Shott Gun goes in first Rainbow trial

On his best behavior, Shott Gun has been an outstanding 2-year-old this year for owner and breeder Bobby Cox and trainer Heath Taylor.

Shott Gun won the $826,260 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park in his stakes debut May 29, a win that vaulted the gelding into the upper tier of juveniles in the young season. Saturday at Ruidoso Downs, Shott Gun will start in the first of 15 400-yard time trials for the Rainbow Futurity. The final will be run July 19 with an estimated purse of $1 million.

The five runners with the fastest qualifying times in Saturday’s trials, regardless of finishing positions, will earn berths in the final, joining the five fastest runners from Friday’s trials.

Shott Gun was disqualified from second to 10th for causing interference in a maiden race at 300 yards on April 18 at Remington Park in his debut. He won a division of the Heritage Place Futurity trials on May 8 at 11-1 and was the upset winner of the 350-yard final at 17-1, finishing a head in front of 7-10 favorite Aint She Tempting.

With three starts, Shott Gun is the most experienced runner in the first trial. His main rival is Favorite Blue Girl, who finished last of 10 in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 7.

Cox, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and was the leading Quarter Horse owner in 2004 and 2010 and leading breeder in 2017, has the favorite in the third trial in Jettz, who was third as the 8-5 favorite in the Ruidoso Futurity.

Trained by John Buchanan, Jettz will have his fifth start Saturday. On April 18, Jettz was fifth by a half-length in the $891,400 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity at 330 yards.

Shott Gun is the only stakes winner among the 146 horses entered in the time trials, a group that includes 31 winners, 95 maidens, and 10 first-time starters.

For the Irony, who starts in the 14th race, won the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile on June 7, the consolation of the Ruidoso Futurity.

Other notable runners are Candy Blood, who starts in the fourth race and was fourth in the Heritage Place Futurity, and Packsaddle Senator, who runs in the sixth race and was fifth in the Ruidoso Futurity.

First post time is noon Mountain. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.