All American Futurity winner Hes Judgeandjury eyes Los Alamitos stakes

Hes Judgeandjury and Chasing Aj, the Heath Taylor-trained Quarter Horses who finished first and third in the $2.9 million All American Futurity on Monday at Ruidoso Downs, could both see stakes action later this year in Southern California.

Hes Judgeandjury is paid up in both the Golden State Million and Los Alamitos Two Million, Taylor said Tuesday. But before plans are made with the All American winner, he will undergo a round of X-rays and other routine diagnostics to assess his general health.

Hes Judgeandjury, who is a gelding, qualified for all three major futurities this past meet at Ruidoso Downs. He has a career mark of 4 for 6.

“So far the horse looks good,” Taylor said Tuesday. “Obviously, he’s done a whole lot, especially for a 2-year-old. He’s run in six grueling races, earned over $1.6 million. The first step will be a physical exam and if anything’s bothering him, we’ll give him the proper time. If not – which he looks good – he is paid up in the Golden State Million and the Los Alamitos Two Million.”

Trials for the Golden State Million are Oct. 9, and the finale is Oct. 30.

Trials for the Los Alamitos Two Million are Nov. 20, and the finale is Dec. 11.

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Hes Judgeandjury fought for a neck win in the All American, over runner-up Sicario V.

“I thought the horse was extremely game,” Taylor said of Hes Judgeandjury. “There were horses all around him, on both sides, and he fought them off. I don’t think he ever saw [Sicario V] on the far outside. He had blinkers on, and that horse was coming from the far outside. I thought he dug in, showed a lot of determination. He really gutted it up to try to win.”

The next day, Hes Judgeandjury took part in a two-hour photo shoot in the infield at Ruidoso, Taylor said. He said it’s a tradition for the winners of the All American.

Chasing Aj finished a neck behind Sicario V. Chasing Aj, like Hes Judgeandjury, will have a complete examination before next race plans are made, Taylor said.

“He looks great, very happy, well within himself,” Taylor said.

Chasing Aj is paid up in the Los Alamitos Two Million, Taylor said.

Taylor has a division of his stable at Los Alamitos and also will have a division of horses at the Lone Star Park meet that opens Sept. 16.

– additional reporting by Steve Andersen