to three stakes-placed runners, includ- ing 2018 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) runner-up Jessa Diva.
Leading Cartel began his career with a three- quarter length victory in a 300-yard, $14,550 maiden-special-weight dash at Remington Park on May 1. The gelding has won all three of his outs and has banked $161,911.
“I give my assistant Cody Noel all the credit with this horse,” said Robbins. “He’s been the one who’s worked with him from the start.
“You’ll likely see him in the (July 10)
Zia Futurity trials, and he’s paid into the All American,” the trainer added. “We’ll have some decisions to make.”
Midnight Train Mo finished third and was followed by Surfz Up, Jessies Allstar, Heza Classy Now, and Ezze Dash. Three finalists -- Cannelloni, Hatchi Zulu, and Lunas Glitteringstar -- were listed as stewards’ scratches by the
Equibase chart.
Runner-up Woodys Gold, a $10,000 year- ling purchase, is a gelded son of Woodbridge campaigned by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC. Woodys Gold has banked $65,984 from two races.
Midnight Train Mo races for Mason A. King. The Rock Solid Jess colt has earned $38,567 from three starts.
40 New Mexico Horse Breeder