RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (January 17, 2008) -
New Mexico-based horses earn championship titles
Javier Rodriguez's Heartswideopen was named the national champion two-year-old
and two-year-old filly on Jan. 17 on the strength of her Ruidoso Downs wins in
the All American Futurity and the Ruidoso Futurity. She won each of her titles
by a 22-2 margin.
The championship awards, sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association,
were announced Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. They were the result
of balloting of 24 track officials, media members and AQHA members. R.D .
Hubbard's Ketel Won, also a winner of two stakes last summer at Ruidoso Downs,
was honored as the aged champion and champion aged stallion.
Heartswideopen, a debut winner at Sunland Park last spring, became the filly to
beat in the championship balloting after winning the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso
Futurity in stakes record time. The Carl Draper-trained miss then raced to the
fastest 440 yards ever by a female when she won her All American Futurity trial
in : 20.92. That set her up for her neck win in the Grade 1, $2 million All
American. She had knee surgery after the All American Futurity and is beginning
her training in preparation for the Ruidoso Derby trials on May 24 at Ruidoso
Downs. Heartswideopen has won six of her seven career starts and earned
$1,282,690.
The Paul Jones-trained Ketel Won matured into championship form last year with four stakes wins. In his 2007 debut he won the Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs and then closed his summer campaign at the mountain track with a dominating win in the All American Gold Cup. He wrapped up his championships with wins in the $186,000 Zia Park Championship and the $400,000 The Championship at Sunland Park. Ketel Won was the unanimous selection as the champion aged stallion and won the champion aged horse award in a 22-2 vote. Jones was the unanimous selection for his sixth straight champion trainer award. He campaigns a stable at Ruidoso Downs every summer.
Jockey G.R. Carter Jr. was honored as the champion jockey for the fifth straight year. He rides every summer at Ruidoso Downs.