TRIPLE CROWN WITHIN REACH AS JESS SAVIN CANDY BECOMES TOP QUALIFIER IN ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY TRIALS SATURDAY AT RUIDOSO DOWNS RACE TRACK
Jess Savin Candy, a two-year-old gelding, will attempt to become only the second quarter horse in racing history to earn the two-year-old triple crown when he goes to post In the $3 million All American Futurity on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
The horse recorded the fastest time of the day on Saturday, 21.187 seconds for 440-yards, and qualified for the All American Futurity finals to be run on September 6th. The only race horse to have won the triple crown series previously was Special Effort back In 1981.
"I was feeling the pressure of the moment more than the horse," jockey Francisco Calderon said in the winner's circle. "It was just another race for him but now this horse has a chance at history--I'm very happy that we will have that opportunity."
Jess Savin Candy won the fifth race of the day under a slight tailwind by a half-length over Press Is My Hero and El Painted Eagle who also qualfied for the All American final. The gelding paid $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10 to win for the fourth time in five career starts.
Owned by Dr. Jim Strelman and Bill Dale (Dutch Masters III) and trained by John Stinebaugh, the Oklahoma-bred's sire is Jess Good Candy out of the mare Savin Grace by Pappasito.
The fifth race didn't go official until stewards reviewed race replays and lifted the inquiry light. Jess Savin Candy slightly broke into the filly Misty Shade of Blue to her inside, but ruled the incidental contact didn't impede either horses' chance.
"I saw the race replay and wasn’t worried about it," Stinebaugh said. "Everything worked out fine and our horse is resting in the barn waiting for Labor Day.
The other quarter horses that qualified for the All American Futurity on Saturday include: Fdd Scout in 21.189 seconds, Press Is My Hero in 21.274 seconds, El Painted Eagle in 21.317 seconds, and Jess Dealin in 21.381 seconds. A complete listing of the horses and their times is available here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5de800a137443f1585f73109/t/60b2d952c0b2d87d1b1ae200/1622333779173/2021+RUIDOSO+FUTURITY-DAY+2++trials+PDF.pdf
Racing action continues on Sunday with the trials for the $929,225 All American Derby and the $439,885 All American Oaks. First post for the twelve-race card will be Noon.