Friday, September 2, 2016
Be sure to watch the slideshow until the end to see the two All American Countdown Trivia Questions!
The day began with the residues of rain from the night before, so the track was closed for early morning workouts. Then the afternoon cleared up for a full day of racing for All American enthusiasts to enjoy while gearing up for the big races. The only Quarter Horse stakes race on the card for the day was the $20,000 Bill Reed Memorial Stakes. Straight From Texas under Larry Gamez won the Bill Reed Memorial.
After the races, people made their way around the corner to the Ruidoso Downs Sales Pavilion for the first session of the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The parking lot overflowed with people attending the sale, which began at 5:30 p.m.
The top 5 sellers brought in a total of $519,000 - three being colts and two fillies.
Hip #119 Political Candy – Bay Colt (Apollitical Jess-Send Candy Power, PYC Paint Your Wagon) – Sold to Reliance Ranches for $130,000 – Consigned by Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent for Don C. Griffin.
Hip #88 Red Texas Sunset – Sorrel Filly (Mr Jess Perry-Apollitical Time, Apollo TB) – Sold to Marshall Watson for $107,000 – Consigned by Julianna Hawn Holt
Hip #124 Starfield – Brown Colt (FDD Dynasty-Starsmith, Tres Seis) – Sold to Judd Kearl for $102,000 – Consigned by MJ Farms, Agent
Hip #74 Famous Joker – Sorrel Colt (One Famous Eagle-Ms Pilot Point, Splash Bac) – Sold to Julian Ramirez for $100,000 – Consigned by Grant Farms, LLC
Hip #29 Srirracha – Sorrel Filly (Walk Thru Fire-Jakes Jockmo, Sixarun) – Sold to Paragon Farms, LLC for $80,000 – Consigned by Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent for Lazy Creek Ranch
Many people from all around the country traveled to Ruidoso this weekend to attend the Select Yearling Sale. Some were there to buy, some to sell, some to work and some to enjoy the festivities.
Katie Geist from Loveland, Colorado, just graduated from Colorado State University. She came to work the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for Lazy E with her friend Geovanni Herrera. Both Katie and Geovanni were members of the CSU Rodeo Team. Geovanni interned at Lazy E the past two summers, while Katie is working a sale for the first time. She is enjoying the experience and is impressed with the number of beautiful yearlings this sale has to offer!
Jerry Windham and his wife Pat have attended the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale since the mid-70's selling horses. Jerry says he loves the All American week atmosphere, and his yearlings have always sold pretty well here. The Windhams won the All American Futurity in 2008 with Stolis Winner who won over $2.2 million in his racing career.
Marci Shalz from Colby, Kansas, came with her family. She has been coming for 32 years, since she was a little girl, to buy horses. Her father, Ron Shalz along with Jerry Wells, bought what would become World Champion Merganser at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $9,000, and he went on to win the 1988 All American Futurity earning $1,373,704 in his racing career. They also bought stakes placed Fishers Tale in 2004 for $30,000 who earned $363,312 in his career.
Mac and Janis Murray have been coming to the sale for 25 years to sell horses. Mac says, “It's the premier yearling sale, and it makes for a festive weekend. Ruidoso Downs has done a phenomenal job with their Triple Crown series. We bring the whole crew, the grooms and handlers, and enjoy the weekend.”
G.R. Carter, Jr. was walking around the sale barn with his wife Shaena and he came over to say hello. When asked, "What made you decide to come out of retirement to ride this weekend?" Without missing a beat, G.R. said, "It's the All American, Baby!"
Make sure you watch the slide show of the day’s events to the end. This year Speedhorse presents the All American Countdown Trivia Contest. At the end of the slideshow will be two photos of two different All American winners. Name the individual horse, the year, jockey, trainer and whether it was the All American Futurity or Derby. The people who answer correctly will be put into a drawing and the person selected will win their choice of a Speedhorse hoodie, vest or one-year subscription.
The All American Weekend Countdown will continue tomorrow with the second night of the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Come back tomorrow to see the slideshow and the second All American Countdown Trivia Contest.