Cunningham trio favored in Mobley Futurity

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (July 16, 2020) – Three two-year-olds from the Tony Cunningham Stable have been tagged as the favorites for the 11th running of the $186,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity at Indiana Grand Tuesday, July 21. The quickest qualifier from the trials, Stone Lake, gets the nod as the early morning line favorite.

Owned by Patti Marshall, Stone Lake scored his trial in a time of :15.622 to lead the way into the finals. The Escondido Beach gelding is now two for two this season and with the Cunningham stable’s jockey, L.D. Martinez, riding three into the final, he has chosen to ride Stone Lake. The duo starts from post 10 at odds of 9-5.

Also getting a look early in the field is the petite Beach Diva, owned and bred by Sheri Miller. The grey filly by Escondido Beach rallied home a winner in her trial as the third fastest. Giovani Vazquez-Gomez picks up the call aboard Beach Diva at odds of 3-1.

Rounding out the top three picks from the Cunningham barn is Strokin the Stone, a second place finisher to Beach Diva. The Brimmstone gelding has had two starts and two seconds this season for owner Lisa Cunningham. German Rodriguez will be back aboard for the final from post eight at odds of 8-1.

Cunningham’s other qualifier, ZZ Stones Ablazing, will break from post three with Sergio Ramirez aboard.

The entire field, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: WH Imastreakinbeach (Erik Esqueda, 12-1); Zoomin Policy (Oscar Macias, 15-1); ZZ Stones Ablazing (Sergio Ramirez, 12-1); Mitey Persuasive (Cesar Esqueda, 15-1); Strokin the Stone (German Rodriguez, 8-1); Beach Fun (Cristian Reyes, 20-1); Beach Stone (Juan Marquez, 8-1); Beach Diva (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 3-1); Jess Go Blue (Shanley Jackson, 8-1); and Stone Lake (L.D. Martinez, 9-5). Post time for the Gordon Mobley, slated as the ninth race on the card, is estimated at 6:04 p.m. In addition to Cunningham’s four in the final, Paul Martin and Randy Thompson will each saddle two in the 300-yard dash. Martin will prepare Zoomin Policy and Beach Stone while Thompson has Mitey Persuasive and Beach Fun.

Quarter Horse Stakes action continues Wednesday, July 22 with the $108,800 Heartland Futurity Final set as the ninth race on the card.

Photo by Coady Photography