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It’s hard enough to win the All American Futurity-G1. Now try doing it with a filly and keeping her undefeated through Quarter Horse
racing’s biggest event. That’s exactly what Whistle Stop Cafe did in 2020.
Never beaten from six starts, Whistle Stop Cafe has done everything asked of her. She added the All American Futurity to a previous win in the Rainbow Futurity-G1, a double accomplished by only one other filly, Real Wind back in 1976.
Ray and Lainie Whitmire of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, race Whistle Stop Cafe in the name of their Whitmire Ranch, and they couldn’t be prouder of their filly.
“There were 10 great horses in there,” said Ray. “Any horse in there could have won the race, I thought. There are only two mares who have won the Rainbow and the All American. I feel really lucky.”
Ricky Ramirez, who has ridden Whistle Stop Cafe in all of her races, piloted her again in the Sept. 7 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs for trainer Blane Wood. Undefeated despite not always getting away from the gate perfectly, Whistle Stop Cafe broke well this time from the 7-post.
“We liked our post position, and everything just worked right,” said Ray. “She got out good, and once she did, I thought we really had a great chance.”
Whistle Stop Cafe surged to the front quickly in the 440-yard All American.
Instygator closed ground, but the gelding couldn’t get past the filly, who beat him by a neck in :21.437.
Ramirez was winning his first All American Futurity.
“It means so much, especially with all my family here,” said the rider. “It took me 10 tries, but I finally got it done. That filly seems to enjoy it all. When I asked her, she had another gear.”
The Whitmires were also happy that their filly got the win for Ramirez.
“He’s a class act,” stated Ray. “He’s just a great guy, besides being a great jockey. We have a great trainer, too. Blane Wood is an outstand- ing trainer.”
Wood was winning his second All American Futurity, following Apocalyptical Jess in 2018.
“Whistle Stop Cafe is the fastest filly I’ve ever had,” said Wood. “Her heart is bigger than
Bred by: Bobby D. Cox Raced at 2 $1,974,986 6-6(3)-0-0
FREIGHTTRAIN B
si 115
Bred by: Bill Price & Bob Petersen Raced to 3 • $421,761 16-9(3)-2(1)-1
674 f., 19 SW • $10,706,444
PYC PAINT YOUR WAGON si 107 Bred by: Michael Pohl
Raced to 3 • $889,581 16-7(4)-4(2)-2
1,531 f., 116 SW • $36,712,217
DIANETOGETCHA si 108 Bred by: Jim Lee Stamps Raced to 4 • $ 63,328 18-4(1)-3(2)-1
28 f., 2 SW • $709,795
SINUOUS
si 99
Bred by: Bobby D. Cox Raced to 3 • $105,956 12-4-3(1)-1(1)
20 f., 3 SW • $2,469,536
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,879 f., 155 SW • $57,975,363
NO FEES si 94
Bred by: Iris M. Buchanan Raced to 3 • $ 166,320 6-6(3)-0-0
35 f., 1 SW • $724,351
Whistle Stop Cafe and Ricky Ramirez win the $3,000,000 All American Futurity-G1 by a neck.
SPEEDHORSE October 2020 117
WHISTLE STOP CAFE, ‘18-f.