Whistle Stop Cafe Remains Undefeated and Clocks Fastest Qualifying Time on Day One of All American Futurity Trials

Whistle Stop Cafe, the winner of the 2020 Rainbow Futurity, had another great day on the race track as she won the most anticipated trial heat on day one by 1/2-length to advance to the finals of the $3 million Grade I All American Futurity that will be run on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs. The still-undefeated filly, who ran a swift 21.615 today, comes out of the barn of Blane Wood who also had a banner day as horses from his stable secured three of the five spots that were up for grabs.

Weekend Preview by Mike Ahrens: August 21 - 23, 2020

The big one is here, as this weekend provides plenty of action with 32 trials for the All American Futurity on Friday and Saturday along with four trials for the All American Oaks and nine for the All American Derby on Sunday.

Horsemen, News, RacingMike AhrensAugust 21, 2020News - Weekend Preview

The Road To The All American Begins This Weekend

The fastest 2-year-old and 3-year-old Quarter Horses in the industry have their eyes set on qualifying for the All American this weekend at Ruidoso Downs. More than 300 2-year-olds will run 440-yards in 32 time trial heats over the course of Friday and Saturday, vying for a spot in the Grade I, $3 Million All American Futurity, the final leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Five Horses to Watch in the All American Trials on Sunday

Ruidoso Down’s Tim Keithley picks five horses to watch on Sunday, August 23, 2020, in Ruidoso Downs Race Track’s All American Trials.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Five Horses to Watch in the All American Trials on Saturday

Ruidoso Down’s Tim Keithley picks five horses to watch on Saturday, August 22, 2020, in Ruidoso Downs Race Track’s All American Trials.

News, Horsemen, Racing, VisitorTim KeithleyAugust 20, 2020News - The Inside Track, News - Inside Track

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Five Horses to Watch in the All American Trials on Friday

Ruidoso Down’s Tim Keithley picks five horses to watch on Friday, August 21, 2020, in Ruidoso Downs Race Track’s All American Trials.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Road to All American Weekend - Whistle Stop Cafe

Whistle Stop Café brings Rainbow victory and undefeated record to All American Futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs. If there’s a favorite to make the final of the $3 million All American Futurity this weekend it might be 2020 Rainbow Futurity winner and undefeated Whistle Stop Café.

All American Oaks

2020 is the inaugural running of the All American Oaks. This brand new division of the All American Derby is designed specifically to give 3-year-old fillies the chance to run against each other. There will be 34 fillies competing for a spot in the finals of the inaugural running of the All American Oaks.

RacingEllen BaroneAugust 20, 2020Racing - Triple Crown Tradition

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Road to All American Weekend - Cers Final Try

About 1,700 miles away from Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Imperial Eagle, the six-year-old retired 2016 All American Futurity champion, relishes his new life of luxury on a sixty-acre farm located in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Road to All American Weekend - Mister Illusion

Taylor, Windham Hope Second All American Futurity Is No “Illusion.” There’s a gleam once again in trainer Health Taylor’s eyes these days around Ruidoso Downs that maybe he’ll return to the winner’s circle on Labor Day in the All American Futurity.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Road to All American Weekend - Ratification

There’s a First Lady of Barn 27 this summer, and her name is Ratification. She demands to be stalled in the middle of John Bucannon’s long barn on the backside of Ruidoso Downs and likes to know what is going on at all times.

Trainer Todd Fincher Sweeps the Rio Grande Senorita and Senor Futurities with Comic Hot Toddy and Delbert Too

Going into today’s co-featured races, nine of the 20 horses in the two Rio Grande Futurities came out of the Todd Fincher barn. In the end, the winners of both the Rio Grande Senorita Thoroughbred Futurity and the Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity were Fincher-trained. Comic Hot Toddy captured the win for the fillies in the Senorita, and Delbert Too hit the wire first for the colts and gelding in the Senor on a fast track with no wind.

News, Horsemen, Racing, VisitorKerry GladdenAugust 16, 2020News - Press Releases

Weekend Wrap-Up by Mike Ahrens: August 14 - 16, 2020

The Rio Grande Senorita and Rio Grande Senor were the highlights of this Sunday card and trainer Todd Fincher took home the top prize in both. Comic Hot Toddy dueled outside a rival through pretty quick opening fractions of 21.75 and 44.50 then took charge and drew away under jockey Shane Laviolette to cover five-and-one-half furlongs in 1.03.97 for the Senorita restricted to fillies.

News, Racing, Visitor, HorsemenMike AhrensAugust 16, 2020News - Weekend Wrap-Up

Bad Monkey Has a Good Day with a Win in the John Deere Ruidoso Downs Quarter Horse Challenge

On a day that celebrated the versatility of the American Quarter Horse, Luchador, Bad Monkey, and Lynnder 16 all won their AQHA Challenge races today at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. The wins qualify each of them to compete in the 2020 Bank of America Challenge Championships currently scheduled to be held on October 24th at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: New Rider Tanner Fincher Getting Better with Every Mount

The last name Fincher is used regularly in the winner’s circle at Ruidoso Downs Race Track for a winning trainer, but it’s been a while since that same family-name has been used to announce the name of a winning jockey.

News, Horsemen, Racing, VisitorTim KeithleyAugust 14, 2020News - The Inside Track, News - Inside Track

Weekend Preview by Mike Ahrens: August 14 - 16, 2020

Saturday features the Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge, John Deer Ruidoso Downs Challenge, and Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge, all for quarter horses, while Sunday's attention is on New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds with the Rio Grande Senorita and Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurities.

Horsemen, News, RacingMike AhrensAugust 14, 2020News - Weekend Preview

Rio Grande Senor and Senorita Thoroughbred Futurity Finals Run This Weekend

This weekend, New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds will take center stage on Sunday in the finals of the $134,667 Rio Grande Senor Futurity and the $133,828 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity.

News, Visitor, Racing, HorsemenKerry GladdenAugust 13, 2020News - Press Releases

Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Thursday, August 13, 2020

Tuesday morning workouts for Quarter Horses were a little light on numbers compared to most of the prior week but not light on impressiveness when looking at the fastest 330-yard work of the day.

News, Racing, Visitor, HorsemenMike AhrensAugust 13, 2020News - Stable Notes

Flying Eagle 07 Wins the Brigand Handicap

On a warm and sunny afternoon with no wind and a fast track, Flying Eagle 07 hit the wire with a time of :26.64, ¾ of a length ahead of Ratatattat to win the $20,000 Brigand Handicap. Morning line favorite Why Buy the Cow finished third, and a $2 win ticket on Flying Eagle 07 paid $19.20.

News, Horsemen, Racing, VisitorKerry GladdenAugust 9, 2020News - Press Releases, Racing - Brigand Handicap

The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Deferred Interest Debuts Sunday, Late to the AA Party But With Tons of Potential

With just two weeks to go before the All American Futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs, it’s getting late for a two-year-old to be making a racing debut. Most potential AA candidates have made at least a couple appearances on the race track.

News, Horsemen, Racing, VisitorTim KeithleyAugust 6, 2020News - The Inside Track, News - Inside Track