Rich All American Futurity Ready to go at Ruidoso

September 2, 2005 – With the richest purse in American Quarter Horse racing, $1.9 million with $1 million to the winner, and the prestige that goes with the premier race for 2-year-olds, a contentious field of 10 juveniles race in the All American Futurity on Monday afternoon.

The All American Futurity is held at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, and millions will be watching the live telecast on TVG, which is offered on Dish Network, Direct TV and select cable systems. For further information, go to tvg.com.

By all insiders’ accounts, this year’s All American Futurity is one of the most wide open in years. But trainers Heath Taylor and Paul Jones have the numbers, with three entrants each.

Taylor has three of the five fastest qualifiers, led by fastest qualifier Make A Secret, who starts from the seventh post position. The Raise A Secret gelding won the Firecracker Futurity (G2) at Delta Downs and then traveled to Ruidoso to win his All American trial in :21.246 for the 440 yards.

The other Taylor-trained qualifiers are Ted Abrams’ Jess A Classy Lad and Sergio Vela’s Vodka on Ice. Jess A Classy Lad made a late charge to win his trial and the strapping Vodka On Ice was also a late-running trial winner. Jess A Classy Lad has the night post position while Vodka On ice has the 10 hole.

Jones, the 3-time defending national champion trainer, will be represented by First Wicked Lady, Shesnowlady, and Teller Cartel.

E.D. Calvert’s First Wicked Lady is looking for her first win after finishing second in two of four career starts. The First Down Dash daughter finished a neck behind Make A Secret in their trial. She has the eighth post position.

Shesnowlady has won three of five career starts with a fourth-place effort in the Rainbow Futurity. The First Down Dash filly will start from the inside post position.

Teller Cartel, owned by the Teller Cartel Syndicate, is winless from four tries, but has two seconds and two thirds. He drew the third post position.

While the All American Futurity is wide open, the All American Derby is all about DM Shicago trying to sweep the three derbies at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding by Separtist has already won the Ruidoso Derby and the Rainbow Derby. If he can prove victorious in the All American Derby then he will become the third horse in history to sweep the three derbies.

A year ago, DM Shicago burst to the top level of American Quarter Horse racing by winning the All American Futurity in a stakes record :21.00 for 440 yards.

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