Three-year-old Ochoa became Quarter racing’s all-time leading money earner this weekend with a 1 1/4- length victory in the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs. The 2011 All American Futurity winner, with seven wins in 10 starts, now has career earnings of $2,584,243, including the $938,507 winner’s share from the $2.2 million All American Derby.
Trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath and ridden by Roy Baldillez, Ochoa won his trial for the Derby by 2 lengths in the sixth fastest time of 21.431, and won the Derby, breaking on the outside, in 21.272. Hez Our Secret finished second with Ricky Ramirez riding for trainer Blane Wood.
“After fifty yards, Ochoa turned it on and from then on he did it by himself,” said Baldillez. “The farther he goes, the better he gets. He’s an awesome horse.â€
Ochoa, a son of Tres Seis out of Stolis Fortune, is owned jointly by his breeder Johnny T.L. Jones’s J Bar 7 Ranch, Quanah, Tex.; Monty and Katsy Cluck; and Douglas Benson. In addition to the All American Futurity and Derby, Ochoa also won the 2012 Rainbow Derby, which should set him up for another year-end championship. He was 2011 champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old gelding.
He is also just the sixth horse to win both the All American Futurity and the All American Derby. The others are Higheasterjet, Ronas Ryon, Winalota Cash, A Delightful Dasher and DM Shicago.
Retired world champion and former All American Futurity winner Stolis Winner is now second on the all-time earnings list with$2,235,161.
The remaining All American Derby finishers, in order, include: Jess Featureme Quick, Bills Last, Linda Tee Fire, Eyein This Feature, Lotta Love For Robyn and BPs Jumpin Frisco; A Toss Up was scratched.