Page 45 - September_2023

ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY • RUIDOSO DOWNS, NEW MEXICO
9
CORNER POCKET 123 SI 91, $15,225
Race Record: 4-2-1-0 • Day 2, Trial 1 – 1st • Corner Pocket 123 makes a late rush to grab first by a neck to secure the ninth fastest qualifying spot.
10
CUZ LIGHTYEARSI 92, $16,138
Race Record: 4-1-2-0 • Day 2, Trial 10 - 2nd • Cuz Lightyear held the lead the majority of the 440 yards and just missed for second for the last qualifying spot.
Corner Pocket 123 made his first start on April 23 in a
300-yard maiden race at Remington Park where he finished a distant sixth. Improving on his previous start, he went on to place second in the Heritage Place Futurity trials but did not qualify
for the Grade 1 finals. Corner Pocket 123 then went on to break his maiden in the Rainbow Futurity trials with a huge 3 1/4-length victory, but unfortunately did not qualify for the
Grade 1 finals.
Racing under Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo in the All American Futurity trials, Corner Pocket 123 broke in fifth from the 6-post and made a steady run for the leader to cross the wire a neck in front to grab the ninth spot on the qualifying ladder. Corner Pocket 123 was bred by Jeff Jones & Steve Holt and is owned by J.J. Racing. Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo has ridden the gelding in three of his four starts for trainer M. Heath Taylor. Corner Pocket 123 was a $40,000 purchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Cuz Lightyear made his first start on May 26 in the Ruidoso Futurity trials where he finished a strong second but did not qualify for the Grade 1 event, but did qualify to the Juvenile. Next, the colt ran fifth in the Ruidoso Juvenile on June 11, and followed that up with a solid victory in the Rainbow Futurity trials. He unfortunately didn’t qualify for the Grade 1 finals.
Ridden by regular rider Bryan Candanosa, Cuz Lightyear broke in third and quicky secured the lead where he stayed for most of
the 440 yards. He just missed and had to settle for second place and the final qualifying spot. Cuz Lightyear was bred in Oklahoma by Double Bar S Ranch LLC, who is also his owner. Bryan
Candanosa has ridden Cuz Lightyear in all of his starts for trainer Toby Keeton.
SPEEDHORSE September 2023 43