RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—SEPTEMBER 2, 2018—Johnny Trotter’s always dangerous Bodacious Eagle ran his best race of the year to beat a deep field in the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

Racing over a sealed track in a moderate rain, Bodacious Eagle was time in :21.418 for the 440 yards.

Bodacious Eagle defeated Rockin J Running Horses’ Rock About It by three quarters of a length while Paint My Pilot was another head back in third.

A six-year-old gelding by One Famous Eagle and out of Bodacious Dream, Bodacious Eagle got a clean start from the eighth post position under Cody Jensen.

The Mike Joiner trained gelding had plenty of running room and went to work to gain his first 2018 win after several close finishes. He was second by a head in the $50,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap and third to world champion Jessies First Down and champion three-year Hold Air Hostage in the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Handicap.

The $84,000 first-place check raised Bodacious Eagle’s career earnings to $968,036.

Last year, Bodacious Eagle was second in the Grade 1, $125,000 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship and fourth as the 5/2 favorite in the All American Gold Cup.

Runner-up Rock About It has excelled at 550 yards, so the quarter mile of the All American Gold Cup was well within his running range. The Tammy Kay Johnson-trained Rock Solid Jess gelding won the 550-yard Slm Big Daddy at Remington Park and came into the All American Gold Cup off a win in the 550-yard Brigand Stakes at Ruidoso Downs.

Adrian A. Ramos was aboard.

Double A Ranch, Inc.’s Paint My Pilot raced to a close dead win over Bodacious Eagle in the Mr Jet Moore Handicap. The Pyc Paint Your Wagon $68,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase for $68,000 won last fall’s Grade 2, $213,000 Dash For Cash Derby at Lone Star Park and has earned $387,969.

Political Attraction, Firing Tools, High Plains Perry, In Class, Mr Apollitical Dash, Myst Fit and Tough To Bee completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For additional Ruidoso Downs information, go to the new raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow Ruidoso Downs on Twitter @RuiPressBox.

For Ruidoso Downs racing news CLICK HERE.