Page 33 - 14 September 2012

All AmericAn futurity-g1 One Dashing eagle upsets heavy favorite PJ chick in Black.
by Stacy Pigott
Jockey Ramon Sanchez and One Dashing Eagle scored a three-quarter-length win in the $2,400,000 All American Futurity-G1 on Labor Day.
Arecord crowd of 24,106 was on hand at Ruidoso Downs on Labor Day, Sept.
3, to watch the Grade 1, $2,400,000 All American Futurity. Many thought they were going to see a repeat performance by fastest qualifier PJ Chick In Black, sending her off as the heavy favorite. Instead, what they saw was a dominating effort by California invader One Dashing Eagle, who went wire to wire to win the 54th running of the All American Futurity, the world’s richest Quarter Horse race and the highest purse for a 2-year-old race of any breed in North America.
Odds-on favorite PJ Chick In Black had been impressive in her All American Futurity trial, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. In the finals, however, she finished sixth and suffered
her first loss after five wins including the $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity-G1.
“She warmed up really good. I thought she was on the top of her game, but she never got focused in the gate like she did in the trials. When the dirt started hitting her, she threw her head like she didn’t want to run.
It wasn’t our day,” said PJ Chick In Black’s jockey Esgar Ramirez.
Instead, the day belonged to One Dashing Eagle, the second choice in the wagering at odds of 6-1. Owned by Jose and Gustavo
De La Torre with San Gregorio Racing Stables, represented by Jorge Carmona, One Dashing Eagle raced to a three-quarters of a length win over Sudden Thoughts while Aha Moment was another three-
quarters of a length back in third place.
Ridden for the first time by Ramon Sanchez, One Dashing Eagle got out of the six gate in good order and immediately went to the front. The son of One Famous Eagle simply grew stronger from there, racing to a handy win while covering the 440 yards in :21.230.
“I was a length in front the second jump. After that, everything was easy,” said Sanchez.
“We have a lot of respect for the filly,” Gustavo De La Torre said of PJ Chick In
Black. “We knew that she was a monster. We just thought she ran too fast in her trial, and we thought we had a little bit more left for the finals.”
And One Dashing Eagle did. For his con- nections, it was a relief to see One Dashing Eagle run a nearly perfect race. In the trials,
the colt had lugged out to the outside rail while still winning the 26th trial and qualifying for the finals.
“In the trials, he lugged out very badly. We thought he ran like an extra 10 yards,” said Gustavo De
La Torre. “This time, with Ramon (Sanchez), we knew that with him riding him for the first time it might be a little tough, but we were confident in him. We didn’t think it would hap- pen again.”
And they were right. One Dashing Eagle raced to his fourth win in five starts in the All American Futurity. Prior to traveling
Ruidoso Downs $2,400,000 • 440 yards :21.230 • si 93
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
ONE DASHING EAGLE, ’10-c.
First Down Dash
One Sweet Dash
Sweet Beduino
SPEEDHORSE, September 14, 2012 31
Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse