All American Futurity Qualifiers

Posted by Speedhorse on 08/28/2015
One Fabulous Eagle (si 97, $79,800)
Crooked Path (si 89, $8,455)
TF Im That Guy (si 90, $27,902)
Sky Bo Dash (si 92, $85,768)
First Valiant Sign (si 99, $498,680)
Hatefulist (si 91, $10,830)
Jess Good Candy (si 87, $19,240)
McClintock B (si 87, $7,040)
Lethal Volcom (si 86, $1,040)
Giving It All (si 88, $27,958)
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Written by Stacy Pigott

A total of 326 two-year-old Quarter Horses entered 34 trials to the $3,000,000 All American Futurity-G1 at Ruidoso Downs. The trials were contested over two days, Aug. 21-22, with 17 heats run each day. The horses with the five fastest times from each day qualified for the Sept. 7 Labor Day finals.

In 2013 and 2014, there were 280 trial entrants in a total of 28 trials. The 34 trials held this year are double the number of trials contested just a decade ago. The All American Futurity remains the world’s richest race for two-year-old horses, regardless of breed. The $3 million purse marks an increase of 57 percent over the past 10 years. This year’s winner will earn $1.5 million.

Three horses were scratched prior to the trials for violating Ruidoso Downs’ rule that states horses must be on the grounds 10 days prior to the trials and remain on the grounds throughout the trials. All horses were subject to the New Mexico Racing Commission’s new no-tolerance policy regarding clenbuterol, which was passed July 22 and began July 23. The adjustment period ended Aug. 19, just days prior to the trials.

The non-qualifiers are eligible for the $200,000 All American Juvenile, with preference given to the horses with the fastest times from the trials. The purse of the Juvenile is twice as much as last year, when $100,000 was offered.

 

August 21

:21.452*One Fabulous Eagle, c, (One Famous Eagle-Ladys Heart Of Gold)

Darling Farms/Kasey Willis/Cesar Gomez

:21.541*Crooked Path, f, (Favorite Cartel-Tahma Hawk)

Steve D Burns/Paul C Jones/Salvador Martinez

:21.563*TF Im That Guy, c, (First Down Dash-TF Ms Special Perry)

Victor Diaz/Juan M Gonzalez/Joe Badilla Jr

:21.579*Sky Bo Dash, g, (Bodacious Dash-Sky Chicks)

Bobby Simmons/C Dwayne Gilbreath/G R Carter Jr

:21.662Giving It All, g, (Walk Thru Fire-Sizzling)

Raymond Merrill/Brian E Muse/G R Carter Jr

 

August 22

:21.582*First Valiant Sign, g, (Valiant Hero-First Painted Sign)

Scott Bryant, Joe Dee Brooks, R Lee Lewis & Derrol Hubbard/Michael W Joiner/G R Carter Jr

:21.596*Hatefulist, c, (Separatist-Hardly Hateful)

J G Markum & S D Burns/Paul C Jones/Salvador Martinez

:21.642*Jess Good Candy, c, (Good Reason SA-Jess Send Candy)

Estate of Carl C Pevehouse/Clinton Crawford/G R Carter Jr

:21.646McClintock B, g, (FDD Dynasty-First Class Lacy B)

McClintock B Partnership/Michael Joiner/Joe Badilla Jr

:21.654Lethal Volcom, g, (Volcom-Lethal Delight)

Martin Ybarra/Victor Rodriguez-Flores/Manuel Gutierrez

*Won Trial 

 

One Fabulous Eagle has been nothing but impressive in three career starts. The One Famous Eagle colt won his debut race, a trial to the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 on May 22 by 1-length, setting the day’s second-fastest time. In the Grade 1 finals, he crossed the wire fourth and was placed third following the disqualification of original runner-up Jess Burnin. One Fabulous Eagle’s trainer Kasey Willis and owner Darling Farms opted to bypass the Rainbow Futurity-G1, instead pointing the colt toward the All American trials. The decision paid off in spades. Entering the 13th of 17 trials, One Fabulous Eagle and jockey Cesar Gomez scored an impressive 1 ¾-length win, stopping the clock in 21.452 for the 440 yards. Bred by Christine Hudson, One Fabulous Eagle was a $75,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale repurchase before being privately purchased by Darling Farms. One Fabulous Eagle has two full siblings: The Ultimate Eagle (si 97, $125,565), who was a finalist in five Grade 1 or 2 races including the All American Derby; and Eagle On The Fly (si 94, $164,564), who was third in the Rainbow Futurity-G1 last year and second in the Hobbs America Futurity-G2. His dam, the Strawfly Special mare Ladys Heart Of Gold, has produced 100% winners and five stakes-placers from six starters.

 

Hailing from trainer Paul Jones’ stable, Crooked Path started her career in California at Los Alamitos Race Course, finishing fourth in a maiden race on April 18. A month later, the Favorite Cartel filly was entered at Ruidoso Downs, where she again finished just off the board in a trial to the Ruidoso Futurity-G1, failing to qualify for the finals. Her third start came in a trial to the Rainbow Futurity-G1. While her second-place finish didn’t result in a finals berth, it did pave the way for the filly to break her maiden on July 27. Her improving form carried through to the All American Futurity-G1 trials, where she and jockey Salvador Martinez loaded into post position two in the 15th trial. Breaking on the lead, the filly opened a two-length lead early on and maintained that advantage to the wire. Her winning time of :21.541 was the second-fastest of the day and secured a coveted Labor Day finals berth. Dr. Steve Burns, of Burns Ranch in Menifee, California, bred and owns Crooked Path. She is a half-sister to Oldsmobile Hill (by Separatist), a multiple Grade 3 winner and earner of $205,481. Her dam, the winning mare Tahma Hawk, has produced six winners from six starters, with two stakes winners.

 

The 17th and final trial on Aug. 21 resulted in the day’s third-fastest qualifier when TF Im That Guy scored a 21.563-second win. Ridden by Joe Badilla, Jr., TF Im That Guy went postward as the favorite and didn’t disappoint, crossing the line three-quarters of a length better than fellow qualifier Giving It All. The 17th trial was the only one from the first day that resulted in more than one qualifier. Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and Tate Farms, TF Im That Guy was purchased for $32,000 by Victor Diaz at the 2014 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The First Down Dash colt began his career at Sunland Park, where he was third in the Grade 1 West Texas Futurity. He contested trials to the Ruidoso and Rainbow futurities at Ruidoso Downs, finishing second and first, respectively, but without a return spot in the finals. The All American Futurity-G1 will be TF Im That Guy’s second stakes appearance for trainer Juan Gonzalez. TF Im That Guy is out of Grade 2 stakes winner TF Ms Special Perry (si 97, $116,625). His second dam, the unraced Mr Jess Perry mare Dashadee, is a full sister to Deeheiress (si 97, $127,058) and out of Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and Champion Aged Mare Deelish (si 102, $603,673).

 

Race Record: 6-5(1)-0-0

Bobby Simmons’ Sky Bo Dash was one of the most impressive winners on the first day of All American Futurity trials, capturing the 10th race by 3 1/4-lengths. With G.R. Carter, Jr. in the irons, Sky Bo Dash went wire-to-wire in a 440-yard time of :21.579 to earn his place in the Sept. 7 finals. Sky Bo Dash is the only horse to qualify from a trial with a head wind (6 mph) on the first day; the other qualifiers faced no wind. Trained by C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, the gelding started his career with two lackluster races at Remington Park. He broke his maiden in a trial to the Rainbow Futurity-G1, and returned to finish fourth in the July 19 finals. Bred by Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches, Sky Bo Dash sold through the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $40,000. He is from the first crop of his sire, Bodacious Dash (si 101, $756,495). His dam, the stakes-placed Chicks Beduino mare Sky Chicks, is a million-dollar producer whose leading money earner is Dutch Schultz (si 99, $356,668). She has also produced stakes winners Spike It And Fly (si 104, $187,652) and Rule The Skies (si 102, $29,242, dam of stakes winner Royal Proclamation si 107, $303,923).

 

Owned by the partnership of Scott Bryant, Joe Dee Brooks, R. Lee Lewis and Derrol Hubbard, First Valiant Sign was brilliant in the 12th race on the second day of trials to the All American Futurity. With G.R. Carter, Jr. in the saddle, First Valiant Sign kicked clear to win by
1-length, stopping the clock in the day’s fastest time of :21.582 as the 1-2 favorite. Carter qualified four of the 10 All American Futurity finalists over the two days. For trainer Mike Joiner, First Valiant Sign won the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and then finished second in the Rainbow Futurity-G1, the first two legs of Ruidoso Downs’ Triple Crown. His runner-up effort on July 19 was not indicative of his ability, as he was bumped between horses at the start and forced to make up ground. That neck defeat ensured no horse would win the $4 million All American Triple Crown bonus this year, though First Valiant Sign’s earnings will approach $2 million if he wins the All American. The gelding is out of multiple graded stakes winner First Painted Sign (si 103, $284,911), a young mare whose first foal is Grade 3 finalist Apollitical Sign (si 86, $10,129). First Valiant Sign has a 2-year-old half-sister, A Tres Of Seis, who ran second in the Heritage Place Futurity-G1 and sixth in the Rainbow Futurity-G1.

 

The All American Futurity will mark the first stakes appearance for James Markum & Steve Burns’ Hatefulist. The undefeated colt broke his maiden in a maiden race at Los Alamitos before shipping to Ruidoso Downs. Trained by Paul Jones, Hatefulist went postward in trials to the Ruidoso & Rainbow futurities, winning each but failing to secure a finals berth. His fortunes changed in the 11th of 17 day 2 All American Futurity trials, when his 1/2-length win in :21.596 gave him a spot in the Quarter Horse racing’s richest event. A $24,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, Hatefulist was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm. His dam is 2004 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Hardly Hateful (si 103, $436,979), who was 2nd in the Rainbow & Los Alamitos Million futurities during her campaign. As a broodmare, she has produced Grade 1 finalist Feature Miss America (si 91, $47,104) & stakes-placed Hardly A Tres (si 88, $20,146). Hatefulist’s 2nd dam is Champion Distance Horse Hateful Hanna (si 105, $139,487). Other horses from this venerable maternal family include Champion Old Habits (si 106, $680,491), Check Her Twice (si 104, $215,361, dam of Check Him Out si 98, $418,528), Dash To Chivato (si 96, $150,549), and others.

