SureBet Racing News will be taking you onsite with Tom Dawson as your host, for the first leg of the “2011 All American Triple Crown Series” from Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino beginning Friday morning.
On Saturday, June 10th the fastest-qualifier Giorgino takes on an impressive Grade 1 field in the all-time richest Ruidoso Derby. Jorge Haddad’s homebred Giorgino and his nine competitors will be chasing a record $702,605 purse and a record $351,303 winner’s share. The previous record purse of $568,965 was established last year. Two years ago the total purse was $308,267, which is less than the winner will earn on Saturday afternoon.
The first leg of the All American Triple Crown, the $500,000 Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity will kick the gate on Sunday, June 11th. Once known as the Kansas Futurity, the Ruidoso Futurity has been won by the likes of Easy Jet 1969, Tiny’s Gay 1974, Special Effort 1981 and Treacherously 1973, to name a few. The Ruidoso Futurity earned its Grade 1 stakes status in 1993.
Francisco Colorado Cessa’s Fly First Down, the fastest-qualifier from the 21 trial races on May 27 will be joined by nine other qualifiers in the 350 yard sprint.
A son of First Down Dash and Babe On The Fly, a $300,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, is trained by nine-time national champion Paul Jones. Jones won last year’s Ruidoso Futurity with American Runaway, who went on to be named the 2010 champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old colt.
The second part of our series, the Rainbow Futurity & Derby [G1] will be aired on July 22-24.
The crowning jewel, the 2.4M (est.) All American Futurity [G1] and the 1.2M (est.) All American Derby [G1] will be aired on September 1 – 5.
To date the only horse to successfully capture the “All American Triple Crown” was Special Effort in 1981. A son of Raise Your Glass, he was owned by Dan and Jolene Urschel, trained by Johnie Goodman and ridden by jockey Billy Hunt.