All American Weekend - Day 2 - Sunday, Sept. 6
Cars overflowed to the highway at Ruidoso Downs Race Track Sunday afternoon! Shuttles were running nonstop to take race enthusiasts to and from the track for a big day of racing. After the races were over the third day of the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale started at 6:00 p.m.
Six out of the ten races on the program for Sunday were for quarter horses. Four were maidens and two were stakes races - the First Down Dash QH Stakes and the All American Derby. Between races 7 and 8, the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award was presented by Speedhorse Magazine and the Jockeys' Guild. This year's winner was Eddie Garcia from Buena Park, California.
Race #6 was the $100,000 First Down Dash Quarter Horse Stakes for the horses that competed in the All American Derby trials and did not qualify for the finals. PYCS Little Lady (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fitness Lady, Heza Fast Man) was the winner. The 3-year-old bay filly is bred and trained by Jaime Dominguez, owned by his wife Heysol Howlet, and Manuel Gutierrez was the jockey. Glock (Foose-Babe On The Fly, Strawfly Special) placed 2nd and Tenacious (Coronas Leaving You-Perrys Splash N Dash, Mr Jess Perry) finished 3rd. The remaining order was Ima Tempting Dash, Cobalt Creek, Eagle On the Fly, First Fancy Chic, WL Mr Goodtime, You N Me and MDA Game.
Race #9 was the $2,378,383 All American Derby-G1. APOLLITICAL BLOOD (Apollitical Jess-Brazilian Dasher, Fishers Dash) crossed the finish line 1st. He is bred by Bruce and Jill Thompson, owned by Rancho El Cabresto, Inc. (Juan A. Tirado et al), trained by Juan G. Aleman and Eduardo Nicasio was the jockey. Sam Crow (Valiant Hero-Bourbonstreetchick, Chicks Beduino) came in 2nd and Fire Fortune (Walk Thru Fire-Sizzling, Corona Cartel) finished 3rd. The remaining order of finish was Premier Ethics, Politicaly Correct, Famous Corona Lady, Dynazip, Mad About The Moon, Bringin The Gray and Kiss My Hocks.
After the races were finished, everyone shuttled back to their cars to make the short drive over to the sale barn.
The third day of the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale's top five sellers brought in $849,000 - 4 being colts and 1 filly.
Hip #423 Walk Thru Septacular - colt (Walk Thru Fire-Septacular) - $200,000
Hip #370 Whata Corona - colt (Corona Cartel-Natalie Dash) - $177,000
Hip #339 Sass On Fire - colt (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Sass Me) - $170,000
Hip #402 Piano Solo - colt (Mr Jess Perry-Thewayouwantmetoo) - $152,000
Hip #390 R Imperial Princess - filly (Walk Thru Fire-Thatsa Blazin Chick - $150,000
The highest seller of the entire three-day sale still remains Hip #229 Bellisima Chocolata by Valiant Hero out of Heartswideopen, who sold for $300,000 on Saturday evening..
Mike Abraham has been coming to the Sale for over 30 years. He is selling 9 yearlings this year. Mike said, "It's the best place to sell yearlings. This is the premier spot to sell. It's a tradition for me. Some years we run horses, some years we don't and some times we buy or sell. It's an event I wouldn't miss! I see a lot of good friends every year."
James Lackey was the jockey for First Down Dash for his 3-year-old campaign and is the assistant trainer for Sleepy Gilbreath. He said, "You get to see some of the best Quarter Horses in the nation. Future stars. I enjoy the camaraderie of getting to see people I haven't seen in years. I've even seen a couple of jockeys I used to ride with 20 years ago."
Trainer Wes Giles said, "You get the best quality of Quarter Horses here over any sale. It's a place that people have always dreamed about coming."
Stay tuned to the Speedhorse All American Countdown Photo Slides for Day One, the day we’ve all been waiting for… the All American Futurity!