Love Samba kept trainer Blane Wood’s hot streak alive with the fastest qualifying time from 19 trials for the $625,000 Rainbow Futurity. The Corona Cartel-sired filly covered 400 yards in :19.542 today at Ruidoso Downs, under jockey Ricky Ramirez.

Owned by Jim Pitt, who purchased her for $160,000 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Love Samba finished second in her only other start.

“We’ve been taking our time with her because we’ve been pointing to the All American Futurity all along,” said Wood, who sent out runner-up Shake Em Money Pop, also owned by Pitt, and third-place finisher Sir Seth in the $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity on June 7.  Wood won the 2005 Rainbow Futurity with Leading Spirit.

Leading Quarter Horse trainer Paul Jones won six of the 19 Rainbow Futurity trials and had four qualifiers – Stepenos, Running Brook Gal, Brooks Midnight and Favorite Cartel.

Running Brook Gal, who clocked the fastest qualifying time for the Ruidoso Futurity in her career debut, won the ninth trial by one length in :19.659, the third fastest time.

Horses with the 10 fastest times qualified for the Rainbow Futurity, to be run on  July 19.

Here’s a look at the qualifiers: