(PHOTO: Courtesy Ruidoso Downs)
The All American Futurity and Labor Day have been hand and glove for decades, and the eyes of racing (and players) Monday will be on Ruidoso Downs, N.M. at 7:15 p.m. ET. (11th race).
Jess Savin Candy is the 7-5 favorite going into the 440-yard race based on his sparkling 4-of-5 record. After running second in his debut, the Oklahoma-bred Jess Savin Candy gelding’s record is blemish free. He won the Ruidoso Futurity and Rainbow Futurity, and the All American would give him Quarter Horse Racing’s Triple Crown for the first time in 40 years.
Jess Savin Candy will be handled again by jockey Francisco Calderon and qualified with a rapid trial win in 21.19 seconds. It often pays to be upset-minded when approaching the All American, and that’s what I’m doing here.
The outside posts at Ruidoso Downs often are way to go, and Kj Desparado can be a big player coming out of the No. 9 hole, and the Arizona-bred Apollitical Jess gelding (6-1) is getting good at the right time for trainer Wesley Giles. He won trials for the two major futurities over this strip but had troubled strips in the finals. He took his trial for this in 21.45 seconds and reported home by three lengths – a terrific margin of victory in the Quarter Horse world. Adrian Ramos has been aboard all three of his wins and returns for this.
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Here’s a look at the combatants, following by suggested plays:
Favorite Blues Man (30-1): Has taken two of three, including a strong score in his trial. Would need to show considerable improvement.
Fdd Scout (3-1): Had powerful performances with four wins in five starts, and his only loss occurred in the Rainbow Futurity, when he made some early contact. His trial win was powerful, and another sharp effort puts him right there with any.
Jess Dealin (30-1): Broke her maiden in her trial after being soundly outrun in her first two. Would need a lot of things to happen here.
Jess Dream of Me (20-1): Won her last two and her qualifying run was his first in the three major races at Ruidoso.
El Painted Eagle (15-1): Comes off his best effort when third behind Jess Savin Candy, even though he won two earlier. Would need some subpar performances by the major players.
Press Is My Hero (8-1): Doesn’t have the credentials of some here, but he’s shown he’s capable of a big effort and has taken a liking to Ruidoso with a win and second in his last two. Playable in the exotics.
Jess Savin Candy (7-5): Difficult not to embrace this one. After losing his debut by a head, he’s reeled off four straight and was fastest of them all in the trials. A win gives him a Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown after taking the Ruidoso and Rainbow.
Sippin Hayden (8-1): Has a couple of impressive races but would have to run well beyond what he has here. Might battle it out for the minors.
Kj Desparado (6-1): Just a whirlwind when he does everything right. Won his trial by three and probably couldn’t gone faster had he been pushed by other rivals. He qualifies for everything but is yet to put together a top effort in finals. That could change in this one.
Kat Eye Kylie (10-1): Has taken two of three and his only appearance at resulted in a 1.5-length trial win. Could be overlooked.
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HOW TO PLAY IT ($100 total):
$40 to win on Kj Desparado;
$20 exacta box Kj Desparado and Jess Savin Candy;
$5 exacta boxes Kj Desparado and Kat Eye Kylie; Kj Desparado and Press Is My Hero.
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