Trainer Eddie Willis Qualifies Two for the Finals

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM – AUGUST 22, 2020 – All American Futurity trials continued today, and the filly Flashing My Pjs was the star of the show as she covered the 440 yards today in a blistering :21.203 to record not only the fastest time of the day, but the fastest qualifying time across the board. The track was fast, and a 4-16 MPH tailwind was present on a day that saw the top five qualifiers run faster times than Whistle Stop Cafe, the top qualifier from the first day of trials.

Flashing My Pjs, an Oklahoma-bred sorrel filly by First Moonflash out of Pj Chick in Black by Desirio, is owned by Flashing My Pjs Partnership/Susan Taylor et al. She was ridden by jockey Benito Baca who had the mount today. Flashing My Pjs hails from the John Stinebaugh barn. Stinebaugh also trained Flashing My Pjs broodmare, Pj Chick in Black, who finished sixth in the 2012 All American Futurity and earned more than $600,000 in her career.

“Lady Luck finally smiled on this filly. I knew what she was capable of, but it seemed like I was the only one,” said trainer Stinebaugh. “She had done so much in training, and today, she broke like a shot and ran awesome. I think she might be faster than her mother.”

The second-fastest qualifying time came in the next-to-the-last heat when Instygator dominated the field to win by 3 ½ lengths with a time of :21.205. Owned by Jose Guzman, the brown gelding by Ivory James out of Eye Popping by Mr Eye Opener, was bred in Texas and is trained by Jaime Hernandez. Jockey James Flores was aboard for the win today.

“This horse showed so much natural ability. I wonder if I might have ridden her too aggressively because he did come over a little after he cleared,” said jockey Flores. “He’s a fast horse, and it’s a privilege to have this opportunity in the final.”

Qualifying with the third-fasted time of :21.421 was Apollitical Gold, an Oklahoma-bred sorrel gelding owned by the Grant R Cox Revocable Trust. Apollitical Gold is by Apollitical Jess out of Src Gold by Pyc Paint Your Wagon and is trained by Eddie Willis. He was ridden by jockey Jimmy Brooks.

Willis and Brooks also qualified HR Princess Jess who had the fifth-fastest time of :21.461 running second to top qualifier Flashing My Pjs in the second trial heat. The Oklahoma-bred sorrel filly is also by Apollitical Jess out of Hr Ebony Princess by Ivory James and is owned by Larry Rice.

Eagles And Dragons, secured a spot in the finals by hitting the wire with the fourth-fastest time of :21.443. Owned by Joe Rios and trained by Juan Gonzalez, Eagles And Dragons joins Famous And Easy, a qualifier from day one as one of two New Mexico-bred horses to make the 2020 finals. The sorrel gelding is by Zulu Dragon out of Effortless Eagle by One Famous Eagle. He was ridden today by Jaime Leos.

The complete field for the 2020 $3 Million Grade I All American Futurity to be run on Labor Day at 440 yards includes Flashing My Pjs, Instygator, Apollitical Gold, Eagles And Dragons, HR Princess Jess, Whistle Stop Cafe, Jettz, Famous And Easy, Flash Bak, and Caliente Caramelo.

The five horses who ran the next five fastest times today qualified to run in the All American Juvenile which will also be run at 440-yards on Labor Day. Those horses include Candy Blood (:21.490); Peves Jackpot Jack (:21.585); Miss Candymountain (:21.604); Relentless Rose (:21.612); and Mane Street (:21.631).

The complete field for the 2020 All American Juvenile that will also be run on Labor Day also at 440-yards includes Candy Blood, Peves Jackpot Jack, Miss Candymountain, Relentless Rose, Mane Street, A Dangerous Flash, Famous Shining Star, Seven, Separate Sentence, and Shott Gun.

Racing continues tomorrow as the 3-year-olds take to the track. Sunday’s race card features 4 trials heats for the $421,165 All American Oaks for fillies and 9 trial heats for the open division of the $1,077,668 All American Derby. Post time is set for 12:00 Noon. At this time, the Turf Club and the Jockey Club are limited to 50% capacity due to the Public Health Order from the State of New Mexico. For more information on how to watch online, place your bet with your favorite online wagering provider, or conduct drive-thru wagering, please visit RaceRuidoso.com.