Page 51 - February 2016 Speedhorse

apollitical blood si 96, $1,519,800
champion 3-Year-old colt
Breeders: Bruce & Jill Thompson Owner: Rancho El Cabresto Inc. Trainer: Juan Aleman
Jockeys: Eduardo Nicasio & Omar Reyes
2015 Record: 5-3(1)-0-0, $1,016,840, All American D.-G1, fnl. Texas Cl. D.-G1
Sometimes one race can make a champion, if it is impressive enough. In the case of Apollitical Blood, that one race came in the All American Derby-G1, and it definitely was impressive enough.
While the All American Futurity-G1 still receives the most attention, in recent years the Derby has developed into an excellent race itself, in part because of the purse increases. For 2015, the Derby grossed $2,378,832.
Apollitical Blood resulted from the hard work of many people, including his breeders, Bruce and Jill Thompson; his owner, Juan Tirado’s Rancho el Cabresto Inc.; his trainer, Juan Aleman; and Eduardo Nicasio, who piloted him in all but one of his 2015 starts.
Rancho el Cabresto owns Apollitical Jess,
the sire of Apollitical Blood. Aleman arranged a foal-sharing agreement between Tirado and the Thompsons, who had raced the mare Brazilian Dasher, a 1/2-sister to Champion FDD Dynasty.
Under the foal-sharing agreement, Rancho el Cabresto got Apollitical Blood. The colt at two was good enough to finish fourth in the All American Futurity and second in the Golden State Million Futurity-G1.
Following that season, Apollitical Blood underwent knee surgery.
“We gave him plenty of time off,” said Aleman. “Our goal was to go up to Ruidoso again.”
Nearly seven months after his final start at two, Apollitical Blood had a rough start and finished fourth in his trial for the Rainbow Derby-G1. Aleman decided to bypass the consolation and wait for the All American Derby, a plan that worked perfectly.
Apollitical Blood qualified the fastest for the Derby and took an early lead in the final.
“We got away clean, and he was right there for about 100-200 yards,” said Aleman. “After that, he started pulling away from them.”
The colt came home on top by a decisive 1 3/4-lengths in :21.222 for the 440 yards. Aleman, who had twice trained horses that finished second in the race, was ecstatic.
“Just to qualify into that race is a great accomplishment,” he said. “To be in a race of that magnitude—the largest Derby in the country—I was happy and blessed to win it.”
Apollitical Blood wins the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Streakin La Jolla
Scoopie Fein
Streakin Six Bottom’s Up
Sinn Fein
Legs La Scoop Falstaff
Tumble Along First Down Dash Favorite Attraction
Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Beduino TB Ought To Go Beduino TB Little Smoothie On A High Sharper Image
Easy Six
Miss Assured
Raise Your Glass TB La Jolla
Three Oh’s Vansarita Too Scooper Chick
La Ferne
Lyphard
Ivorina
Tumble Wind
Shine Quick
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose Easy Jet
Native Noblesse
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat
Go Man Go
Do Good Bam Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat Smooth Move Marilyn Mae Dash For Cash Yankee Doll TB Easy Jet
Miss Killoqua
Easy Jet
Peggy Toro
Little Request TB Assured
Raise A Native Champagne Woman
St Bar
Top Pretty TB
Three Chicks OhMyOh
Vandy Garrettsmisspawhuska Triple Chick
Scoop Bam Quicksilver King
Nikita
Northern Dancer Goofed
Sir Ivor
Double Damask Restless Wind
Easy Stages
Rise ‘N Shine
Quickie
Rocket Wrangler
Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet
Rose Bug
Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB
Raise Your Glass TB Native Empress
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye
Top Deck TB Lightfoot Sis War Bam TB
Do Good
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye Rocket Bar TB Lady Wayward Moon Deck Ricketta
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Mito Paint Crafty Yankee Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Killoqua TB Beggar Vanet
Apollo TB Apollitical Time
Half Time Attraction APOLLITICAL BLOOD, ‘12, c.
Fishers Dash
Brazilian Dasher
First Down Dash
Fishers Favorite
Tolltac Dinastia Toll BRZ
Phillips Filly
SPEEDHORSE, February 2016 49
(c)linda Earley photography