The 45th running of the Rainbow Futurity is next Sunday in Ruidoso. Here's a look at the quarterhorse event.
1. Fast Prize Zoom - Fastest qualifier for the 400-yard Rainbow with a time of :19.499. Broke world record in 300 yard event with :14.678 victory in West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park. Is trained by Wes Giles and ridden by G.R. Carter. Has won nearly $150,000.
2. Stolis Winner - Second fastest qualifer for this race. Trained by Heath Taylor, has won 4 of 5, including $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity.
3. PB and Crackers - Only New Mexico bred in the race. Has won 2 of 3. Third-fastest qualifier for the race.
4. Mr Perrys Wine - Trainer is Carl Draper, who trains top older quarterhorse Heartswideopen. Mr Perrys Wine qualified fourth-fastest for this race.
5. Ravin Corona - Purchased for $105,000. Son of Corona Cartel. Trained by Wes Giles.
6. Dashazoom - Trained by Blane Wood, who trained 2005 Rainbow Futurity winner Leading Spirit. Finished fourth in the Ruidoso Futurity.
7. Winners Version - Trained by Paul Jones. A maiden through three races. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, the second leading rider at Los Alamitos Race Course.
8. Cashinginmydreams - Trained by Blane Wood, the leading quarter horse trainer at Ruidoso Downs this season.
9. Spring Bling - Trainer is Paul Jones. Sister to champion and Grade 1 Rainbow winner Strawkins.
10. Inseperable - Trainer is Paul Jones, a half-sister to champion and All American Futurity winner A Delightful Dasher.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Top fights coming up
There are several big fights on the horizon in boxing. My top five are:
1. Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito on July 26, welterweights.
2. Michael Katsidis vs. Juan Diaz on Sept. 6, lightweights.
3. Nate Campbell vs. Joan Guzman on Sept. 13, lightweights.
4. Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones on Sept. 20, light heavyweights.
5. Lucian Bute vs Librado Andrade on Oct. 24, super middleweight.
Also on July 30 on ESPN2's Wednesday night fights, former lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo returns at welterweight.
- Felix
1. Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito on July 26, welterweights.
2. Michael Katsidis vs. Juan Diaz on Sept. 6, lightweights.
3. Nate Campbell vs. Joan Guzman on Sept. 13, lightweights.
4. Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones on Sept. 20, light heavyweights.
5. Lucian Bute vs Librado Andrade on Oct. 24, super middleweight.
Also on July 30 on ESPN2's Wednesday night fights, former lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo returns at welterweight.
- Felix
Friday, July 11, 2008
My picks for WAC preseason poll
The Western Athletic Conference preseason football rankings will come out later this month. I was asked to give my rankings, 1-9, and here they are with a reason for each ranking.
1. Fresno State - Has several key players back back from last year's 9-4 season. Quarterback Tom Brandstater returns after throwing for 2,654 yards last year.
2. Boise State - Broncos are the league's most consistent program and the most high profile right now. Returns running back Ian Johnson.
3. Nevada - Team has strong offense, make that explosive. But does play very difficult schedule. Must go to Hawaii and Fresno State.
4. Louisiana Tech - Improved to 5-7 last season. Solid running back in Patrick Jackson, good coach in Derek Dooley.
5. San Jose State - Team benefited from plus-13 turnover ratio last year. Gets three transfers from BCS schools. Must replace starting quarterback from last year.
6. New Mexico State - Has new defensive coordinator and new 3-3-5 defense, which could help improve squad. Must stay healthy. Quarterback Chase Holbrook and receivers Chris Williams and A.J. Harris return.
7. Hawaii - Warriors lose head coach June Jones and QB Colt Brennan among others. Also lose top four receivers.
8. Idaho - The Vandals are more experienced tehis year, but that might not help. Was minus nine in turnover margin last year.
9. Utah State - The UtAgs has a bit more depth to work with this year, offense must improve and is added depth, quality?
- Felix
1. Fresno State - Has several key players back back from last year's 9-4 season. Quarterback Tom Brandstater returns after throwing for 2,654 yards last year.
2. Boise State - Broncos are the league's most consistent program and the most high profile right now. Returns running back Ian Johnson.
3. Nevada - Team has strong offense, make that explosive. But does play very difficult schedule. Must go to Hawaii and Fresno State.
4. Louisiana Tech - Improved to 5-7 last season. Solid running back in Patrick Jackson, good coach in Derek Dooley.
5. San Jose State - Team benefited from plus-13 turnover ratio last year. Gets three transfers from BCS schools. Must replace starting quarterback from last year.
6. New Mexico State - Has new defensive coordinator and new 3-3-5 defense, which could help improve squad. Must stay healthy. Quarterback Chase Holbrook and receivers Chris Williams and A.J. Harris return.
7. Hawaii - Warriors lose head coach June Jones and QB Colt Brennan among others. Also lose top four receivers.
8. Idaho - The Vandals are more experienced tehis year, but that might not help. Was minus nine in turnover margin last year.
9. Utah State - The UtAgs has a bit more depth to work with this year, offense must improve and is added depth, quality?
- Felix
Gadsden football in 2009
It has been a struggle for the Gadsden Panthers in recent years on the football field. For the third time in five years, the program has a new coach, this time Jim Hite. Hite was most recently at Mayfield High School as an assistant coach. But he been a long time coach in various states.
