Heartswideopen, impressive winner of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity, will bypass the trials to the Grade 1, $625,000 Rainbow Futurity to be held on Friday, July 6, at Ruidoso Downs, and instead be pointed toward the August 16 trials of the $2 million All American Futurity, according to trainer Carl Draper. She will then be aimed for the November 23 trials of the Los Alamitos Two Million in Cypress, CA.
In bypassing the second leg of Quarter racing’s Triple Crown, Heartswideopen forfeits a chance to earn a total of $5.5 million, including the $4 million Triple Crown bonus and the winner’s share from each race.
It was my call to preserve a fast filly,” said Draper, who trained 2005 AQHA world championship DM Shicago (in photo with Draper). “I think I can freshen her up and be ready for the All American and then freshen her again and be ready for the Two Million. She’s sound, but she’s run five hard races. We’re always going to do what’s best for the horse,”
Hearstwideopen posted the fastest time in the Ruidoso Futurity trials before winning the finals by more than a length in stakes record time. Owned by Javier and Manny Rodriguez, she is by Feature Mr Jess and out of 2-year-old champion Dashing Phoebe, who won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but was the beaten favorite in the All American.
The only horse to sweep the three futurities was Special Effort in 1981, which was before the Triple Crown bonus bonus was instituted. The $625,000 Rainbow Futurity will be held on July 22 and the $2 million All American Futurity is on Labor Day, September 3.