Page 38 - 14 September 2012

Ruidoso Downs owner R.D. Hubbard (center) and AQHA’s Don Treadway (right) were among the people who helped honor Ochoa’s new status as Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading money earner with a winner’s circle presentation after the All American Derby-G1.
Ochoa’s breeder and co-owner Johnny T.L. Jones Jr.
“Mentally, he’s just a lot better horse. He just focuses on what he’s doing,” Baldillez said of the difference in Ochoa as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old. “Last year he was doing it just because he was fast. This year, he is more mentally focused on what he is doing. Just don’t get in his way and he’ll do the rest.”
Nowhere did Ochoa prove that more than in the All American Derby trials.
The Tres Seis gelding won his trial by two lengths over a sealed-sloppy track. He was the sixth-fastest qualifier and each of the five faster qualifiers ran over a fast track.
“He’s very powerful. He probably came out of that race better than he has all sum- mer,” Baldillez said of Ochoa’s All American Derby trial. “He run a real easy trial race and we just had a ton of horse to come back with. He deserves everything he gets. He’s a great horse.”
And after winning the All American Derby, Ochoa still looked like he had something left.
“He just ran a clean, straight race, and
it looked effortless for him,” said co-owner Katsy Cluck of Ochoa’s run in the All American Derby. “For Ochoa to run a clean race like he did, for everybody to run a clean race, that’s all we could ask for.
“This has been an amazing ride. All of us have been truly blessed to be a part of it. Ochoa is such a magnificent animal, and this is such a milestone in racing history. I’m just privileged to be a part of the whole thing. It’s a real honor.”
Johnny T.L. Jones, Jr., who bred Ochoa and bought him back as a yearling
for $25,000, called the entire experience a humbling one.
“I thought when he was clear he was going to win. He’s just an awesome horse, and we’re very fortunate to own him,” Jones added.
Runner-up Hez Our Secret (First Down Dash-Secret Separation) was one of the leading 2-year-olds at Ruidoso Downs last summer before he colicked and nearly died prior to the Rainbow Futurity-G1. He recovered and returned later that winter in California, finishing fourth in the $2,236,000 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1. This year, he has returned strong as a sophomore. Trained by Blane Wood for owner Johnny Trotter, Hez Our Secret finished in a dead heat for the win with A Toss Up in their All American Derby trial to qualify for his first stakes this year. Regular rider Ricky Ramirez was aboard in both the trials and finals.
Melissa Ann Miller’s homebred Jess Featureme Quick (Feature Mr Jess-One Quick Cookie) finished third under jockey Ramon Sanchez. Paul Jones trains Jess Featureme Quick, who was mak-
ing his stakes debut in the All American Derby after winning his trial by a head.
The remaining order of finish was Testing The Ice (Stoli-Streakin La Tac), Bills Last (Shazoom-Crystalinas), Linda Tee Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Linda Tee), Eyein This Feature (Feature Mr Jess-This Girl Is Special), Lotta Love For Robyn (First Down Dash-Love Ya Miss Jess) and BPS Jumpin Frisco (Jumpn-Frisco Fling). A Toss Up was scratched.
Jockey Roy Baldillez and Ochoa.
36 SPEEDHORSE, September 14, 2012
Amanda glidden: Speedhorse Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse
Kate Dickens: Speedhorse