Page 40 - September 2023

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NEW MEXICO Qualififiers to the 2023 Grade 1, $3,000,000
ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY
Trials: August 11-12 • Finals: September 4
Story by Emily Paulk • Photos by Linda Earley, Susan Bachelor, John Bachelor IV, Speedhorse
A total of 32 trials were run over a two-day period at Ruidoso Downs to determine the 10 fastest qualifiers to the $3 million All American Futurity-G1 to be contested on Labor Day September 4, which is closing day of the Ruidoso Downs’ summer meet.
August 11, day one of the trials, started with an 8 mph tail wind under cloudy skies and a track rated fast. By the 6th race, rain moved in and the track was rated muddy. By the 9th race, the rain moved out and the track began to improve with a rating of good until the 12th race when the track was rated as fast and continued this way until the last race was contested.
Three fillies and two geldings qualified to the finals on Friday from the 4th, 8th and 10th races. Qualifiers came from the 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 9-holes. The first day of the trials saw two homebreds make it to the final event in Sandstone Mountain for breeder/owner Wootan Racing, and Louis A. Malechek III’s Flyin Rabbit 123. All five qualifiers were ridden by different jockeys. Trainer Toby Keeton qualified two to the finals in Flyin Rabbit 123 and Sandstone Mountain.
August 12, day two of the trials, began with cloudy conditions and a fast track with a 7mph head wind and continued this way until the final race was run. Three colts and two geldings qualified on Saturday, coming from the 1st, 6th, 9th and 10th trials. Qualifiers came from the 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-holes. There were two homebreds to qualify to the finals from day two of the trials in Dashing Tres for breeder/owner Bob
McClure, and breeder/owner Double Bar S Ranch LLC’s Cuz Lightyear. Two horses were trained by Toby Keeton in Dashing Tres and Cuz Lightyear. Jockey Bryan Candanosa piloted two horses to qualify from day 2 in Dashing Tres and Cuz Lightyear.
When we look at the 10 horses going to the All American Futurity from both days of the trials combined, we see that trainer Toby Keeton qualified four horses to the finals with Sandstone Mountain and Flyin Rabbit 123 on day 1 and Dashing Tres and Cuz Lightyear on day 2. Trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. qualified two horses in Dark NME on day 1 and Trane Station V on day 2, while trainer M. Heath Taylor also qualified two horses in Devastating on day 1 and Corner Pocket 123 on day 2.
Multiple jockeys qualified multiple horses to the finals.
Bryan Candanosa led with three horses in Sandstone Mountain on day 1 and Dashing Tres and Cuz Lightyear on day 2. Francisco Calderon qualified two horses in Dark NME on day 1 and Trane Station V on day 2. Rodigo Sigala Vallejo qualified two horses in Devastating on day 1 and Corner Pocket 123 on day 2.
Flying Cowboy 123 led the sires with three qualifiers in Flyin Rabbit 123, Cowboys Gun Z and Corner Pocket 123. Favorite
Cartel saw two horses qualify in Devastating and Trane Station, while Tempting Dash also saw two horses qualify in Sandstone Mountain and Dashing Tres. No owner qualified more than one horse to the finals.
August 11
:21.101 Dark NME, f,
(Hes Relentless-Quinons)
TYKHE Racing LLC/Santos Carrizales Jr/Francisco Calderon
:21.394 Devastating, g, (Favorite Cartel-Quirky) Jackpot Farm/M. Heath Taylor/Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo
:21.399 AJ Precious Jewel, f,
(Apollitical Jess-CC Seis)
La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC/Xavier E Rodriguez/Luis Martinez
:21.416 Sandstone Mountain, f, (Tempting Dash-Eyesa Lil Senator) Wootan Racing/Toby Keeton/Bryan Candanosa
:21.454 Flyin Rabbit 123, g,
(Flying Cowboy 123-Hardtoget)
Louis A Malechek III/Toby Keeton/Juan Pulido
August 12
:21.576 Cowboys Gun Z, g,
(Flying Cowboy 123-CF Smokin Gun)
West Texas Racing Partners/Michael W Joiner/Agustin Silva
:21.630 Dashing Tres, c,
(Tempting Dash-Sissys Tres Girl)
Bob McClure/Toby Keeton/Bryan Candanosa
:21.645 Trane Station V, c,
(Favorite Cartel-Attack The Cartel) Valeriano Racing Stables LLC Santos Carrizales Jr/Francisco Calderon
:21.677 Corner Pocket 123, g,
(Flying Cowboy 123-Shanondoah)
J J Racing/M. Heath Taylor/Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo
:21.706 Cuz Lightyear, c, (Corona Cartel-Jess Cuz) Double Bar S Ranch LLC/Toby Keeton/Bryan Candanosa
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SPEEDHORSE September 2023