By Martha Claussen

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–AUGUST 29, 2024—Labor Day Weekend in Ruidoso, New Mexico, has always been among the most exciting times for Quarter Horse racing and tourism.

The Ruidoso Select Sale and the final week of the annual live racing season draws thousands of fans.

Winning the prestigious $3 million All American Futurity(G1) on Labor Day is the dream of every breeder, owner, trainer, and jockey, as ten talented juveniles will travel 440 yards.

However, this year will be different….

Due to unprecedented events beginning with the deadly South Fork and Salt fires and repeated flooding through the fire-damaged areas, officials had no options but to move the remainder of the racing season to the Downs at Albuquerque. Thankfully, the show will go on with each of the graded stakes moved to Monday, September 2.

While each edition of the All American Futurity is special to the winning connections, the 2024 edition will undoubtedly stand out in the history books forever.

Triple Ranch One, LLC's Hezgothelook Z would have a special asterisk next to his name, maybe several, as the first champion to win the final at the Downs of Albuquerque, the first All American futurity for his breeder, owner, trainer, and just the second 2-year-old since 1981 to capture Quarter Horse racing's Triple Crown.

The storyline behind this talented finalist and his human connections is quite compelling and begins with an impressive pedigree. Tommy Dinwiddie bred the son of the Grade 1 winning stallion Favorite Cartel in Oklahoma.

He's out of the FDD Dynasty mare Shezgothelook, a full sister to AQHA racing world champion Danjer. Born on March 15, 2022, he was consigned to the 2022 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale and entered the ring as Hip 731.

Trainer Toby Keeton, who is having his absolute best year since beginning to train Quarter Horses in 1991, was very active at the sale for several owners.

Decades ago, he trained for Rudy Muñoz and was approached by Muñoz's daughter, Norma Olivarez, and her husband, Leo. The couple, who reside in Palmview, Texas, race under the name of Triple One Ranch, LLC.

They had been owners in the horse industry for about four years, but things weren't aligning the way they had hoped. Norma's dad had a strong connection to Toby, and they felt ready for a fresh start in 2024, with Toby helping them select a quality horse at the sale.

"It's crazy because my husband always dreamed of having horses and Toby as his trainer because my dad would speak highly of him," explained Norma. "We finally got a chance to visit his ranch and lovely family at Seguin, Texas, and we were in awe of his care and love for those horses. The stalls were spotless, and the horses looked so happy and sound. The team was working so hard, and that blew our minds. We knew Toby was the right person for the job."

Leo was composed on the day of the sale, but Norma remembers her emotions as hundreds of yearlings passed through the sale ring. Hezgothelook Z was Hip 731, and she remembers trying to get Keeton's attention, who was scouting for a long list of owners.            

"Omg, Toby, we need to pick a horse fast," Norma recalled.  Toby said, "No worries, I have a horse in mind for you and Leo." We trusted his judgment and even though we had a set amount in mind, when it was time to bid, Leo didn't hesitate, and they bid $70,000.

"We prayed before bidding, and the Lord blessed us with a phenom," she added. "It was meant to be."

Keeton and his wife, Cindi, a champion barrel racer, begin breezing their yearlings at the end of each year. Cindi remembers calling her husband last November after a good work from by the bay colt.

"I liked how he looked," recalled Cindi. "He has a really good family line, and while it was too early to compare him to Danjer, I already saw some of that phenomenal grit that Danjer had."

Keeton sent a full barn to Sam Houston Race Park and remembered feeling very confident of his barn's potential early on.

"I've had good horses in my career, but never a group like this," he admitted.

And Keeton knows his good ones early! The first start of the year for many of his 2-year-olds begins in Houston. Kiss My Hocks stood out from the beginning, setting a new track record in his 2014 Sam Houston Futurity trial and winning the final before heading to Ruidoso Downs. He was honored by AQHA as a champion 2-year-old colt, and his stud career is thriving.

However, Hezgothelook Z's debut on April 19 at Sam Houston Race Park, in a trial for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge, was not in the same league. He ran greenly, shied from his rivals, and finished fifth.

