All American Futurity: Hes Judgeandjury finishes off big summer for trainer Heath Taylor

RUIDOSO, N.M. — Hes Judgeandjury had a summer full of ups and downs at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.

On Monday, it was was a great day on quarter horse racing's grandest stage.

Hes Judgeandjury held off Sicario V and his stablemate, Chasing AJ, to win the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino.

Hes Judgeandjury qualified third in the Ruidoso Futurity and fifth in the Rainbow Derby but on Monday he started better than in the other futurity finals and finished strong to win the 440-yard race in 21.192 seconds by a neck over Sicario V. Chasing AJ was third in 21.256 seconds.

"He put it all together," said winning jockey James Flores, who rode Hes Judgeandjury in the Ruidoso and Rainbow Futurities. "He handled himself well in this race and he was ready to go and showed so much toughness to hold on for the win."

Taylor won his second All American Futurity (the other one came in 2008 with Stolis Winner) and it's the second consecutive big summer for him in Ruidoso. Last year, Empressum won the Ruidoso and Rainbow Derbies and Empessum is a half brother to Hes Judgeandjury. Chasing AJ also ran in three futurities this summer and had his best finish of the summer with his third-place showing with jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo aboard.

"So much credit goes to our team. James and Rodrigo stuck with these horses all summer long and kept believing in them," Taylor said. "It all came together for Hesjudgeandjury and Chasing AJ ran a great race."

Taylor credited the owners of Hes Judgeandjury with their belief in him. The owners, Steve Holt and Jeff Jones, also own Empressum.

"We believe in each other," Jones said. "Last summer with Empressum it was an amazing success and he's continued to do well this year as a 4-year-old. Now with Hesjudgeandjury, it's another fantastic run."

So what's next for Hesjudgeandjury, who earrned $1,530,612.25 with Monday's win? Taylor said the Oklahoma-bred son of Hes Relentless deserves a rest but if he's healthy, could head to California to run at Los Alamitos Racecourse. "Hes Judgeandjury is a strong horse and held up all summer," Taylor said. "I love how he competed and kept battling."

All American Derby

A Pollitical Candy V left no doubt who was the top 3-year-old quarter horse in the world on Sunday afternoon. The California-bred son of Apollitical Jess rolled to a near two-length win in the Grade 1, 440-yard All American Derby.

A Pollitical Candy V, who left the gate at odds of 2-1, won two of the three derbies this summer at Ruidoso, winning the Rainbow Derby in July. He also won the Ruidoso Invitational in June for horses who just missed qualifying for the Ruidoso Derby. The All American Derby was worth $808,538 and A Pollitical Candy V earned $339,586.

"It's a team effort. It's really hard to put all of this into words," winning owner Samuel Valeriano said. "He's a great horse and he gives us everything he has."

A Pollitical Candy V has won 9 of 18 career starts and finished in the top three six other times. He's won five straight races, and overall he has won five of six starts at Ruidoso Downs. He won Sunday's race in a time of 20.842 seconds.

Santos Carrizales, Jr. was the winning trainer and Juan Pulido was the winning jockey. Pulido has been his regular jockey for the past six starts.

"To win this race and to see this horse continue to grow the way he has been means a lot to me and to our team," Pulido said. "The 440-yard distance is perfect for this horse and he showed it all summer. He started good and finished even better. I really enjoy being around this horse and great things await him."

Delight Us All finished second for trainer Cody Noel and jockey Jimmy Dean Brooks and Lethal Avenger was third for trainer Fred Danley and jockey Noe Garcia, Jr.

Bomb Cyclone, who was the even-money post time favorite, finished fourth.

All American Oaks

Political Rose has been as good as any 3-year-old filly in the world this year. On Sunday, she continued her excellence by winning the Grade 1, $460,963, All American Oaks in a race for fillies only.

Political Rose started strong and led the entire way in winning by a length and a half in a time of 21.108 over the 440-yard distance.

She has won all five starts this year and is 8 of 12 in her career.

"She's a great horse and she came back great after the trials," winning trainer Monty Arrossa said. "She's been a joy to train and she's really coming into her own. She keeps on improving."

The winning owner was the Dunn Ranch (Matt Dunn et al) and the winning jockey was Jesus Rios Ayala.

Arrossa is no stranger to success in Ruidoso. In 2020 he won the All American Derby with Gold Heart Eagle V and was second in the same race with Inaugurator.

Political Rose earned $193,605 with the win. Miss Beth Dutton, who won the Rainbow Oaks this summer at Ruidoso, was second for trainer Clinton Crawford and jockey James A. Flores and Shesa Relentless Gal was third for trainer Manuel Rodriguez and jockey Esgar Ramirez.

Other key races

Rock A Jess V won the 440-yard All American Juvenile Stakes for the horses who just missed qualifying for the All American Futurity. Pulido was the winning jockey and Carrizales, Jr., was the winning trainer. Rock A Jess V has won 3 of 7 career races.

Powerful Favorite won the 440-yard All American Gold Cup for older horses. He has won 18 of 32 races and won for the third time in Ruidoso. Christopher O'Dell was the winning trainer and Eduardo Nicasio was the winning jockey.

Heza Classy Now won the $50,000, 870-yard Bill Reed Memorial Stakes for trainer Toby Keeton and jockey Bryan Candanosa. He has won five career races.

Political Thinker won the 440-yard All American Invitational for horses that did not qualify for the All American Derby. The winning trainer was Jesus Soto and Noe Garcia Jr. rode the 20-1 longshot.

More:Instygator wins All American Derby, favorite Empressum is fifth at Ruidoso Downs

Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hes Judgeandjury finishes big summer with All American Futurity win