Page 102 - July 2020

RACING NEWS
Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Futurity-RG2
LEADING CARTEL
by Michael Compton
Leading Cartel is just what his name implies: a leader. The 2-year-old gelding remained undefeated with a game vic-
tory in the $334,069 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Quarter Horse Futurity-RG2 at Ruidoso Downs on June 13.
Ridden by Esgar Ramirez, Leading Cartel was out of the 3-post in fourth and engaged Surfz Up for the early lead at
the start. After forging past that rival in
the lane, Leading Cartel raced in second through the first and stretch calls, fighting off Woodys Gold in the final strides to score by a neck in a determined effort. It was just another head back to third-place finisher Midnight Train Mo in the blanket finish.
In winning for the third consecutive time in as many starts, Leading Cartel
stopped the timer in :17.953, earning an 82 speed index.
Owned by Reliance Ranches and trained by Mike Robbins, Leading
Cartel banked the $152,097
winner’s share of the purse,
which increased his lifetime bankroll to $161,911.
The gelding broke
his maiden on debut at Remington Park on May
1. In that event, Leading Cartel made a wire-to-wire run for a 3/4-length victory. He followed that outing with another wire-to-wire win as the odds-on favorite for his Mountain Top New
Mexico Bred Futurity trial heat on May 29. In that race, the gelding led from start to finish for another 3/4-length win. His time
of :17.900 put him third on the qualifying ladder.
With such an auspicious beginning to his racing career, Leading Cartel has his connections dreaming of bigger things down the road.
“I give my assistant trainer Cody Noel all the credit with this horse—he’s been the one to work with him from the start—and it’s been a team effort with Esgar,” Robbins shared
Ruidoso Downs $334,069 • 350 yards :17.953 • si 82
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
Miss Racy Eyes
LEADING CARTEL, ‘18-g.
Special Leader
Leading Diva
Sandras Task
100 SPEEDHORSE July 2020
Leading Cartel (#5) and jockey Esgar Ramirez win the $334,069 Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Futurity-RG2.
Ruidoso Downs