Racing


Whistle Stop Cafe Wins G1 $3 Million All American Futurity, Jockey Ricky Ramirez Gets First AAF Win
Whistle Stop Cafe, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, drives to victory in the Grade 1 $3-million All American Futurity Monday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

© Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
Whistle Stop Cafe Wins G1 $3 Million All American Futurity, Jockey Ricky Ramirez Gets First AAF Win

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—SEPTEMBER 7, 2020—As the 2020 race season came to a close today a new All American champion was crowned, and her name is Whistle Stop Cafe.

The still-undefeated filly raced 440 yards down the fast track under partly cloudy skies against a 7 mph headwind and hit the wire with a time of :21.437 to finish ahead of Instygator by a neck.

With her win, Whistle Stop Cafe takes home the $1.5 million winner’s share of the $3 million purse.

Instygator, the post-time favorite, finished second and Apollitical Gold finished third. A $2 win ticket on Whistle Stop Cafe paid $9.80.

Whistle Stop Cafe, who also won the 2020 Rainbow Futurity, is owned by Whitmire Ranch was bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox. The gray filly by multiple stakes sire Freighttrain out of Sinuous by Mr Jess Perry comes out of the Blane Wood barn.

Raymond Whitmire accepts the All American Futurity stakes trophy for Whitmire Ranch Monday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs. © Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
Whitmire's paid $42,000 for Whistle Stop Cafe at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City.

"It’s amazing! We’re so proud," said owner Whitmire. "There were ten awesome horses…and our train never stopped!"

Jockey Ricky Ramirez has been aboard Whistle Stop Cafe for all six of her wins. He had the mount today for what turned out to be his first All American Futurity win in 10 efforts.

"It means so much especially with all my family here," said jockey Ramirez. "It took me ten tries, but I finally got it done. That filly seems to enjoy it all. When I asked her, she had another gear. It was a great feeling to be on such a special filly in the All American."

This was Wood’s second All American Futurity victory. His first trip to the All American winner’s circle was in 2018 with Apocalyptical Jess. His fire Leo Wood saddled 1979 All American Futurity winner Pie In The Sky for Dan and Jolene Urschel.

Whistle Stop Cafe, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, returns after winning the $3-million Grade 1 All American Futurity. © Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
"Whistle Stop Cafe is the fastest filly I’ve ever had," said trainer Wood. "Her heart is bigger than she is. She’s quiet and easy going but she knows her job. She had to earn it today, and that’s what she did."

Ramirez is the go-to rider for the Wood barn, and the two have teamed up for many victories over the years.

"For Ricky to win it on one of our horses, it couldn’t be any better," said Wood of Ramirez’s win on Whistle Stop Cafe. "Like ice cream and cake. We treat him like family, and I love him to pieces."

Wood also had two other horses in the All American final, Caliente Caramelo and Famous And Easy, both of which were disqualified for interference and placed eighth and ninth.

AQHA Racing's champion breeder Bobby D. Cox bred three of the qualifiers in today's rich final including the top two finishers Whistle Stop Cafe and Instygator. Jettz, a grade 1-placed son of leading first-crop sire One Fabulous Eagle that also races for Cox finished fourth.

Winning owners Raymond and Lannie Whitmire, trainer Blane Wood and jockey Ricky Ramirez are joined by friends and family in the All American Futurity winner's circle Monday. © Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
Runner-up Instygator earned $450,000 for his effort. Jose Guzman owns the son of multiple stakes sire Ivory James from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Popping.

Conditioned by trainer Jaime Hernandez and ridden by champion jockey James Flores, the brown gelding won his first two starts at Remington Park last Spring then finished a close third to Shott Gun and Aint She Tempting in a blanket-finish to the Grade 1 $826,260 Heritage Place Futurity in May.

His connections did not start the 2-year-old again until the August 22nd All American trials where he turned in an impressive 3-½ length trial win to get the second fastest time on Day 2.

Also bred by Bobby D. Cox, Instygator was a $25,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate. He has banked $570,041 off a (5) 3-1-1 record this season.

Grant R Cox Revocable Trust's Oklahoma homebred Apollitical Gold didn't break his maiden until the August 22nd All American trials, where he served notice with a 1-¼ length effort to get the third-fastest time on Day 2. He qualified for the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG1) but did not run back in the final.

Today Apollitical Gold earned $255,000 for his third-place effort in the richest 2-year-old race for any breed.

Cody Smith had riding call aboard the Apollitical Jess colt for trainer Eddie D. Willis. On the board in all five of his starts this year Apollitical Gold has earned a total of $285,555. He is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Src Gold.

The 2020 All American Futurity(G1) official order of finish with earnings are:

  1. Whistle Stop Cafe ($1,500,000)
  2. Instygator ($450,000)
  3. Apollitical Gold ($255,000)
  4. Jettz ($195,000)
  5. Hr Princess Jess ($150,000)
  6. Flashing My Pjs ($120,000)
  7. Flash Bak ($105,000)
  8. Caliente Caramelo ($90,000)
  9. Famous And Easy ($75,000)
  10. Eagles And Dragons ($60,000)

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The racing season officially concludes today at Ruidoso Downs. Race fans who still have uncashed tickets can mail them to Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Attn. Mutuel Dept., PO Box 449, Ruidoso Downs, NM, 88346. All winning tickets are good for 60 days after the season ends.

Keep up with news and current events from Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino by visiting RaceRuidoso.com.