Preview Racing


One Fabulous Eagle, First Valiant Sign Rematch In $2.4-Million All American Derby on Big Stakes Day
Runner-up in last year's All American Futurity, One Fabulous Eagle has returned to his top form in time for Sunday's All American Derby(G1).

© Dara Pearce / StallioneSearch
One Fabulous Eagle, First Valiant Sign Rematch In $2.4-Million All American Derby on Big Stakes Day

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 29, 2016—All American Futurity runner-up One Fabulous Eagle and the always dangerous First Valiant Sign, who finished first and second in their trial, are set for a rematch among a deep group of three-year-olds in the Grade 1, $2,414,691 All American Derby on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

There is a special 12 noon first post time.

Sunday’s program is loaded with important stakes races. Also on the card are the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup and the $100,000 First Down Dash for quarter horses. The $191,077 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity brings out the premier two-year-old fillies.

Darling Farms’ One Fabulous Eagle came within a neck of winning last year’s Grade 1, $3-million All American Futurity. The One Famous Eagle-sired colt has returned this summer and shown top form.

One Fabulous Eagle has won his latest three starts, including the $100,000 Corona Cartel. The Eddie Willis-trained colt earned his berth in the 440-yard All American Derby with a neck win in his trial over First Valiant Sign.

First Valiant Sign, a $100,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, has been a warrior for owners Scott Bryant, Joe Dee Brooks, R. Lee Lewis, R.D. Hubbard and Derrol Hubbard while earning $795,799.

The Valiant Hero-sired gelding was a tribute to consistency last year. He won the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity, was second by a neck in the Grade 1, $1-million Rainbow Futurity and fourth in the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity. It is rare that a horse can qualify to all three futurities at Ruidoso Downs.

This year, he was fourth in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Rainbow Derby as the 8-5 favorite. The Mike Joiner-trained gelding then sustained the close defeat behind the late-running One Fabulous Eagle in their All American Derby trial.

Volcom Bay, one of four horses that trainer Judd Kearl placed in the All American Derby, impressed with a two-and-one-quarter-length win in the 12th of 13 trials. Her time of :21.189 was the fastest-qualify mark. The Kearl-trained attack on the All American Derby also includes second-fastest qualifier Ec One Jet, fifth-fastest qualifier First Fancy Racy and sixth-fastest qualifier Brave Heart Won.

Bennie and Teresa Jeter’s Volcom Bay has done her best work this summer at Ruidoso Downs. The daughter of Volcom finished second to Jess Good Candy in the Grade 1, $1,069,000 Ruidoso Derby in her start before the All American Derby trials.

The post positions for the All American Derby will be determined on Thursday.

The All American Gold Cup, also at 440 yards, brings out the best older quarter horses.

The Gold Cup attracted an excellent field, including El Duero, Zoomin Effortlessly and Jessies First Down.

HWD Racing Stables’ El Duero has won his latest four races. In his most recent start, the gelding by Oak Tree Special stepped forward and won the $30,000 Higheasterjet Handicap by one length.

Trainer Hemerio Hernandez will have Raul Herrera aboard with the fourth post position.

Telesforo Perrett’s Zoomin Effortlessly tries to make up for a disqualification in the Remington Park Championship in the Gold Cup. He won seven-consecutive races, including six stakes race, before his disqualification.

Zoomin Effortlessly’s most important win was a in the Grade 1, $350,000 The Championship at Sunland Park in January. The Edelmiro Carrizales-trained Zoomin Effortlessly starts from the third post position with Santos Carrizales up.

Ted Abrams’ homebred Jessies First Down is ready for the Gold Cup after storming to a two-length allowance win in a quick :19.255 for 400 yards. The Fdd Dynasty-sired gelding took the $50,000 Sam Houston Classic two starts ago.

Trainer Kearl has Cody Jensen up with the inside post position. The 440-yard First Down Dash is for three-year-olds that did not qualify for the All American Derby.

Two Feathers Series, LLC’s Stevie B First Cash, a $119,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, finished third in the Rainbow Derby and then was a close second in his All American Derby trial.

The striking son of First Down Dash and Spit Curl Diva has finished in the top-three runners in each of his latest six starts.

Trainer Bret Vickery will have Jose Amador Alvarez aboard with the number-one post position.

The five-and-one half furlong Rio Grande Senorita Futurity shapes up as the Todd Fincher show. He has an exceptional group of two-year-olds and qualified seven of the 10 Senorita Futurity runners.

One of Fincher’s impressive winners in the Senorita trials was R.D. Hubbard’s homebred Sippin. The Swissle Stick daughter won her maiden in her only other start and then got through on the rail to take her Senorita trial by seven lengths over the Fincher-trained Miss Twister.

Sippin covered the five-and-one-half furlongs in 1:04.74 with Christian Santiago Reyes up. It was the fastest time from the four trials.

Reyes up be the rider from the inside post position.

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