Hezgothelook Z becomes only the second 2-year-old to win the Ruidoso Triple Crown after winning the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity today at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–SEPTEMBER 2, 2024–In the 43rd year after Special Effort swept the Ruidoso Triple Crown—Ruidoso (Kansas) Futurity-Rainbow Futurity-All American Futurity—Triple One Ranch LLC's Hezgothelook Z held off a late rush by Kj Bad Moon Rising to win the $3 million All American Futurity on Monday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

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 Ruidoso Downs racing season to the Downs at Albuquerque.

A slight bump between the top two finishers at the start ended with a nose win for the Toby Keeton trainee Hezgothelook Z. Ridden by jockey Bryan Candanosa, the son of leading sire Favorite Cartel finished the classic 440-yard distance in 21.120 seconds, a 99-speed index into a 12 mph headwind.

Ruidoso Downs owners Johnny and Jana Trotter present the All American Futurity trophy to Leo and Norma Olivarez friends and family. © Coady Media

"I couldn't ask for more from him, and I'm just very blessed right now," Candanosa said of Hezagothelook Z after the history-making ride. When the Cowboy Channel's Tom Dawson asked about getting engaged earlier in the day, Candanosa replied, "This day has been a blessing; I couldn't ask for a better day than today."

"This horse is just amazing. He has shown up every time we've asked him," Keeton says. "These three big races have been pretty grueling for him, so he’s come back really tired. I can’t explain how unreal and blessed we have been for this whole summer to be on the ride with this horse."

Ruidoso Hezgothelook Z (#3) battles Kj Bad Moon Rising (inside) to one of the closes finishes in the history of the All American Futurity. © Coady Media

Hezgothelook Z was a  $70,000 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale purchase for Norman and Leo Olivarez of Triple One Ranch, LLC.

"We just pictured in our minds, Z in the front, Z in the front, all glory to God,"  Norma said after the race. "This shows that everything is possible when you have faith in God."

Hezgothelook Z has won six of seven career starts, and today's $1,500,000 All-American winner's purse boosted his earnings total to $2,358,300. His other Grade 1 wins are the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity and $1 million Rainbow Futurity. The gelding will now rest for the remainder of the calendar year, according to Keeton.

Triple Crown winning trainer Toby Keeton and his wife Cindi at The Downs at Albuquerque Monday. © Coady Media

The All American Futurity win makes Hezgothelook Z the #4 All-Time Leading Quarter Horse Racing Earner between #3 Danjer and #5 Apocalyptical Jess. Kj Desparado is #1 with $3,042,599, and Ochoa is #2 with $2,779,265.

Tommy Dinwiddie bred Hezgothelook Z in Oklahoma from the FDD Dynasty mare Shezagothelook, a sister to two-time world champion Danjer.

Triple One Ranch, LLC, purchased an Apollitical Jess half-sister to Hezgothelook Z for $350,000 at the Ruidoso Select Sale on Saturday.

Keeton and Candanosa teamed to win four stakes on Monday's card—All American Juvenile, All American Derby, All American Futurity and All American Gold Cup.

Triple Crown winning jockey Bryan Candanosa rode four stakes winners on Monday. © Coady Media

Runner-up Kj Bad Moon Rising picked up $450,000 for his second-place effort. Wesley Giles trains the New Mexico-bred son of a leading first-crop sire, Kj Mucho Macho Man, for owner-breeders Joh and Kathy Lee.

Christian Ramos rode the bay gelding out of Kj Kiss Me Goodbye by First Moonflash. Third in the restricted Grade 1 Zia Futurity in July, Kj Bad Moon Rising has earned over $501,000 in five starts.

Fdd Dreams, under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., finished 1-1/4 lengths back to earn $255,000 for third. Also a New Mexico homebred, Fdd Dreams races for owner-breeder Las Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC, and is trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez.

The son of four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty is out of the Apollitical Jess mare Treasured Dreams. Second in the Rainbow Futurity(G1) and a finalist in the West Texas Futurity(G2), Fdd Dreams has earned $459,019 in seven starts this season.

Completing the field with earnings are 4-Painted Eclipse ($195,000), 5-Mountainaire ($150,000), 6-Brink Man V ($120,000), 7-Highly Regarded V ($105,000), 8-Ariatt ($90,000), and 9-Peepl R Scrambled ($75,000). Turners Hot Habit ($60,000) was scratched.

The Ruidoso Downs racing season wrapped up at the Downs of Albuquerque with more than $2.1 million wagered on the twelve-race card on Monday.

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Live racing returns to the Downs at Albuquerque on Thursday, September 5, with a nine-race card. The first post is at 5:05 p.m. (MDT).