Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. rode four of the five qualifiers on the day 1 of the All American Futurity trials on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Dustin Orona Photography

RUIDOSO, NM—AUGUST 14, 2014—As the day ended at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico for the first day of qualifying for the 2014 $2.6 Million G1 All American Futurity trials, champion jockey G.R. Carter had finished what he would call "a dream day of racing", as he qualifies four of the five two-year olds for the G1 futurity from day one of the trials.

The sport of Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading jockey was listed in the program on 11 head for the card of 14 races. Carter started off the day right in the first two races with a win, and a second place finish. At days end, he would cross the wire in front on seven two-year-olds (although one was disqualified for interference), two second place finishes, one fourth, and one last place finish in the days 5th race. As the day came to a close, only jockey Ricky Ramirez aboard a the Trey Wood trainee, Sam Crow, would find its name on a qualifier going towards the G1 All American Futurity on September 1, 2014.

"In order for something like this to happen to you in racing you almost have to say that the stars where aligned for me and my mounts today," said G.R. Carter. "Everybody who knows about racing in Ruidoso knows about how the weather can effect things with the wind, and the rain you can get in Ruidoso. It just seemed that a lot of my better mounts where towards the end of the card today, and the wind was in our favor for those races. My agent Donnie Stewart and I are so fortunate and appreciative of the stock that the owners and trainers have allowed us to ride this summer here at Ruidoso. Without the horse underneath, you are just not going to be qualifying anything going into a G1 event."

When asked to recollect if he has personally had this much success in the trials going into a G1 futurity before, the rider pointed out a great day of trials that he once had in Oklahoma.

"I had qualified 4 of the 5 in the Heritage Place Futurity one year," said Carter. "Not to take away anything from the Heritage Place Futurity, because I strive hard every year to try to win that race, but this is the All American Futurity we are talking about. It has been a dream day here in Ruidoso, and I can't wait for tomorrow's chances to try to qualify some more. Labor Day weekend cannot get here fast enough for me this year."

The second day of trials at Ruidoso Downs for the G1 All American Futurity begins at 1:00 pm (MDT). Carter is listed as the rider on 10 mounts from the card of 14 races slated for Day 2.