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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend June 18, 2006 Trainer Scott Raley leads Ez Speedy Leader from the stables at Grants Pass Downs. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Ready for fireworks Glenn has plenty of firepower for trials of quarter horse futurity By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune Jim Glenn Jr. is back as a major figure in the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass Downs. Glenn, a four-time winning trainer of the big Fourth of July quarter horse race, has placed multiple horses in the finals on many occasions. But in 2005, Glenn had a low profile with just one entry — BL in the Knud. And Glenn acquired that Firecracker-nominated quarter horse only a few months before the trials. That year, Royal Suspect gave former Grants Pass trainer Mark Garrison his first victory in the 14th running of the rich futurity. But Glenn comes into this year’s trials with a stable of eight horses loaded with potential. Advertisement The 41-year-old Yoncalla-based trainer has concentrated his efforts in recent years at the country’s most prestigious quarter horse track — Los Alamitos in Southern California. "I’m back in action," says Glenn. "It’s just basically the way it worked out this year." Twenty-eight horses are scheduled to go to the starting gate in today’s trials. The eight fastest out of five heats will advance to the July Fourth finals, with an estimated total purse of $41,500. Glenn’s top candidate entering the trials is Go Go Getter, winner of the Pot of Gold Futurity earlier this spring at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Wash. Go Go Getter finished second in her trial, then came back to equal the track record in the 300-yard finals. The filly is out of the fourth crop of babies by the sire Royal Shake Em, who totaled more than $257,000 in winnings on the track. Royal Shake Em has produced 15 stakes winners and more than $2 million in purses from his offspring. "(Go Go Getter) is very trainable," says Glenn. "She has a really big heart. She’s a tiny little thing. We’ll see if she can handle the extra 50 yards." A pair of other Glenn entries — Caughtemzoomin and Hot Properties — have demonstrated some promise. Caughtemzoomin had the fastest qualifying time at the Pot of Gold. "(Caughtemzoomin) breaks good and is pretty quick," says Glenn. "He was in front (in the finals) but got green and was beat by a half- length." Hot Properties won his heat at the Portland Meadows futurity. "I’ve got some talented horses, and we’re hoping they’ll step on it," says Glenn. "The main deal is just getting them qualified." One horse not in his stable that has caught Glenn’s eye is Portland Meadows Futurity winner Ez Speedy Leader. "(Ez Speedy Leader) has to be the favorite," says Glenn. "I’ve seen him in some schooling races up at Portland. You can see the horse can run." Ez Speedy Leader is one of four horses trained by Scott Raley who are entered in the trials. "(Ez Speedy Leader) is a real quiet, hard-nosed little colt," says Raley, who registered his only win with Jets Flame in 2000. "He’s fast. When he goes to the gate, he knows what he’s there for." Ez Speedy Leader is the son of Special Leader and mare Easy Verna, who is owned by Gary Chumbley of Battleground, Wash. Ez Speedy Leader won the Portland Meadows Futurity with an impressive 300-yard time of 15.92 seconds. Raley also had the second-place finisher at Portland with Dashing Reckless, who has finished second in all three lifetime starts. Another horse on the radar screen is trainer Bob Beckner’s Be First Rose, who won her trial at Portland Meadows but was disqualified for the finals because a drug test came up with a trace of the anti-inflammatory substance phenylbutazone — commonly known as bute. "(Be First Rose) can run, and she don’t make any mistakes," says Glenn. Beckner will saddle five horses for the trials, including his homegrown My Fashion Cop — winner of the Portland Meadows Futurity consolation. Noticeably absent from the trials is an entry from five-time futurity-winning trainer Baxter Andruss. The 80-year-old Vancouver, Wash., horseman had an entry every year since the futurity’s inception in 1991. Andruss had three horses eligible, but soreness prevented them from being part of the field. "I think there’s a few more top runners than we had last year," says Raley, who had three in the finals field in 2005. "But Jimmy’s (Glenn) got the guns. He’s loaded and ready." Glenn’s impact on this year’s race is unmistakable. And the odds are, he will get a chance at a record-tying fifth victory in the GP Downs Fourth of July futurity. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail Ready for fireworks ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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