RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—SEPTEMBER 3, 2012—California invader One Dashing Eagle left no doubt about who is the nation’s top two-year-old quarter horse with a convincing victory in the Grade 1, $2,400,000 All American Futurity on Monday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The All American Futurity is the world’s richest quarter horse race and has the highest purse of any two-year-old race in North America.

Owned by Jose and Gustavo De La Torre with San Gregorio Racing Stables, One Dashing Eagle raced the 440 yards in :21.230 to win by three quarters of a length over Sudden Thoughts while Aha Moment was third, three quarters of a length behind Sudden Thoughts.

Jockey Ramon Sanchez got One Dashing Eagle out of the gate in good order and he immediately went to the front. The powerful son of One Famous Eagle then asserted himself in the final half of the race to get his second major grade 1 futurity win.

“I was like a length in front the second jump. After that, everything was easy,” said Sanchez.

Trained by Jose De La Torre, One Dashing Eagle won the Grade 1, $1,041,000 Ed Burke Million by one-and-one-quarter lengths in his final California start before heading to Ruidoso Downs and winning the 26th and final trial to the All American Futurity. He was the sixth-fastest qualifier with a :21.369 time.

One Dashing Eagle was the 3-2 favorite in the Ed Burke Million after setting the fastest-qualifying time of :17.555 for 350 yards.

One Dashing Eagle, a $43,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, has earned $1,626,205, including the $1,200,000 from the All American Futurity. He will now return to California and is eligible for the Grade 1 Golden State Million at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Bred by hall of famers Allred Brothers, One Dashing Eagle is a half-brother to Golden State Million winner One Sweet Jess and his dam is a full sister to leading sire Walk Thru Fire.

“We're just glad that we're here and we know we can accomplish things with this kind of horse,” said co-owner Jose De La Torre. “He's been great. This pedigree – with One Sweet Dash, Walk Thru Fire, all that family – is a great, great pedigree. We have to thank (the late) Jerry Allred (of breeder Allred Brothers). He's watching this. He helped us a lot.”

21 Partnership’s runner-up Sudden Thoughts, a gelding by Wave Carver, won his first two starts and then was a close second behind One Dashing Eagle in their All American Futurity trial. The Eduardo Gonzalez-trained gelding was the 10th and final qualifier to the All American Futurity. He was a $14,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase and earned $350,000 in the All American Futurity.

“I'm happy with my horse. He ran a good second. No excuses, ran good,” said jockey Rodrigo Aceves.

Third-place finisher Aha Moment, a $29,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, finished in a dead heat for the win in his trial for owners Jimmy and Marilyn Harrel. The son of All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here earned $185,000 is trained by Paul Jones.

Odds-on favorite PJ Chick In Black, the fastest qualifier, finished sixth and sustained her first defeat after five wins, including the Grade 1, $600,000 Ruidoso Futurity. “She warmed up really good. I thought she was on the top of her game, but she never got focused in the gate like she did in the trials. When the dirt started hitting her, she threw her head like she didn’t want to run. It wasn’t our day,” said jockey Esgar Ramirez.

A record attendance of 24,106 watched the All American Futurity, breaking the previous record of 23,478. On Sunday, 20,952 attended Ruidoso Downs for the all-time highest attendance on a day that was not an All American Futurity day. A record 54,992 fans attended Ruidoso Downs over Labor Day weekend.

A total of $1,582,716 was wagered on the 12-race program with $619,707 bet on the All American Futurity.