Mr Piloto is a Louisiana-bred colt racing for Tremor Enterprises LLC, bred by Ill Take A Twirl LLC, and trained by Felipe Quintero. Both Quintero, 27, and jockey Esgar Ramirez recorded their first victory in Quarter Horse racing’s most prestigious race.

A veteran of the New Mexico jockey colony, Ramirez rode MJ Enterprises’ Arealstraitheart to win the 2006 All American Derby (G1).

Mr Piloto became the 58th member of the sport’s millionaire’s club, joining Vanessa Bartoo’s Double Down Special, who joined the group when he won Sunday’s $1.5-million All American Derby (G1).

Mr Piloto’s dam, the 8-year-old Splash Bac mare Ms Pilot Point, won the 2006 AQHA East Distaff Challenge (G3) at Delta Downs. Ms Pilot Point has foaled two winners from as many starters, and she is a half sister to JLS Streak Of Snow, a filly by This Snow Is Royal who won two Grade 3 stakes in ’05, including the AQHA East Distaff Challenge.

Another of Ms Pilot Point’s half siblings, JLS Streak Of Dash, ran second in the $71,925 Cajun Kindergarten Futurity (G3) at Delta Downs in 2001.

Mr Piloto’s third dam, the Ichibon mare Miss Air Mail, won the 1983 TQHA Texas Derby at Trinity Meadows near Fort Worth. A 1980 foal, Miss Air Mail produced two stakes-placed runners, including 1998 AQHA Oklahoma Juvenile Challenge (G3) runner-up Big Cash Roll.

Miss Air Mail’s half sister, the late War Charge mare Roma Charge, won the 1966 Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

Mr Piloto also gave Mr Jess Perry his 96th stakes winner and increased the 18-year-old Streakin La Jolla stallion’s progeny earnings to more than $32.9 million.

Mr Jess Perry has sired eight stakes winners this season and is only four away from the 100 career mark, an achievement that only First Down Dash (222), Dash For Cash (145), Easy Jet (145), Chicks Beduino (140), and Corona Cartel (109) have reached.

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Monday also marked the end of Ann McGovern’s tenure as Ruidoso Downs vice president and general manager. Last month, McGovern announced her resignation and plans to pursue interests outside the racing industry.

McGovern’s involvement in racing began in the 1980s, when she was a student in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. Since then, she has served in various capacities at Remington Park, Louisiana Downs, Sam Houston Race Park, and Ruidoso Downs. She has also served on the AQHA Racing Committee, and she has been a tireless supporter of such industry causes as racetrack chaplaincy programs and finding homes for retired racehorses.

For an excellent review of McGovern’s long and distinguished racing career, read this story written by Martha Claussen, which appeared on the Paulick Report website -- http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/good-news-friday-sponsored-by-liberation-farm-celebrating-mcgovern/.

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In Arizona, the Gila County Fair has announced that it has cancelled its 2010 race meet due to state budget cuts.

All of Arizona’s county fair race meets rely on state funding, as does historic Rillito Park in Tucson, which is operated by the non-profit Pima County Horsemen’s Association.

The Gila County Fair meet is located in Globe, a town of about 7,000 residents located 87 miles east of the downtown Phoenix, and the lack of racing is expected to have an adverse affect on the area’s tourism industry.

“We hope something can be worked out so that funding will become available (in the future),” said Gila County Racing Committee chairman Floyd Livingood. “Right now, the cuts are hurting small businesses that rely on the races for revenue. I know of a number of people who have had to sell their horses out-of-state due to lack of business here in Arizona.”

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Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans opens its 2010 Quarter Horse meet on September 14. The track will run five stakes, including four restricted to Louisiana-breds, during its 10-day season, which ends on September 25.

Fair Grounds’ opening-day card will be headlined by two 330-yard, $75,000-added races for state-bred 2-year-olds – the Big Easy Stakes (R) and the Belle of New Orleans Stakes (R). The 400-yard, $50,000-added Mid City Stakes (R) for Louisiana-bred aged runners is scheduled for September 18, followed by the 350-yard, $50,000-added Treme Stakes (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds on September 25.

The only open stakes on the schedule, the 440-yard, $40,000 Fair Grounds Challenge Stakes, will be run on closing day.

Live racing will be held on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. Fair Grounds will also be the site of this year’s Bank of America Challenge Championships on November 19, just six days before the track opens its 2010-11 Thoroughbred meet on Thanksgiving Day.

For more information, visit www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.

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Meanwhile, Zia Park will be opening its 53-day meet on Saturday. Entries for opening day will be taken on Wednesday.

Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, Zia Park will race primarily on a Saturday-Tuesday schedule. The only exception to this will be when the track offers live racing on Friday, November 26, the day after Thanksgiving.

Several Quarter Horse stakes will be offered during the meet, including the 400-yard, $300,000-est. Hobbs America Futurity (G2) and 440-yard, $200,000-est. Hobbs America Derby (G3), both of which will be run on October 10. Past winners of the Hobbs America Futurity, which began in 2005, including champions Gone To The Mountain (2007), Brenda Beautiful (’08), and First Klas Fred (’09). Champion Noconi won the Hobbs America Derby in 2008.

Also, Zia Park will host a full day of state-bred stakes on New Mexico Cup Day, October 31. Featured on the card will be the 400-yard, $350,000-est. New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG1) and the 400-yard, $200,000-est. New Mexico Cup Derby (RG1).

