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Trainer Kasey Willis Savoring All American Futurity Berth
Trainer Kasey Willis got his first All American Futurity(G1) qualifier during Friday's 17 trail races at Ruidoso Downs.

© Greg Thompson
Trainer Kasey Willis Savoring All American Futurity Berth

by Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–AUGUST 21, 2015–- After running gamely to a third-place finish in the Ruidoso Futurity(G1), Kasey Willis' trained One Fabulous Eagle explodes down the Ruidoso Downs racecourse in Fridays trials to capture the fastest qualifying time, thus becoming the trainer's first-ever starter in the upcoming $3 Million All American Futurity(G1).

The Darling Farm owned son of One Famous Eagle, who was a repurchase in the 2014 Ruidoso Select Yearling sale before being purchased privately, made the trial race his second victory in three starts. The only defeat in his brief career thus far came in the Ruidoso Futurity(G1) where the talented two-year old reared-up in the gate prior to the starters release, resulting in a bit of a tardy departure.

"I have so much confidence in this horse that I feel like he should have never been beaten," said Willis. "I felt that if he was able to run his race in the Ruidoso Futurity(G1), then he would be undefeated thus far. He missed the break by just a step in that race, and still finished right up towards the winner First Valiant Sign. When First Valiant Sign came back and ran a big race in the Rainbow Futurity(G1), it was just proof positive of the quality of One Fabulous Eagle."

According to the trainer, the quarter-mile distance has been something his trainee has been moving towards with his distinct late kick in the final portion of the races he has previously contested.

"I have been really look forward to running this horse at the 440 yard distance," said Willis. "He was my number-one pick as a yearling at the Lazy E Ranch preview, and with his stride and his build I felt that the quarter-mile distance was something I felt he was going to really excel at. Even with the great result, I feel that he could have been a stride or two better with a better break from the gates. I give a lot of credit to the jockey, Cesar Gomez, for just letting him run his race in the trial."

When the seventeenth race from day one of the trials produced the final two qualifiers, Tf Im That Guy and Giving It All, it was almost a day that saw two Kasey Willis trainees make the field for the 2015 All American Futurity(G1). Alexia Mehrle's Challon, who is also trained by Willis, was within the field with a time of 21.668, but was pushed out of the field having to settle for the top spot going into the $200,000 All American Juvenile Invitational.

"Friday's trials have just been awesome", said Willis. "I've been flooded with congratulatory calls and text messages. I felt that One Fabulous Eagle was one of the top-five two-year olds in the country, and for him to show that he deserves that praise is just so satisfying. Darling Farms has given me such great horses to train, and to give them a chance at winning the All American with a qualifier is just a tremendous feeling. They are such great owners to train for. I will be counting the days until Labor Day."