Document text
Far West trials headed to GP Glenn has six horses in field By FRANK SILOW It's time for the Far West Futurity trials at Grants Pass Downs -- otherwise known as Jim Glenn Jr. time. The 34-year-old Yoncalla trainer has landed five of his 2-year-olds in the eight-horse finals of Oregon's premier quarter horse event the past two years. And the former leading jockey at GPD had multiple entries in the finals in 1995, including the fastest qualifier Kristins Baby. The first division of the $30,000 Far West takes place on July 4 at GPD each year, with the second leg contested at Portland Meadows in December. This year's trials finds 25 of the 40 eligible horses that have paid into the futurity running in four heats at the Josephine County Fairgrounds Saturday. The trials will be the third through the sixth races on the 10-race card. The eight fastest horses in the 350-yard sprint among the 25 will qualify for the ninth annual Far West Futurity finals. Glenn has had a lot of success getting horses into the finals, but his horses have won the Far West at GPD only once. Two years ago, Glenn had two horses -- Barry Bandito and Gaining Fame -- dead heat for first in the prestigious race. His horses also took third, fourth and sixth in that same race. "I'm pretty much a 2-year-old guy," says Glenn. "We try to let our horses run on their own the first two or three outs and save their legs. We've been able to keep our horses together this way." In this year's trials, Glenn has Banat Reed and Judge Me Rapid in the third race, Wonders Judge Cash and Ever Seen Straw Fly in the fourth, Top Cat Royal in the fifth and Te Cheng in the sixth. Banat Reed and Te Cheng already have had some success with a second- and third-place finish in the Portland Meadows Futurity earlier this spring. Wonders Judge Cash has won three of four career outings, including the fastest time in the Grants Pass Futurity trials May 23. The gelding, owned by Janice Geiser and Yolanda Milhe of Gold Hill, was scratched in the finals because of an abnormally high temperature. Judge Me Rapid won its heat, then ran second in the Grants Pass Futurity June 6. Ever Seen Straw Fly, owned by Oregon Quarter Horse Association officials Dave and Leah Nelson, won its trial at the Pot O' Gold Futurity in Kennewick, Wash., and ran third in the finals this spring. Ever Seen Straw Fly's half-brother In Search of Fame ran fifth in the Far West at GPD last year, but won the second leg of the Far West in Portland Meadows. In Search of Fame won six consecutive races at Portland Meadows this past season. And Glenn's sixth horse is Top Cat Royal, who was recently shipped to him from Utah. Top Cat Royal has only one start and is "probably a little greener than the others," according to Glenn. "This year I don't have a total monster horse," says Glenn. "They're all solid horses that we hope to move up to the next level and get better as they run. We have enough of them in there that we hope we can have some luck." Trainer Baxter Andruss, the dominant figure in the Far West at GPD, returns with four horses in the trials. The 72-year-old Vancouver, Wash., horseman is in semi-retirement and has scaled back his operation. Andruss has won four of the seven Far West Futurities run at GPD. The 1992 race was cancelled because of rain. Another horse that should be given serious consideration is Dats Bourbon Street trained by John Harris, who is one of the originators of the Far West. Harris, who has failed to win the big race at GPD, has three horses in the field. But Dats Bourbon Street, who had the fastest qualifying time for the Portland Meadows Futurity but ran fourth in the finals, appears to be his strongest entry. "He just drew the one hole," says Harris about Dats Bourbon Street's trip in the Portland Meadows Futurity. "The inside was bad and he didn't get away real good." Dats Bourbon Street is out of Party Street, a track record holder at GPD. Party Street has the rare distinction of being a mare in the Northwest to record $100,000 in earnings during her racing career. Far West Winners Year -- Horse, Jockey, Trainer 1991 -- BCR Secret Blurr, Kelly Wahlen, Gary Swan 1992 -- race cancelled because of rain 1993 -- Ima Reb Hot, Dale Beckner, Baxter Andruss 1994 -- Check This Reb, Tad Skaggs, Baxter Andruss 1995 -- Mr. Doubtfire, Tad Skaggs, Baxter Andruss 1996 -- Copes Hope, Jake Pierce, Claude Copeland 1997 -- (tie) Barry Bandito, Keith Rough, Jim Glenn Jr. Gaining Fame, Javier Ortega, Jim Glenn Jr. 1998 -- Phils Legacy, Richard Sanchez, Baxter Andruss GPD Jockey Standings GRANTS PASS -- Jockey standings at Grants Pass Downs through June 13. Win Place Show Keith Rough 21 10 16 Joe Crispin 20 15 8 Myra Truitt 11 13 6 Twyla Beckner 9 13 7 Darlene Braden 7 8 5 Harold Kent 5 9 10 Tad Skaggs 5 4 6 Rowdy Luark 4 8 14 Edgar Montehermoso 3 5 9 Monica Barber 3 3 4 Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.