It’s all in the family for the 10 qualifiers to the $2 million All American Futurity, to be held on Labor Day, September 4 at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. Nine of the two-year-old Quarter Horse qualifiers for the 440-yard race carry the sire First Down Dash within the first two generations of their pedigrees. The tenth is the offspring of a First Down Dash grandson.
Horses with the 10 fastest times from 162 trial entrants qualified for the All American Futurity where the winner alone will earn $1 million.
In addition to strong family ties, seven of the 10 finalists have won or placed in Grade 1 futurities. Okey Dokey Fantasy, trained by John Boegner for Okey Dokey Fantasy Joint Venture, is the top contender based on his record of eight wins in eight starts and earnings of $440,768.
“I just want the ninth win. That’s all I want,” said Boegner, referring to the All American Futurity. Okey Dokey Fantasy’s eighth win came in his trial for the All American, where he prevailed by 1¼ lengths with the tenth-fastest qualifying time of 21.312 seconds.
“I thought he ran his best race in the All American trials,” Boegner added. “It’s hard to say he’s improving, but I think he is.” Okey Dokey Fantasy leads the nation in races won and ranks second in earnings.
A yearling half-sister to Okey Dokey Fantasy named Fontanas Stoi will sell in the Ruidoso Select Quarter Horse Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs on the Sunday evening before Labor Day.
No Secrets Here, owned by leading race breeder Vessels Stallion Station in partnership with Benny Rosset, was the fastest qualifier. The First Down Dash-sired colt, ridden by Cody Jensen for trainer Paul Jones, won his trial in 21.044 seconds over a sloppy track.
“Actually, he wasn’t getting a hold of the track,” Jensen noted, after the trial. “I was surprised that he went that fast. I had to keep picking him up and couldn’t let him go.”
Jensen won the 2005 All American Futurity with Teller Cartel, who broke his maiden and paid $37.80 for the win. Also trained by Paul Jones, Teller Cartel was named Champion 2-Year-Old Race Colt for 2005 by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
No Secrets Here, one of three qualifiers bred by Vessels Stallion Station, home of First Down Dash, placed third in the Ed Burke Million at Los Alamitos Race Course in Southern California on June 24.
“He was gaining ground in the Ed Burke and would have been second in another jump,” said Jones. “Since the Ed Burke is at 350 yards, we thought he would like the 440 yards of the All American Futurity and decided to bring him.”
The All American Futurity will be telecast on Labor Day through TVG and Fox regional networks Estimated post time is 4:40 p.m. MDT. Coverage of the All American Futurity and Derby will be featured on ESPN2’s recap of the week’s major stakes on September 5 at 2:00 MDT.