All American Futurity, Derby trials highlight weekend of racing in Ruidoso
The trials for quarter horse racing's biggest race are finally here. On Friday and Saturday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino there will be 16 trials each day for the 440-yard, $3 million All American Futurity with a post time of 11 a.m. each day.
The All American Futurity is for 2-year-old quarter horses and is worth $3 million. The Ruidoso Futurity and Rainbow Futurity were run earlier this summer and were the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Sunday's race card features eight trials for the All American Derby and four trials for the All American Oaks.
Top contenders in All American Futurity trials
On Friday, Hesjudgeandjury and Gettherefast highlight the 16 trials. Hesjudgeandjury was third in the Ruidoso Futurity and fifth in Rainbow Futurity and Gettherefast finished second in the Ruidoso Futurity and third in the Rainbow Futurity.
Saturday will feature Ruidoso Futurity winner Otts Boy, who runs in the 11th race, Rainbow Futurity winner Eye On The Card runs in the ninth race, Tres Crystals, who has won two futurities at Remington Park in Oklahoma runs in the 11th race and Chasing AJ, who qualified for the Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurities competes in the 16th race.
The All American Futurity is run annually on Labor Day.
Top contenders in All American Derby trials
The eight trials for the 440-yard All American Derby, which is on Sept. 4, is for 3-year-old quarter horses. This year's All American Derby will be worth $808,264.
KJ Desparado, who won last year's All American Futurity on Labor Day and won this year's Ruidoso Derby and finished second in the Rainbow Derby, runs in the first trial for trainer Wesley T. Giles. A Pollitical V, the winner of the Rainbow Derby returns for trainer Santos Carrizales in the fourth trial.
Lethal Avenger also returns for trainer Fred Danley in the third trial. Lethal Avenger has won seven of 13 starts and has qualified for both the Ruidoso and Rainbow Derbies, finishing third in the Rainbow Derby. Muy Peligrosito returns after skipping the Rainbow Derby. He was second in the Ruidoso Derby he runs in the fifth trial. Bomb Cyclone will be making his first start of 2022 in the seventh trial but comes in highly regarded. Last December he won the Los Alamitos $2 million in California for trainer Christopher O'Dell.
Top contenders in All American Oaks trials
The four trials for the 440-yard All American Oaks, which will be run on Sept. 4, is for 3-year-old fillies. The Oaks will be worth $460,824
Miss Beth Dutton and Kiss The Cartel, who finished 1-2 in the Rainbow Oaks, will compete in the fourth trial. Kiss The Cartel starts from the No. 1 post and Miss Beth Dutton starts from the No. 9 post.
Heather Taylor trained Lil Longmire, who has won six races and finished second three times in 10 starts, is in the third trial along with Political Rose, who won the Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park in Oklahoma in May. She has won 6 of 10 for trainer Monty Arrossa.
Sunday's All American Oaks and All American Derby trials begin at 1 p.m.
More: Horse Racing news in Ruidoso KJ Desparado wins Ruidoso Derby for sixth straight victory
Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: All American Futurity, Derby trials highlight weekend at Ruidoso Downs