"I knew he was fast, but in Houston, he acted like an idiot and a stud'y son of a gun," said Keeton. "Norma and Leo were not thrilled when I told them he had to be gelded to run the way I believed he could. But I knew what had to be done."

So, gelded for his first start at Ruidoso Downs, Hezgothelook Z matched his speed with tremendous focus as he reeled off five wins in a row, including the Grade 1, Ruidoso, and Rainbow Futurities. He is currenlty the #1 Leading Money Earning Quarter Horse in the nation with $858,300.

He was nearly perfect in his All American Futurity trial, leaving from post position three and never relenting as he crossed the wire in 21.08 seconds under regular pilot Bryan Candanosa. 

"He doesn't waste any energy," stated Keeton. "He is the soundest horse I have ever trained, and while he's not very big, he shows us that other horses run close but can't catch him."

Keeton has two other finalists in the All American Futurity: Mountainaire, owned by Wootan Racing and Roger K. Beasley and Peepl R Scrambled for Triple One Ranch, LLC.

"I got the posts we hoped for at the draw," added Keeton. "These last few weeks were not easy hauling horses and equipment to Albuquerque, but we are all set for Labor Day."

This will be the third All American Futurity mount for 22-year-old Bryan Candanosa. Born in Dallas, Candanosa is the second of seven children in his family. Neither of his parents were involved in racing, but his uncle Adalberto Candanosa rode both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses with graded stakes wins at Remington Park and Lone Star Park. 

Candanosa began riding professionally in 2018 and is currently North America's leading Quarter Horse jockey.  His top earner prior to this year came in 2022 aboard  Elizabeth Logan's Tres Crystals, winning the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity (G1).

His career began in Texas, but his affiliation with Keeton has taken him to graded-stakes glory in Oklahoma and New Mexico. This year, Hezgothelook Z has raised the bar to new heights.

"I always dreamed about winning the All American Futurity but never thought it would happen so early in my career," stated Candanosa.

The bond with Keeton is solid but difficult to fully explain, according to the young rider!

"We just clicked," he said. "I have learned so much from Toby, and he has given me so much confidence."

Candanosa has ridden Hezgothelook Z in his last five starts, winning each. The bay gelding's earnings stand at $858,300 heading into this weekend.

"He is so calm in the stall and even arriving in the paddock," said Candanosa. "Once he hits the racetrack, he totally transforms, stands perfectly in the gate, and leaves like a jet. When he feels horses coming, he gives more. To me, he's like Seabiscuit, little but fierce!"

Like Keeton, Candanosa will have an action-packed Labor Day, with six calls, including Dashing Tres in the $1 million All American Derby(G1).

"My goal is to take it one race at a time and stay happy," added Candanosa. "I have the support of Toby, the owners, and my family. You can't ask for anything more!"

Even racing fans feel pressure for the connections of a finalist going into the starting gate of the All-American Futurity, attempting to join Dan and Joleen Urschel's incomparable Special Effort, the lone winner of the Triple Crown.

Four have tried, beginning with Tiny's Gay in 1974, who was second by a nose to Easy Date, and most recently, Jess Savin Candy in 2021, who finished fourth.

A win on Monday by Hezgothelook Z would place make him the #4 All-Leading Money Earning Quarter Horse at $2,358,300.

Both Keeton and Candanosa admit that the emotion will be there in full force, and tears will flow if Hezgothelook Z crosses the wire first. The veteran horseman and rising star rider has been to the dance before and will likely qualify juveniles in many future editions of the final.

However, it would be the first All American Futurity victory for owner Norma Olivarez and her husband, Leo, who will be surrounded by close to 50 family members and friends. She expressed her sentiments in a very touching way.

"My dad will be there to support us, as he wants to witness what could be a historic moment," she explained. "He told Leo the other day, "Leo, I'm so proud of what you've accomplished in such a short time, son. You've achieved something in a few years that I couldn't in 40."

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Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education, and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, and other regions in North America.