Page 40 - 14 September 2012

All AmericAn gOlD cuP-g3
Prospect to the top proves best in elite gold cup field.
by Stacy Pigott
Favored Prospect To The Top drew off to win the All American Gold Cup-G3 by three-quarters of a length.
the All American Gold Cup-G3 may have been Noconi’s swan song, but it was Prospect To The Top’s race, as those two rivals battled gamely before Prospect To The Top inched away to defeat Noconi and win the Gold Cup on Sept. 2 at Ruidoso Downs.
Ridden by Oscar Rincon, Prospect To The Top loaded into the outside post position in the six-horse Gold Cup field. The 4-year- old stallion got the jump out of the gate,
a step in front of Noconi and jockey Saul Ramirez Jr. Dueling throughout the 440-yard race, Prospect To The Top proved best late, pulling away to win by three-quarters of a length. Noconi was second, a length in front of DM Streakn Thru Fire and G.R. Carter Jr.
Prospect To The Top stopped the timer in :21.275 for the distance, earning $24,000 of the total purse. Ralph Muniz trains the stallion for Joel Tavarez.
The win was the eighth from 19 starts for Prospect To The Top, who won the Hobbs America Futurity-G2 as a 2-year-old, setting a track record in the trials for that race, before taking the Hobbs America Derby-G2
and West Texas Derby-G3 at 3. He was also second in the All American Derby-G1 last year, when he was named the AQHA’s Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. This was only the second start of his 4-year-old campaign, following his first season at stud, and came on the heels of a runner-up
effort in the Mr Jet Moore
Handicap-G3 on Aug. 5.
Prospect To The Top has earned $679,250, easily making him the leading money earner for his dam, stakes-placed Cream To The Top. She has produced four winners from seven starters and 10 total foals. Sue May bred Prospect To The Top, who is his dam’s only stakes winner so far.
Noconi’s retirement was
announced before the All American Gold Cup, and while the 7-year-old gelding didn’t get the story-book ending of winning the All American Gold Cup for a third straight year,
he ran a strong race to retire with a record
of 36-15-8-5 and earnings of $1,348,959. Owned by R.D. Hubbard and Johnny T.L. Jones Jr. and trained by Paul Jones, Noconi was the 2008 Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding and the 2009 Champion Aged Gelding.
“He’s been unbeliev- able,” said co-owner R.D. Hubbard. “He’s been a great one. I’m sad to see him go, but it’s time.”
DM Streakn Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Sashay N Six) was making his first start of 2012 in the Gold Cup. Mike Joiner trains the 4-year-old gelding
for owners Sturdevant, Wootan and Yates.
Sir Seth (First Down Dash-Quiet Courage)
was fourth, followed by Flyin Fish (Fishers Dash-Jazzing Cheree) and Jess He Is (Fly Jess Fly-Madam Takes Cash). Unashamed was scratched.
38 SPEEDHORSE, September 14, 2012
Ruidoso Downs $40,000 • 440 yards :21.275 • si 92
Corona Cartel
Coronas Prospect
Fantastic Polly
PROSPECT TO THE TOP, ’08-g.
Easily Smashed
Cream To The Top
Hey Sailor
Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse