Triple Crown, Increased Thoroughbred Purses
Highlight 2008 Ruidoso Downs Stakes Schedule
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (February 27, 2008) – The All American Triple Crown futurities, showcasing the 50th running of the Grade 1, $2 million All American Futurity, and increased purses for thoroughbred stakes highlight the $ 7 million stakes schedule for the 2008 racing season at Ruidoso Downs.
The summer season begins on May 23 with a full day of trials to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity. The Ruidoso Futurity finals will be held on June 8. The nation’s premier 2-year-olds will then return for the $625,000 Rainbow Futurity on July 20.
This summer celebrates the 50th running of the All American Futurity with special events planned to commemorate the golden anniversary of the legendary stakes. The All American Futurity will be contested on Labor Day with a $2 million total purse and $1 million awarded to the connections of the winning horse.
The summer derby season at Ruidoso Downs, with three Grade 1 derbies, will offer an estimated $1.75 million in purses and that could range higher with supplemental nominees. Topping the derby lineup is the Grade 1, $850,000 (est.) All American Derby, which offers an invitation to the Grade 1, $1 million Champion Of Champions at Los Alamitos. The projected All American Derby purse is higher than any quarter horse derby contested in 2007. The $400,000 Ruidoso Derby is slated for June 7 and the $500,000 (est.) Rainbow Derby will be held on July 19.
Champion 2-year-old Heartswideopen, last year’s leading money earner with $1,282,690, is the filly that every racing fan will be awaiting this summer at Ruidoso Downs for the three derbies. She won last year’s Ruidoso Futurity in stakes record time and then wrapped up her championship with her All American Futurity win. She will probably make her 2008 debut in the Ruidoso Derby trials on May 24 and is training forwardly at Sunland Park for trainer Carl Draper.
Heartswideopen’s chief rival, Wild Six, should return to Ruidoso Downs this summer with the Wes Giles stable. She won the Rainbow Futurity, while Heartswideopen stayed in the barn to point at the All American Futurity. Wild Six has six wins from eight starts and has earned $526,613.
Older quarter horses point primarily to the Higheasterjet Stakes, Mr Jet Moore Stakes and the All American Gold Cup. Last summer, Ketel Won took the Higheasterjet and All American Gold Cup on his way to being named the national champion aged horse. He is in training and is expected to return to Ruidoso Downs this summer.
Thoroughbred horsemen will be able to increase the value of their horses with the purses of six Thoroughbred stakes raised to $50,000 in added money. These minimum purses qualify as nationally recognized stakes races, thus enhancing the value of horses who win or place in these races.
New Mexico-breds always have a strong presence on the Ruidoso Downs’ stakes schedule and once again this year the Zia Festival races on July 27 will offer more than $1 million on the stakes-filled card. The Zia Festival is one of the most popular weekends at Ruidoso Downs with many New Mexico artisans and artists selling their creations to the packed grandstand crowd.
A top prospect for the Zia Festival program is the undefeated filly Peppers Pride. She is 14-for-14 lifetime and could be chasing history at the Zia Festival. The Joe Allen-owned and bred Peppers Pride is closing in on the modern-day record of 16 wins to start a career, a record shared by Mister Frisky and Hallowed Dreams. Mister Frisky started his career in Puerto Rico and then came to the United States and raced for hall of fame trainer Laz Barrera. Much like Peppers Pride, Hallowed Dreams raced to much of her success against state-breds. She was a Louisiana-bred filly who also competed as a sprinter.