Hezgothelook Z, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, won the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Ruidoso QH Futurity Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

© Victoria Garcia / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–JUNE 9, 2024–Hezgothelook Z, a $70,000 Heritage Place September Sale graduate, rolled to a three-quarter length win in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity on Sunday.

The son of leading sire Favorite Cartel was making his first start since setting the fastest qualifying time from two days of trials contested at the mountain racetrack May 23 and 24.

Hezgothelook Z  broke in at the start, but with steady urging from jockey Bryan Candanosa, the bay gelding completed the 350 yards in 17.436 seconds, equaling a 94-speed index into an 11 mph headwind.

"My anxiety and everything from the past two weeks is away now," Candanosa said in the winner’s circle. "It feels really good—it’s been a goal of mine to win a triple crown race. I’m very grateful and the way this horse went today I think he can do 440-yards."

Trainer Toby Keeton picked up another Grade 1 victory at Ruidoso Downs by saddling the gelding to his second win in three starts in the first leg of the Ruidoso Triple Crown. Trials for the $1 million Rainbow QH Futurity(G1) and $3 million All American Futurity(G1) are next on the colt's list of possible starts this summer.

Triple One Ranch LLC owns the juvenile, who is the first foal from Shezgotheook, a sister to two-time world champion Danjer. The second dam is Grade 2 winner Shez Jess Toxic.

The winning connections of Hezgotthelook Z in the Ruidoso QH Futurity winner's circle on Sunday.
© Victoria Garcia / Ruidoso Downs

Bred in Oklahoma by Tommy Dinwiddie, Hezagothelook Z picked up $420,000 for Sunday's big win to make him the #2 leading earning Quarter Horse in the country for 2024.

Bettors were returned $5.00, $3.60 and $2.80 on the winner that ran in a time of 17.436 seconds for 350-yards.

Also from the Keeton barn, runner-up Aguila Rapida picked up $180,000 for finishing second under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez. Simmons Racing owns and co-bred the son of Tempting Dash for Donnie Griffin. The Texas-bred, who has won two of three starts, is out of Dash For Cash Futurity(G2) finalist Eyeam Eagle by One Famous Eagle.

From the family of All American Derby(G1) winner Chasing AJ,  Aguila Rapida has earned $192,000.

Brink Man V, a $200,000 Heritage Place September Yearling graduate, was a length back for 2024 Ruidoso QH Derby-winning owner Valeriano Racing Stables LLC. M. Heath Taylor trains the Apollitical Jess gelding out of multiple stakes producer and Grade 2 winner Itea, by Corona Cartel.

Making just his second career start the William E. Smith Oklahoma-Bred earned $100,000 for the effort. Itea is a sister to Rainbow Futurity(G1) winner Ms. First Prize Rose and Remington Park Futurity winner and multiple stakes sire Coronado Cartel.

Poochies Candy, Painted Eclispe, Electrifying Cowboy, El Vencedor V, Hovland, Fdd Treasured Dreams, and Tjr Flyingwithstyle completed the field.

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Racing continues next weekend at Ruidoso Downs. Post time for racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be 1 p.m. (MDT)