R.D. Hubbard, owner of Ruidoso Downs, and Jim Helzer, owner of JEH Stallion Station, with divisions in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, have purchased half interest in Favorite Cartel from trainer Paul Jones and Thompson Racing, Inc

The 2-year-old bay colt, beaten favorite in the GI Rainbow Futurity and fourth fastest qualifier to the upcoming $2 million All American Futurity, is by Thoroughbred sire Favorite Trick, 1997 Horse of the Year, who died in a barn fire at Helzer’s JEH Stallion Station near Hondo, NM, on June 6, 2006.

Conditioned by Jones and ridden by Cody Jensen, Favorite Cartel will race under the ownership of the four interests, but carry the silks of Hubbard, who has yet to win the All American Futurity. Helzer won the race, however, in 1990 with Refrigerator, and Jones was winning trainer, with Jensen in the irons, in 2005 with No Secrets Here and in 2006 with Teller Cartel.

Favorite Cartel’s fourth-fastest qualifying time in the All American Futurity trials belies the fact that he won his heat easily by more than two lengths.

Favorite Trick became the first 2-year-old since Secretariat to be voted Horse of the Year. Despite what many considered his less than”classic” pedigree (his sire was sprinter Phone Trick and his dam was sired by Medieval Man), he accomplished more than any 2-year-old since Native Dancer, in 1952, going undefeated in eight starts at two, including seven consecutive stakes wins.

Favorite Cartel’s dam is Shenoshercorona, a stakes producing daughter of Corona Cartel.

The All American Futurity will be run next Monday (Labor Day), September 7, at Ruidoso Downs.