Triple Crown chase: Hezgothelook Z qualifies for 2024 All American Futurity on Labor Day

There will be a chance for a Triple Crown this year for 2-year-old quarter horses.

Hezgothelook Z won the third All American Futurity trial in 21.108 seconds at the Downs of Albuquerque and qualified for the finals on Labor Day, Sept. 2

The 21.108 seconds over 440 yards was the fastest time of the first four trials in Friday's card, There were 14 trials races on Day 1 of two days of qualifying races for the nation's most prestigious quarter horse futurity.

Hezgothelook Z has won both Rainbow and Ruidoso Futurities and is seeking to become the first horse since Special Effort in 1981 to win the Triple Crown for 2-year-old quarter horses.

Toby Keeton is the trainer and Bryan Candanosa is the jockey. Hezgotthelook Z broke from post position one and easily won the race by a length. It appeared he won his trial without being pushed, which could help him overcome the grueling nature of having to win three Grade 1 races within three months, not including the trials to reach the finals.

Five more horses will attempt to qualify on Saturday.

The Downs at Albuquerque is hosting the All American Futurity trials and finals this year after flooding damaged the racetrack in Ruidoso.

Friday's five All American Futurity qualifiers

Here are the five horses that qualified for the 2024 All American Futurity. The race, with a 10-horse field, will run on Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Ariatt

Time: 20.974 seconds, 5th trial (Trainer: Xavier Rodriguez; Jockey: Luis Martinez; Owner La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC)

Hezgothelook Z

Time: 21.108 seconds, third trial (Trainer: Toby Keeton; Jockey: Bryan Candanosa; Owner: Triple One Ranch, LLC

Highly Regarded V

Time: 21.117 seconds, 5th trial (Trainer: Heath Taylor; Jockey: Francisco Calderon; Owner: Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC)

Mountainaire

Time: 21.235 seconds, 12th trial (Trainer: Toby Keeton; Jockey: Bryan Candanosa; Owner: Wootan Racing and Roger K. Beasley)

FDD Dreams

Time: 21.262 seconds, third trial (Trainer: Xavier Rodriguez; Jockey: Luis Martinez; Owner: Feliz Montana Ranch LLC)

Saturday's five All American Futurity qualifiers

Five more horses qualified for the Sept. 2 final on Saturday, which also had 14 trials.

Brink Man V

Time: 21.367 seconds, 13th trial (Trainer: Heath Taylor; Jockey: Francisco Calderon; Owner: Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC)

Peepl R Scrambled

Time: 21.446 seconds, 14th trial (Trainer: Toby Keeton; Jockey: Bryan Candanosa; Owner: Triple One Ranch, LLC

Kempton

Time: 21.472 seconds, 10th trial (Trainer: James R. Gonzales; Jockey: James Flores; Owner: Ozaca Ranch, LLC)

Kj Bad Moon Rising

Time: 21.518 seconds, 7th trial (Trainer: Wesley Giles; Jockey: Christian Ramos; Owner: John and Kathy Lee)

Turners Hot Habit

Time: 21.543 seconds, 13th trial (Trainer: Ricardo Armendariz, Jr.; Jockey: Jacob Enriquez; Owner: Franky Busani)

More: All American trials to be held Hezgothelook Z headlines All American Futurity 2024 trials: Post positions, odds, race time

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpaso.times.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Triple Crown chase: Hezgothelook Z qualifies for 2024 All American Futurity on Labor Day