Page 68 - February 2021

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
RATIFICATION si 98, $383,446
Ratification wins the 2020 All American Oaks
Breeder: Bobby D. Cox
Owner: Bobby D. Cox
Trainers: John Buchanan & Juan Vazquez Jockeys: Francisco Calderon, Esgar Ramirez & Agustin Silva
2020 Record: 7-5(2)-1-0, $327,308
All American Oaks, Rainbow Oaks
Ratification was the perfect advertisement for Ruidoso Downs’ new Oaks program in 2020. The filly won both the inaugural Rainbow Oaks and All American Oaks, and those efforts earned her the 3-Year-Old Filly Championship title.
Owner/breeder Bobby Cox noted at the awards ceremony that deciding between the Oaks and the Derby races was difficult.
“But I’m really glad that we made the choice we did and were able to win the Oaks,” Cox said. “That was great, winning the first inaugural race like that. I hadn’t done that before.”
That is saying something, considering everything Cox has accomplished. He also bred 2020 World Champion Whistle Stop Cafe and was named Champion Breeder for the third time.
Sadly, John Buchanan, Ratification’s trainer, died between her trial for the All American Oaks and the final. Juan Vazquez, Buchanan’s assistant, ably took over, but it was a huge blow to the entire team.
After a prep at Remington Park, Ratification won a trial for the Ruidoso Derby and her trial and the final of the Rainbow Oaks for Buchanan. She led from start to finish in the Oaks under jockey Esgar Ramirez, scoring by a head.
“She just blossomed out here,” Buchanan said about Ratification at Ruidoso. “She’s just one of those fillies that can really breathe good in this high altitude.”
Winning the Rainbow Oaks brought Ratification plenty of attention.
“She got so much publicity from this—I couldn’t believe it,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan noted that Ratification is a very correct filly and a “good eater.” While she can get fidgety around the barn, she’s all business on the racetrack.
“She’s a perfect lady,” Buchanan said. “She just wants to get out and do something.”
Ratification demonstrated that ability in both her trial and the final of the All American Oaks. She dominated her trial by an amazing 5-lengths and came back in the final with a 1-length victory.
Vazquez paid tribute to Buchanan after the race, saying, “John was so great with this horse, and she was ready to run. He would have been so proud of her.”
APOLLITICAL JESS
si 107
Bred by: Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga
Raced to 3 • $1,399,831 14-8(2)-4(2)-0
911 foals, 81 SW Progeny Earnings: $37,782,202
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,888 foals, 155 SW Progeny Earnings: $58,367,523
STREAKIN LA JOLLA si 99 Bred by: B F Phillips/Delbert Smith Raced to 3 • $56,227
8-8(1)-0-0
1,533 f, 87 SW • $25,111,170
STREAKIN SIX si 104
BOTTOM’S UP si 82
SCOOPIE FEIN si 99 Bred by: Dr. & Mrs.D.G Strole Raced to 4 • $15,807 20-6-3-4
8 f, 1 SW • $837,511
SINN FEIN si 98
LEGS LA SCOOP si 95
APOLITICAL TIME si 104 Bred by: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Raced to 6 • $904,242 35-14(1)-7(2)-5(4)
11 foals, 1 SW
Progeny Earnings: $1,523,868
APOLLO TB
Bred by: Eclipse Invest/Leon Rasmussen Raced to 6 • $354,475 23-5(2)-4(4)-4(3)
736 f, 36 SW • $14,699,395
FALSTAFF TB
TUMBLE ALONG TB
HALF TIME ATTRACTION si 96 Bred by: Tom Carlson/Vessels SF LLC Raced to 2 • $14,734
11-1-2(1)-2(1)
18 f, 1 SW • $1,032,161
FIRST DOWN DASH si 105
FIRST DOWN DASH si 105 Bred by: A F Stanley Jr/ B F Phillips Jr.
Raced to 3 • $857,256 15-13(8)-1(1)-0
2,494 foals, 258 SW Progeny Earnings: $89,372,637
DASH FOR CASH si 114 Bred by: B F Phillps Jr
Raced to 4 • $507,689 25-21(9)-3(2)-0
1,368 f, 145 SW • $39,991,197
FAVORITEATTRACTION si88
ROCKET WRANGLER si 97
SHESA FIRST RATIFY
si 102
Bred by: Sandy Erwin Raced to 3 • $448,321 20-5(1)-4(1)-2
22 foals, 1 SW Progeny Earnings: $676,382
FIND A BUYER TB
FIRST PRIZE ROSE si 98 Bred by: Gordon H. Wilson Raced to 4 • $22,754 34-6-8(1)-6(1)
7 f., 2 SW • $986,098
GALLANT JET si 102
CHICKS BEDUINO si 104 Bred by: J. Muniz & J. Bobenrieth Raced to 3 • $412,099 14-7(2)-2(1)-1(1)
2,068 f, 141 SW • $35,482,563
ROSE BUG si 96
RATIFY si 101
Bred by: Ramon Arroyo Sanchez
Raced to 4 • $32,338 20-2-5-1
10 foals, 1 SW
Progeny Earnings: $563,837
BEDUINO TB
A CLASSY CHICK si 89
DASH BABY si 99 Bred by: Jerry Rheudasil Raced to 4 • $9,655 16-2-1-2
12 f, 0 SW • $106,485
DASH FOR CASH si 114
MISS DENTON TB
66 SPEEDHORSE February 2021
Ruidoso Downs