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83 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 12, 2004 Grants Pass Downs trainer Mark Garrison poses with Knuds Special Tac, who finished second in the $35,000 Pot �O Gold Futurity in April at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Wash. Talented field set for futurity trials Garrison has five horses penciled in to start Sunday’s 350-yard quarter horse trials By FRANK SILOW Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — Mark Garrison doesn’t expect to duplicate his success in this year’s Withnell Dodge Firecracker Futurity Trials. The Garrison-trained Traffic A Tac posted the fastest qualifying time for the 2003 Firecracker at Grants Pass Downs. And another Garrison horse, Czech This Chick, also qualified for the finals. But Traffic A Tac stumbled at the start of the sprint finals and threw jockey Joe Crispin. The big, brown colt redeemed himself with a victory in the Far West Futurity at Portland Meadows in the fall. Garrison, 39, has five horses penciled in to start Sunday’s 350-yard quarter horse trials at GP Downs. Advertisement A field of 23 2-year-olds will run in four trial heats for eight spots in the July 4 finals. This is the third running of the open Firecracker Futurity , which evolved from the Far West Futurity, which began in 1991. This year’s Firecracker, with an estimated purse of $42,100, is the richest horse race in Oregon. "This futurity is great for racing," says Garrison of Wilderville. "It’s a spot to run a 2-year-old where you don’t have to leave the state to run for some serious money. "There’s really strong breeding in this field," adds Garrison, who is seeking his first victory in the holiday futurity at GP Downs. "I could see this futurity getting way bigger." An impressive array of sires are represented among the prospective field of qualifiers. Some of the most renowned studs are Fishers Dash, Taking On The Cash, This Snow Is Royal, Dash Ta Fame, Pritzi Dash and Mr. Eye Opener. Unless Garrison is understating his chances, the Hidden Valley High graduate doesn’t expect one of his horses to be in contention like last year. Garrison’s Knuds Special Tac, owned by Virginia Austin of Grants Pass — who also had Traffic A Tac — finished second in the $35,000 Pot ‘O Gold Futurity in April at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Wash. The mares of Knuds Special Tac and Traffic A Tac are both by Tolltac, a major stakes winner and elite sire. Garrison claims Knuds Special Tac benefited from some racing luck to get the $6,000 place money. Also, Garrison’s Patty’s Knud Leader qualified for the Pot ‘O Gold finals. "I thought (Patty’s Knud Leader) would win the futurity," says Garrison, "but she got left bad. It was not a good day for her." Two other Garrison horses eligible for the trials, Jazz N Boots and WSS Famous LaJolla, made the Pot O’ Gold consolation. Jazz N Boots won the consolation finals, while WSS Famous LaJolla broke its maiden earlier this season at GP Downs. "I don’t think I have any that will blow the doors off anybody," says Garrison. "I’ll be happy to get one in the finals." Owner Ron Raley of Brush Prairie, Wash., comes into the futurity trials with the most on the line. In the spring, Raley’s One Fast Trick won the Portland Meadows Futurity, the first leg of the Oregon triple crown. If Raley’s filly can add victories in the Firecracker and the initial Northwest Open Futurity at Portland Meadows in November, Raley would pocket a $100,00 bonus. "It’s exciting, isn’t it?" says Raley. "It gives a young horse a chance to make a lot of money, if you get lucky. It would be a difficult feat to think we can get three of them, but we’re going to try." One Fast Trick is by Dash Ta Fame out of Raley’s mare LHT Dashing Easy. Dash Ta Fame is a son of First Down Dash, one of the all-time racing quarter horse stallions who sired $36 million in money earners. One Fast Trick won the 300-yard Portland Meadows Futurity by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. "She was fortunate to have a nice clean trip," says Raley. "She was dialed in and very professional. She’s one of those babies that wants to do things right. She’s a quick learner." Last year’s winning trainer, Jim Glenn Jr., should be another major player in the futurity trials. Glenn, whose horses have won five of the rich July 4 futurities here since 1997, swept the first four places last year. The Yoncalla-based trainer expects to saddle five horses for the trials. Last year’s winning owners, Greg and Renee Hickman of Kennewick, Wash., might have Glenn’s fastest horse — One Fast Okie. "(One Fast Okie) is very, very talented," says Glenn. "He’s got to mentally put it together. Talentwise, I wouldn’t trade him for anybody." The Portland Meadows runner-up, Eyes Good To Go, and the fourth-place finisher, CA Back In Black, are among Glenn’s other hopefuls along with A Reelspeedn Bullet and Eyma Chickie Two. "This group has a lot of talent," says Glenn. "At this point, any could develop and move up quite a bit. This futurity is as loaded as it’s ever been." Legendary trainer Baxter Andruss, who matches Glenn with five July 4 futurity victories here, will saddle three horses in the trials. The 77-year-old trainer has scaled back his operation the last couple of years. One his trials entries — Famous Phil — is a full brother to the inaugural Firecracker winner Phils Dash Ta Fame. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities