Page 42 - September 2023

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ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY • RUIDOSO DOWNS, NEW MEXICO
AJ PRECIOUS JEWEL
Race Record: 5-1-0-1 • Day 1, Trial 10 – 3rd • AJ Precious Jewel just misses second to settle for third place for the third qualifying time.
SI 98, $13,080
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SANDSTONE MOUNTAIN SI 94, $16,500
Race Record: 3-2-0-0 • Day 1, Trial 8 – 1st • Sandstone Mountain made easy work of the 440 yards with a victory by 2 1/2-lengths for the fourth fastest qualifying time.
AJ Precious Jewel made her first start on March 11 in the West Texas Futurity trials with a distant ninth place finish and did not qualify to the Grade 1 finals. She finished in the back of the pack
in the Rainbow Futurity trials as well as the Ruidoso Futurity trials, failing to qualify to both Grade 1 finals. In her start prior to the All American Futurity trials, AJ Precious Jewel had a wire-to-wire victory, finishing with an impressive 2 1/4-length lead in a maiden race at Ruidoso Downs.
In her trial to the All American Futurity, AJ Precious Jewel broke well in second from the 6-post. She raced in second the majority of the 440 yards, falling behind at the wire to finish in third while securing the third fastest qualifying spot. AJ Precious Jewel was bred by Rancho El Cabresto Inc. and is owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC. Luis Martinez has ridden the filly in two of her five starts for trainer Xavier Rodriguez. La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC purchased AJ Precious Jewel at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $170,000.
The fourth fastest qualifier already has two wins from just three starts. She made her first start on April 29 with a victory in a maiden race at Sam Houston. In her start prior to the All American Futurity trial, Sandstone Mountain finished a distant fifth in the Ruidoso Futurity trials and she did not qualify to the Grade 1 finals.
In her trial to the All American Futurity, she broke in second and held that position briefly. She grabbed the lead and began creating distance between her and the rest of the field to win by 2 1/2-lengths, securing the fourth qualifying spot. Sandstone Mountain is a homebred for Wootan Racing. The Toby Keeton trainee had Bryan Candanosa in the irons. Sadly, Sandstone Mountain passed away Friday evening.
40 SPEEDHORSE September 2023