For more information, visit www.blackgoldcasino.net, and click on the “Racing” link at the top of the home page.

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It has also been announced that Fort Erie Racetrack in Canada will be the home of Quarter Horse racing this fall. Located in southern Ontario, just across the river from Buffalo, New York, Ft. Erie will host sprint races on the first five Saturdays in October.

Eric Johnston will be the Quarter Horse racing secretary during the meet. Johnson also serves as vice president of racing at Sam Houston Race Park.

“Members of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Incorporated (QROOI) were very helpful in suggesting the types of conditions that would attract local horsemen to the meet,” said Johnston. “We intend to attract a significant group of competitors from south of the border, and we also wanted to engage the high quality Thoroughbred horsemen who call Fort Erie home. I think we’ve come up with a condition book that offers something for everyone and purses that will make the trip worthwhile.”

Fort Erie opened in 1897 and is one of the oldest tracks in North America. At one time, it was owned by the Cella family, which owns and operates Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and it has been the home of the Prince of Wales Stakes – the second leg of the Canadian Thoroughbred Triple Crown – since 1959.

Also, the legendary Northern Dancer broke his maiden at Fort Erie in 1963.

Visit www.forterieracing.com for more information on the racetrack and its first-ever Quarter Horse meet.

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CLOCKER’S CORNER

SATURDAY

Jeannette Hoover’s Burrs Tictac (Burrs First Down-Split The Toll by Tolltac) breezed 220 yards from the gate in :12.23 at Hoosier Park. A one-time $7,500 claimer, the 6-year-old gelding has earned $137,671 from 24 starts, and his five wins include last year’s 350-yard, $78,800 Bob Woodward Classic Stakes (R) at Indiana Downs.

THREE TIMES EVEN (TR Dasher-Three Times Four by Separatist) prepped for her return by breezing 330 from the gate in :17.78 at Lone Star Park. The 2-year-old filly races for Mackie Racing LLC, and she was a finalist in the March 20 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G2) at Louisiana Downs.

Unraced 2-year-old CHICK ON THE WIRE (Hawkinson-Buena Chick by Chicks Beduino) topped Los Alamitos’ work tab, as the Texas-bred colt drilled 220 from the gate in :12.50, the fastest of 16 moves at the distance. Bred by Janet McKinnerney, Chick On The Wire is one of three foals produced by his unraced dam, who is a half sister to three stakes winners, including 1988 world champion Merganser.

Also at Los Alamitos, Saturday Nite Fever (Check Him Out-Dashingatac by First Down Dash) worked 350 from the gate in :17.90. Racing for Victor M. Gonzalez and Reyes Salcedo, the 4-year-old gelding won last year’s Grade 1, $200,000 AQHA Derby Challenge Championship and ran second in the $158,850 Southern California Derby (G1).

Finally at Los Alamitos, Michael Isom’s Hoist Mission (Maknmoves-With Real Intent by Raise A Secret) worked 350 from the gate in :18.50. The homebred 3-year-old gelding has won four of nine starts, including last year’s $150,000 AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) and $106,472 Bitterroot Futurity (RG2).

PB CASINO LADY (Lock To Load-Wicked Colors by Runaway Colors) worked 220 from the gate in :11.43 at Yavapai Downs. The unraced 2-year-old filly was bred in Arizona by Pinedo Bros. QH, and she is one of two foals from her winning dam. Her second dam, the Dash For Cash mare Wicked Willa, won the 1991 World’s Championship Classic (G1) at Ruidoso Downs and produced ’98 Ruidoso Derby (G2) winner Wicked Winner.

Also at Yavapai Downs, GROUPIE (A Regal Choice-Rocknout by Check Him Out) prepped for her debut by working 220 from the gate in :11.97. Bred in California by Blane Schvaneveldt and the Parsons Family Trust, the 2-year-old filly traces back to her second dam, 2005 champion aged mare Mini Rock.

SUNDAY

Unraced 3-year-old Peytons Game (Brimmerton-Miss Marquetry [TB] by Marquetry [TB]) worked 350 yards in :17.97 at Remington Park. Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, the gelding is a half brother to two stakes winners, including Heza Marquette Maker, the winner of this year’s 870-yard, $25,000 Governor’s Cup Marathon Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park.

MONDAY

FORUNNER (Lion Heart [TB]-Fodice by First Down Dash) topped a light work tab at The Downs at Albuquerque, as the unraced 2-year-old colt drilled 220 yards from the gate in :12.14, the fastest of six moves at the distance. Forunner was bred in Kentucky by Robert Gentry, and he is one of nine foals from his winning and Grade 3-placed dam. His half sister, the Cuvee (TB) filly Fovee, ran third in last year’s Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity (G1).

Fast Eye Candy (Mr Eye Opener-This Candys Fast by Heza Fast Man) breezed 220 in :12.52 at Prairie Meadows. Racing for Larry and Michelle Rice and trainer Rudy Ramirez, the 5-year-old gray gelding ran second in last year’s 330-yard, $15,800 Arapahoe Park Speed Challenge Stakes, and he was the runner-up to Jessthelouisianagirl in the 2008 Altoona Derby (G3).

David F. Rath’s Cascia Babe (Special Leader-High Time Liz by On A High) worked 220 in :12.38 at Remington Park. The homebred 3-year-old filly won last year’s $406,100 Speedhorse Gold & Silver Cup Futurity (RG1) at Fair Meadows at Tulsa.