All American Triple Crown Noms - Up 27 Percent To Record Level

            “These impressive numbers show the excitement owners and breeders have in the All American Triple Crown. We’re honored to have their support,” said Ruidoso Downs’ president and general manager Ann McGovern.

            Nominations to the All American Triple Crown make the horses, in this case foals of 2007, eligible to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity; Grade 1, $625,000 Rainbow Futurity and the Grade 1, $2 million (est.) All American Futurity. If a horse sweeps all three races then the horse’s connections earn the $4 million All American Triple Crown bonus. Therefore, the owners of the foals nominated are eligible to race for $7.125 million at Ruidoso Downs during the 2009 season.

            Those nominated horses have the option of remaining eligible to the three Grade 1 derbies at Ruidoso Downs in 2010. Those races are the Ruidoso Derby, Rainbow Derby and All American Derby.

            Additionally, nominated horses are eligible for $25,000 in nominators awards and a $100 discount on their consignment fee to the 2008 Ruidoso Select Yearlings Sale, quarter horse racing’s premier yearling sale.

            This support has come from breeders with just a few horses to quarter horse racing largest breeders. The top three nominators place a total of 157 yearlings in the All American Triple Crown.

            The Vessels Stallion Farm led all nominators with 68 yearlings. The Bonsall, California ranch won the 1973 All American Futurity with Timeto Thinkrich and the 2006 running with No Secrets Here, who finished second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Saturday night. The Vessels Stallion Farm stands all-time leading sire First Down Dash.

            The second-leading nominator, with 46 yearlings is Bobby Cox. His homebred Dont Let Down won the 2007 All American Derby and he won the 2004 All American Derby with Brimmerton.

            The third-leading nominator is the Burnett Ranches, including their partners. This is the famed 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas that began in 1870. The 6666 Ranch stands All American Futurity winners Royal Quick Dash and Eyesa Special. The ranch also stands All American Derby winners Stoli and Brimmerton.

            Stoli is the sire of Los Alamitos Winter Championship winner A Stoli Mate and Ketel Won, who was the 2007 Ruidoso Downs older horse of the meet and recently honored as national champion aged horse. Ketel Won is preparing for his 2008 campaign for trainer Paul Jones, the leading trainer at Ruidoso Downs.