Racing


Apocalyptical Jess Runs To Top Time In First Day of All American Futurity Trials
Apocalyptical Jess, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, setting the fastest qualifying time on day 1 of the $3 million dollar All American Futurity(G1) trials at Ruidoso Downs.

© Ismael Venegas / StallioneSearch
Apocalyptical Jess Runs To Top Time In First Day of All American Futurity Trials

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 17, 2018—Bill Robbins’ Apocalyptical Jess had everything going his way on his way to establishing the fastest qualifying time during the first of two days of trials to the Grade 1, $3,000,000 All American Futurity on Friday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The two-year-olds with the five fastest times from Friday’s 16 440-yard trials will join the juveniles with the five fastest times during Saturday’s 16 trials in the 440-yard All American Futurity on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs. The All American Futurity offers the largest purse in quarter horse racing.

The horses with the next five-fastest times on each day of trials gain priority to race in the $200,000 All American Juvenile, also on Labor Day.

First post time on Saturday for the program filled with trials is 11 a.m. After the racing, the second night of the New Mexico-bred Yearling and Select Foals In Utero Sale will be held at the sale pavilion east of Ruidoso Downs.

The weather determined that each of the five qualifiers on Friday afternoon would come out of the first five trials. Horses in those trials raced in sunshine, over a fast track and with a tailwind. Horses in later trials dealt with a changing combination of rain, detrimental winds and a wet track.

Apocalyptical Jess, in the second trial, showed he deserved to race in the All American Futurity, regardless of conditions. The gelding flew from the inside post position and then disposed of his competitors by a long-striding three-and-one-quarter lengths. He was timed in :21.349 to lead the qualifiers.

A son leading sire Apollitical Jess, Apocalyptical Jess made a turnaround from his previous start in the 400-yard trials to the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity. In his Rainbow Futurity trial, he was cut off by his competitors soon after the start, then showed his talent by looping around horses and rallying to finish second.

Tools In The Sky, under jockey Felipe Garica-Luna, defeats fellow qualifier Im Jess Special V in the opening All American Futurity trial Friday at Ruidoso Downs. © Ismael Venegas / StallioneSearch
"I was excited when he drew the one hole," said jockey Ricky Ramirez. "I knew that would be to his benefit. But, the way he ran today, he could have won from anywhere."

In his career debut in the Ruidoso Futurity trials, Apocalyptical Jess had an awkward start, was never a factor and finished eighth. That was his start before his Rainbow Futurity trial.

The second- and third-fastest qualifiers each raced in the first trial.

Lincon Farm and Ranch, LLC’s Tools In The Sky defeated Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC’s homebred Im Jess Special V by a neck. Tools In The Sky was timed in :21.479 while Im Jess Special V was clocked in :21.521.

Tools In The Sky won his maiden in his fourth career start for trainer Mike Joiner. The First Down Dash-sired gelding’s best previous effort was a third-place run in his Ruidoso Futurity trial.

Felipe Garcia-Luna was aboard the $30,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase for the victory.

Wokatee On Fire (#4), under jockey James Flores, defeating fellow qualifier Lynnder 16 in the fifth trial
on Friday. © Ismael Venegas / StallioneSearch
Im Jess Special V, a gelding by second-crop sire Jess Lips, was the 7-5 favorite in the first trial after finishing fifth in the Ruidoso Futurity and then winning his Rainbow Futurity trial.

Trainer Toby Keeton had Agustin Silva ride Im Jess Special V.

The final two of Friday’s five qualifiers raced in the fifth trial. Wokatee On Fire, a $50,000 supplemental nominee to enter the trials, got the win in :21.524 over second-place finisher Lynnder 16, who was timed in :21.535.

Wokatee On Fire, LLC (Lessee)’s Wokatee On Fire earned his supplemental fee when he finished second in the Grade 1, $1,025,000 Heritage Place Futurity in his previous start on June 2.

The Clint Crawford-trained gelding won at first asking when he took his Heritage Place Futurity trial by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Servando Montemayor is co-breeder and owner.

James A. Flore rode Wokatee On Fire, a gelding by the nation's #3 first-crop sire Highest Fire, to the head win over 8-5 favorite Lynnder 16.

Tom Maher and Dick Tobin’s Lynnder 16, a daughter of Apollitical Jess, earned her favoritism after winning her first three starts, including a head victory in the $846,000 Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity.

After reeling off three-consecutive victories for trainer Jason Olmstead, the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess ran third in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile. That was her start before the All American Futurity trials.

For a complete list of Day 1 qualifiers including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

For the top five preferred invites to the $200,000 All American Juvenile from day 1 CLICK HERE.

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