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Short of a dead heat, owner Sammy Valeriano and trainer Monty Arrossa
did as well as just about anybody could in the $1,078,098 All American Derby-G1 at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 6.
Arrossa saddled Gold Heart Eagle V and Inaugurator, both owned by Valeriano, and they finished one-two, Gold Heart Eagle V emerging the winner.
“It was a blessing from God to finish one- two,” said Valeriano of Odessa, Texas, who races in the name of Valeriano Racing Stables LLC. The qualifiers to the Derby brought impressive resumes. Gold Heart Eagle V was coming off a third in the Rainbow Derby-G1 to Cers Final Try and Hotsempting.
Those two reversed their order from the Ruidoso Derby-G1, and both qualified for the All American Derby. But they didn’t come close to Gold Heart Eagle V’s All American Derby trial performance on Aug. 23.
Despite bumping at the start, Gold Heart Eagle V zoomed into the lead and kept pull- ing away. While others won their trials by 1-length or less, he scored by 4-lengths and qualified the fastest in :21.108.
The next-fastest qualifier, Hotsempting, stopped the timer in :21.341.
Valeriano and Arrossa’s other qualifier, Inaugurator, had won the Heritage Place Derby-G2 at Remington Park prior to
shipping to Ruidoso. He finished second in his trial to Hotsempting.
“He is also a good horse,” said Valeriano.
James Flores has ridden Gold Heart Eagle V in all of his races this year and was back aboard for the derby final. When the gate opened, Gold Heart Eagle V brushed lightly with Love Is Everything V to his outside. But then he found clear room and surged
forward to win by 1 1/2-lengths in :21.042. Inaugurator ran second by a 1/2-length.
“It just seemed like Gold Heart Eagle V had the most incredible racing luck,” stated conditioner Arrossa. “The break just parted in his favor, and James kept him clear. It was an amazing win. And then for our other horse to step up for second—it was the Derby of our dreams.”
Bred by: Christine Hudson
Raced to 3 $530,883 7-2(1)-1-1(1)
ONE FAMOUS EAGLE
si 101
Bred by: Johnny Trotter Raced to 3 • $1,387,453 11-7(3)-0-2
1,096 f., 68 SW • $31,240,006
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
ONE FAMOUS LADY si 104 Bred by: Allred Brothers Raced to 4 • $172,515 13-2-3-4(1)
26 f., 3 SW • $1,852,734
LADYS HEART OF GOLD
Bred by: Double Bar S Ranch, LLC Unraced
12 f., 4 SW • $1,612,323
STRAWFLY SPECIAL si 97 Bred by: Dan & Jolene Urschel Raced to 4 • $222,920 25-11(1)-4(2)-3(3)
1,451 f., 79 SW • $25,838,517
STRENGTH OF HEART si 104 Bred by: J S Smith
Raced to 3 • $57,266 15-4-4(2)-0
6 f., 1 SW • $299,088
Gold Heart Eagle V and jockey James Flores win the $1,078,098 All American Derby-G1 by 1 1/2-lengths.
SPEEDHORSE October 2020 121
GOLD HEART EAGLE , ‘17-c.