 

The All American Futurity will mark the first time Jess Good Candy will go postward in a stakes race. Trained by Clinton Crawford, the colt faced the starter for the first time at Remington Park, winning a maiden race by 1-length. In his next attempt, he won a trial to the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 by 3/4-length. His time of :18.016 was the sixth-fastest of the day, leaving him one spot away from a finals berth. While he did earn the right to compete in the Ruidoso Juvenile, he was scratched instead. Making his third career appearance in the All American Futurity trials, Jess Good Candy kept his unbeaten record intact, closing to score a nose win in :21.642 in the fourth heat on the second day of trials. He is owned by The Estate of Carl Pevehouse. Jess Good Candy is out of Jess Send Candy, a winning daughter of Mr Jess Perry who has produced five winners from seven starters and the the earners of more than one-half million dollars. Her top offspring include This Candys Awesome (si 105, $319,823), Send Me This Wagon (si 110, $94,773) and Honeymoon Candy (si 92, $46,862). The second dam is Send Me The Candy, who is out of Pevehouse’s foundation mare, Send Me Candy.

 

McClintock B has yet to live up to his $175,000 yearling sale purchase price, but that could all change on Sept. 7. The Oklahoma-bred gelding posted lackluster finishes in his first two starts, running fifth and eighth in trials at Ruidoso Downs. Dropping to maiden company in his third start, he won by 1-length and, on the strength of that effort, entered the All American trials. Ridden by Joe Badilla, Jr. for trainer Mike Joiner, McClintock B just missed catching Jess Good Candy in the fourth trial, while still posting a qualifying time of :21.646. Bred by Bielau Oaks, he was purchased by the McClintock B Partnership, which is made up of Pat Guthrie, Billy Smith, Trevor Smith, Andy Grooms and Paul Blanchard, at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale last year. Sired by Mr Jess Perry, McClintock B is the first foal out of First Class Lacy B (si 102, $91,149), who was second in the 2010 West Texas Futurity-G1. First Class Lacy B is out of Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Tiny First Effort (si 105, $445,393), who is a full sister to Tiny First Down (si 105, $317,881) and Tiny Dash Of Cash (si 105, $211,118), who is the second dam of All American Futurity qualifier Giving It All. 

 

Martin Ybarra’s Lethal Volcom was a 35-1 shot who defied the odds to earn a spot in the All American Futurity. The Volcom gelding was unimpressive in three prior starts, finishing fourth in a Ruidoso Futurity trial, eighth in a Rainbow Futurity trial and 10th in a maiden race. Most of his problems in those races stemmed from the start, and removing the blinkers for the All American Futurity trials seemed to solve the problem. With Manuel Gutierrez up for trainer Victor Rodriguez-Flores, Lethal Volcom broke with the leaders and dueled throughout, finishing a half-length behind fellow qualifier Hatefulist in a time of :21.654. While Lethal Volcom may have been a longshot in the trials, his pedigree makes him a contender in the finals, as he is a full brother to 2014 All American Futurity winner JM Miracle. Both horses were bred by P. K. Thomas and are out of the Dean Miracle mare Lethal Delight (si 106, $453,701). Lethal Delight set a new track record at Zia Park during her career and has also produced stakes winner Lethal Express (si 92, $31,564), stakes-placed winners Lethal Cartel (si 96, $22,056) and Volcoms Delight (si 102, $54,921) and Grade 1 finalists Lethal Fortune (si 94, $36,267) and Lethal Strike (si 97, $46,369), among others.

 

Owned by Raymond Merrill of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Giving It All debuted at Remington Park, where he broke his maiden in a futurity trial and ran ninth in the Oklahoma Futurity Invitational Stakes. The gelding made his third start in a trial to the Ruidoso Futurity-G1, winning by 3 1/4-lengths and earning a trip postward in the finals, where he finished last after a horrible trip. He was placed ninth with the disqualification of Jess Burnin. Trained by Brian Muse, Giving It All found smoother sailing in his All American Futurity heat. Ridden by G.R. Carter, Jr., Giving It All bobbled slightly at the start of the 440-yard race before rallying to finish second, beating the third-place finisher by 1 3/4-lengths. Giving It All’s dam, Sizzling (si 102, $147,912), is a multiple stakes winner and Grade 1 stakes-placed runner. She is a half-sister to Dash Of Perry (si 103, $382,390, dam of Templar Knight si 93, $117,641) and sire Red Storm Cat (si 104, $226,439), among others. His second dam is Tiny Dash Of Cash (si 105, $211,118), a half-sister to Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Tiny First Effort (si 105, $445,393), Tiny First Down (si 105, $317,881), Crash Thru Traffic (si 108, $140,595), and others.

 

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