Heartswideopen, who by-passed the Rainbow Futurity following her gate-to-wire win in the $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity, commanded a 1 1/4-length victory and the fastest qualifying time of 20.921 for the $2 million 440-yard All American Quarter Horse Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, earlier today.
Her time is a world record for a female at 440-yards. A Long Goodbye holds the world record of 20.686 set at Sunland Park in 2005 with a 14-mile-per-hour tail wind.
The Carl Draper-trained filly broke on top from the six-hole and day lighted the field with confidence under rider Oscar Hernandez. Sure I Fly, a 35 to 1 shot ridden for trainer Todd Fincher by Bonifacio Perez, finished second, but was vanned off of the track. Captain Courage, under G.R. Carter, and SF Royal Bank, with Freddie Martinez, finishing third and fourth in the same trial, also qualified for the 10-horse All American Futurity finals on Labor Day, September 3.
Rainbox Futurity winner Wild Six, undefeated in six starts, posted the second-fastest qualifying time of 21.051, in the ninth trial under Tony Guymon for trainer Wes Giles.
Heartswideopen has been impressive in her 6-race career with five victories and a sixth-place finish in the $266,000 West Texas Futurity. The daughter of Feature Mr Jess and two time champion Dashing Phoebe was the fastest qualifier to the West Texas Futurity and the Ruidoso Futurity. She won her Ruidoso Futurity trial by three lengths in :17.335 for 350 yards, the fastest time from 16 trials. Her time in the All American trials earned her a speed rating of 102. No Secrets Here, who won the 2006 All American Futurity, set a new stakes record of 20.88; Strawkins holds the track record for 440 yards with 20.73.
Draper and Heartswideopen’s owners, Javier and Manny Rodriguez, elected to forfeit the chance for a $4 million All American Triple Crown bonus by sitting out the Rainbow Futurity trials in July, in order to have a fresh filly for the All American trials.
“It was my call to preserve a fast filly,” said Draper (pictured with Heartswideopen), who also conditioned 2004 All American Futurity winner and 2005 world champion DM Shicago. “That time helped her to develop. She is bigger, stronger and the layoff freshened her up. She’s a happy camper.”
Draper said that after the All American Futurity, Heartswideopen, a $60,0000 Ruidoso Select Sale yearling purchase, would be pointed toward the Los Alamitos Two Million on November 23 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
All American Futurity qualifers, in order of qualifying time: Heartswideopen 20.921; Wild Six 21.051; Sure I Fly 21.152; Coronas Fast Dash 21.183; Captain Courage 21.363; Strong Hope 21.402; Libbys Feature 21.414; SF Royal Bank 21.417; Greatful Heart 21.438; and Royal Holland Line 21.447.