Hite replaced Jeff Johnson, who in turn replaced Damien Ocampo before that. The Panthers have struggled in several capacities over the years. The program just can' seem to find consistency for various reasons.
The last time the Panthers were seriously competitive was in 2000 when it nearly made the playoffs, winning six games.
Part of Gadsden's problem is that the play in the difficult District 3-5A along with Mayfield, Las Cruces High, Onate and Alamogordo.
Hite is a strong coach and he will teach his group well. But the Panthers are way behind the rest of the district and it's going to be an uphill battle.
The best that the Panthers can hope for is too close the gap on the rest of the district this year. Gadsden doesn't have the depth to compete against the Mayfield's and Las Cruces High's of the world.
- Felix
Hite replaced Jeff Johnson, who in turn replaced Damien Ocampo before that. The Panthers have struggled in several capacities over the years. The program just can' seem to find consistency for various reasons.
The last time the Panthers were seriously competitive was in 2000 when it nearly made the playoffs, winning six games.
Part of Gadsden's problem is that the play in the difficult District 3-5A along with Mayfield, Las Cruces High, Onate and Alamogordo.
Hite is a strong coach and he will teach his group well. But the Panthers are way behind the rest of the district and it's going to be an uphill battle.
The best that the Panthers can hope for is too close the gap on the rest of the district this year. Gadsden doesn't have the depth to compete against the Mayfield's and Las Cruces High's of the world.
- Felix
New boys basketball coach in Hatch
The Hatch Valley boys basketball program has a new boys basketball coach. Assistant coach Eligio Gonzalez replaced Claud Gobble, who resigned after three months.
- Felix
- Felix
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Mayfield football for 2008
The Mayfield Trojans will have a big target on their back as usual as the 2008 season approaches. The Trojans have won three straight 5A state football titles and have lost just one game in the process.
Mayfield was last seen winning the state title last December against Clovis in a 49-48, triple-overtime classic in Clovis.
The Trojans were hit hard by graduation, losing the likes of quarterback Matt Sandoval, running back/linebacker Yanni Suter and defensive backs/receivers Freddy Young and Nathan Enriquez among others.
Mayfield will be strong on the offensive line and will have experience in the backfield with Jacob Ceniceros returning to lead the way. J.D. Ordunez also returns for Mayfield and gives the Trojans an experienced and productive player on both sides of the ball.
The Trojans will have to find a replacement for Sandoval at QB and that won't be easy. But MHS has been very good at the QB slot and if someone steps up, don't be surprised to see the team rattle off a bunch of wins.
Defensively, the Trojans will also have to find plenty of reinforcements.
A tough schedule is in store for MHS. The Trojans start the season at El Paso Chapin and El Paso Montwood and then come home for games with Carlsbad and Cibola. The Trojans are also at Rio Grande and entertain Eldorado before district play.
The Trojans have won three straight state titles and have played in six of the last seven title games.
It's going to be a new season for MHS in many ways. How far the team goes will depend on how good the team has worked in the offseason and how quickly some of the new guys develop.
- Felix
Mayfield was last seen winning the state title last December against Clovis in a 49-48, triple-overtime classic in Clovis.
The Trojans were hit hard by graduation, losing the likes of quarterback Matt Sandoval, running back/linebacker Yanni Suter and defensive backs/receivers Freddy Young and Nathan Enriquez among others.
Mayfield will be strong on the offensive line and will have experience in the backfield with Jacob Ceniceros returning to lead the way. J.D. Ordunez also returns for Mayfield and gives the Trojans an experienced and productive player on both sides of the ball.
The Trojans will have to find a replacement for Sandoval at QB and that won't be easy. But MHS has been very good at the QB slot and if someone steps up, don't be surprised to see the team rattle off a bunch of wins.
Defensively, the Trojans will also have to find plenty of reinforcements.
A tough schedule is in store for MHS. The Trojans start the season at El Paso Chapin and El Paso Montwood and then come home for games with Carlsbad and Cibola. The Trojans are also at Rio Grande and entertain Eldorado before district play.
The Trojans have won three straight state titles and have played in six of the last seven title games.
It's going to be a new season for MHS in many ways. How far the team goes will depend on how good the team has worked in the offseason and how quickly some of the new guys develop.
- Felix
Austin Trout victory
Las Cruces junior middleweight prospect Austin Trout was very impressive in beating Byron Tyson on Wednesday night in Houston on ESPN2. Trout won an eight-round decision by scores of 80-72 x3.
It was Trout's biggest fight to date and he did a great job of controlling the pace of the fight and keeping Tyson at bay. He was moving well defensively, he landed his straight left with consistency and he was strong to the body at times. The eight rounds were the longest the 15-0 Trout had gone in his career.
I talked to Trout today and he hopes to get back into the ring soon. He hopes to meet with Golden Boy Promotions about possible work in the future. Golden Boy Pomotions is run by Oscar De La Hoya.
- Felix
It was Trout's biggest fight to date and he did a great job of controlling the pace of the fight and keeping Tyson at bay. He was moving well defensively, he landed his straight left with consistency and he was strong to the body at times. The eight rounds were the longest the 15-0 Trout had gone in his career.
I talked to Trout today and he hopes to get back into the ring soon. He hopes to meet with Golden Boy Promotions about possible work in the future. Golden Boy Pomotions is run by Oscar De La Hoya.
- Felix
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)