Heartswideopen, who set a 440-yard world record for fillies and mares qualifying for the $2 million All American Futurity, came back to claim the winner’s prize of $1 million by a neck over 18 to 1 longshot SF Royal Bank.
Trained by Carl Draper for Javier and Manny Rodriguez of Las Vegas, NV, Heartswideopen broke on top, then drifted out slightly in the first strides to lose her advantage over SF Royal Bank, ridden by Freddie Martinez. Under a stick-switching ride under Oscar Hernandez, however, she caught SF Royal Bank in the final 50 yards. It was another half-length back to third-placed Captain Courage.
“I’m relieved,” said Draper. “She had to come from out of it and I was worried. Then I saw her kick in and I stopped worrying because I know how far she can run.”
“Even though she went out, I knew she would drift in near the grandstand,” said Hernandez, who earned his first All American Futurity win. “That’s when I switched sticks (to the left hand).”
Previously undefeated Wild Six, winner of the Rainbow Futurity and the wagering public’s second favorite, finished a non-threatening sixth. “The race didn’t go our way today,” said jockey Tony Guymon. “It was a clean race. It just wasn’t our day.”
Runner-up SF Royal Bank ran the best race of his four-start career. “We just about got it,” said Jones who conditions the Royal Quick Dash son for Salome Gallegos of El Paso, TX. “He ran a hell of a race. We were the 18-1 longshot and she (Heartswideopen) caught us at the last jump. We really got him to step up to the plate today.”
Heartswideopen raced the 440-yards in :20.997. She had won her trial in a record :20.921. A $60,000 yearling purchase in the 2006 Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale, the brown filly has been brilliant since breaking her maiden in her debut in March, at Sunland Park. The only blemish of her record came when she finished sixth in the West Texas Futurity, as the 4-5 favorite, behind Wild Six. With her All American Futurity winnings, she now has lifetime earnings of $1,282,690.
It was the second All American Futurity victory in four years for Draper and ended a bid for a record three-straight All American Futurity victories for SF Royal Bank’s trainer Paul Jones. Draper won the 2004 All American Futurity with DM Shicago, who went on to sweep the three Grade 1 derbies at Ruidoso Downs and be named 2005 world champion. Five-time defending national training champion Jones won the 2005 running with Teller Cartel and last year’s edition with No Secrets Here, who set the stakes record :20.88.
Heartswideopen is a daughter of Feature Mr Jess and out of 2-time champion Dashing Phoebe, who was the defeated favorite in the 1985 All American Futurity, after winning the Kansas and Rainbow Futurities. On Saturday, Heartswideopen’s three-quarter brother, consigned by Dreams Come True Ranch, brought a winning bid of $415,000 from Chad Hart at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. It was the second-highest price from the record-breaking sale. Hart is a partner with Burnett Ranches in Captain Courage, who topped the 2006 Select Yearling Sale at $415,000.
The complete order of the All American Futurity finish was Heartswideopen, SF Royal Bank, Captain Courage, Greatful Heart, Libbys Feature, Wild Six, Coronas Fast Dash and Strong Hope. The injured Royal Holland Line and Sure I Fly were scratched.