Page 66 - September2021

ALL AMERICAN DERBY • RUIDOSO DOWNS, NEW MEXICO
Race Record: 10-6-3(3)-1(1)
Instygator is knocking on the door and looking for a stakes win. He finished second in the All Amer- ican Futurity-G1, Texas Classic Futurity-G1 and Heritage Place Derby-G2 and third in the Heritage Place Futurity-G1. Under jockey Juan Pulido for the first time, the gelding exited the 8-post on the lead despite a little bump at the break in the All American Derby trials. Drifting a bit to the outer rail but never relinquishing his lead, Instygator was a full 1 1/2-lengths ahead of the field at the
first call. He had 2-lengths as he neared the wire and he finished an easy 2 3/4-lengths to the good, clocking in with the fastest qualifying time. Instygator was bred by Bobby D. Cox and is owned by Barboza Racing Corp. Santos Carrizales Jr. does the conditioning.
EMPRESSUM si 110, $795,291
Empressum stands on the verge of becoming just one of four horses to be named the Derby Triple Crown winner. He has already scored in the Grade 1 Rainbow and Ruidoso derbies. And the gelding also won the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby-RG2 earlier this year. With three graded stakes wins entering the All American Derby trials, Empressum broke well from the 6-gate, held a head lead at first call, 1 1/2-lengths at the top of the stretch, and impressively crossed the finish line 3-lengths in front of all comers. Empressum is bred and owned by Jeff D. Jones and Steve A. Holt. The gelding is trained by Heath Taylor and was guided across the wire by regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo.
MISTER ILLUSION si 101, $219,086
Mister Illusion broke his maiden in his first out in the 2021 Rainbow Futurity trials. He qualified and finished second in those finals. He then raced in a series of trials, qualifying to the Rainbow Derby-G1 earlier this year and coming in seventh in that race. His All American Derby trial victory was his first win since his first start. The gelding broke on top from the 5-gate and held a clear lead throughout the contest, a length at first call and 1 1/2-lengths near the wire. He held off a challenger and crossed the finish line 3/4-lengths on top. The third-fastest qualifier, Mister Illusion is bred and owned by Jerry Windham and trained by Heath Taylor. Rodrigo Vallejo was aboard for this one.
SHOTT GUN si 102, $438,052
Shott Gun won his first stakes race last year in the Heritage Place Futurity-G1 in what was just his third start. This year, the gray gelding has won three of five outs including a second-place finish
in the Ruidoso Invitational and a fifth in the Rainbow Derby-G1. There was no doubt in his All American Derby trial as he qualified wire-to-wire for the fourth fastest clocking. Under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, Shott Gunn was out on the lead from the 7-hole. He had a length at first call and continued to increase his advantage to finish an easy 2-lengths ahead of his competition. Shott Gun is bred and owned by Bobby D. Cox and Heath Taylor does the training.
FAVORITE DOC si 101, $69,855
In the last race of his 2020 season, Favorite Doc won his trial to the Golden State Million Futurity and finished seventh in the finals after a bumping incident. The gelding opened up 2021 with an allowance win at Ruidoso Downs before making his start in the All American Derby trials. Jockey Je- sus Ayala was aboard as they loaded into the 6-gate. Favorite Doc was out with the pack and received the fourth call. He pressed into second place by the first call and held there throughout the contest, finishing second for the fifth qualifying spot to the finals. Favorite Doc is bred by Edward C. Allred and owned by Junior’s Quarter Horses Inc. Monty Arrossa is the conditioner.
Race Record: 14-11(3)-0-0
Race Record: 11-6(1)-2(1)-0
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INSTYGATOR si 103, $877,863
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Race Record: 8-2-2(1)-1
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Race Record: 7-3-1-1
64 SPEEDHORSE September 2021