No Secrets Here, bred and owned by Vessels Stallion Station LLC, Bonsall, California, broke the All American Futurity 440-yard stakes record of 21.00 seconds to win the $2 million race for two-year-old Quarter Horses, on September 4 at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.
It was the second consecutive All American Futurity win for trainer Paul Jones and jockey Cody Jensen, who teamed to win the 2005 running with long shot Teller Cartel, who broke his maiden with his victory.
No Secrets Here, who was the fastest qualifier for the race, crossed the wire in 20.88 seconds on a sloppy track, defeating 5 to 2 favorite Gun Battle by a neck.
“There were a lot more expectations this year,” said Jensen of his return ride. “This year we knew we had a good enough horse to win it, if we got the right trip. And thank God we did.”
No Secrets Here closed strongly for a third-place finish in the 350-yard Ed Burke Million at Los Alamitos on June 24, which led his connections to think that he might hit his stride in the 440-yard All American.
“I was pretty confident,” said Vessels Stallion Farm owner Frank “Scoop” Vessels III. “Our horse is really good. I have best trainer … and Cody Jensen has ice water in his veins. He will sit on one and wait for that horse to really take hold before he starts riding one. And he did just that today. That was the best ride I’ve ever seen on a muddy racetrack with a big, strong racehorse.”
Vessels is a third generation horseman whose grandfather, Frank Vessels, Sr., built Los Alamitos Race Track in Los Angeles. Scoop Vessels, who served as president of the American Quarter Horse Association from 2004 to 2005, established Vessels Stallion Farm in 1985. First Down Dash, the sire of No Secrets Here, as well as Gun Battle, and Quarter racing’s leading sire, is owned by Vessels Stallion Farm.
All 10 contenders in the All American Futurity were descended from First Down Dash, a champion son of Dash For Cash. Three finalists, including the winner and second-placed contender, were First Down Dash sons, six finalists were his grand get, and one was third generation First Down Dash.