Only eight horses are likely compete for the winner’s prize of $1 million in the 49th running of the $2 million, All American Futurity on Monday, September 3 at Ruidoso Downs. It is expected that Sure I Fly and Royal Holland Line, the third and 10th fastest qualifiers for the 440-yard dash will be scratched due to injuries.
Anticipation mounts with the approach of the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale, August 31, September 1 and 2, where siblings of four of the five fastest qualifiers for this year’s race will go under the hammer. Special interest is sure to attend Lot #224, a three-quarter brother to Heartswideopen, the filly who qualified for the All American Futurity with an all-time trial record of 20.921 and the fastest 440-yard time ever run by a female.
A $60,000 All American Select Yearling Sale purchase, Heartswideopen, has already earned $282,690 with five wins from six starts, including a stakes record victory in the Ruidoso Futurity. The Feature Mr Jess daughter, who is out of two-time running champion Dashing Phoebe, is trained by Carl Draper for Javier and Manny Rodriguez.
Wild Six, the second-fastest qualifier and a $32,000 sale purchase, is undefeated in six starts, with earnings of $459,903. The Tres Seis daughter, trained by Wes Giles for Lee, Sherwood and Mineer, counts the Rainbow Futurity and the West Texas Futurity among her victories. Her half-sister, Wildside, by The Down Side and the second foal out of Wild Vines, sells in the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale as Lot #405.
Sure I Fly was sent off at odds of 35 to 1 to finish second in his All American trial to Heartswideopen. The Strawfly Special gelding, trained by Todd Fincher for Double Bar S Ranch, had failed in attempts to qualify for the Ruidoso Futurity and the Rainbow Futurity, and came into the All American trials with earnings of $14,280. Lot #237 is by First Down Dash and out of Sure Alibi, the dam of Sure I Fly.
Captain Courage, sale topper of the 2006 Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale at $415,000, was the fifth fastest qualifier. Trained by Heath Taylor for Burnett Ranches and Chad Hart, the Mr Jess Perry son is out of two-time champion and Broodmare of the Year Corona Chick, whose offspring, including 1997 All American Futurity winner Corona Cash, have earned more than $3 million.
Mighty Corona, Lot #382 in the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale, is a half-brother to Captain Courage and full brother to Corona Cash, as well as Valiant Hero (pictured), who qualified for the All American Derby on Sunday, September 2. Captain Courage, with earnings of $5,320, broke his maiden at Delta Downs. His All American Futurity trial, where he finished third to Heartswideopen, was his third start.