ALBUQUERQUE – Trainer James J. Gonzales III is scheduled to have four starters when a field of 10 quarter horses reaches the starting gate for Sunday’s $310,303 Mountain Top Futurity at Albuquerque Downs.
The restricted Grade 2 event, which will be run at a distance of 350 yards, features the fastest New Mexico-bred shortliners to qualify for the final when trials were held May 29.
Gonzales will be represented by Shafer, the fastest qualifier for the Futurity and the likely post-time favorite. The son of Big Daddy Cartel won his debut by 2¼ lengths, stopping the clock in 17.297 seconds…