All American Trials boil 223 down to 10

Rainbow Futurity winner First to Flash is among 223 2-year-olds entered in 23 trials for the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Futurity on Thursday at Ruidoso Downs.

The horses with the 10 fastest times qualify for the All American, Quarter Horse racing's richest race, on Labor Day. There is a 9:30 a.m. first post time for the 440-yard trials.

First to Flash is riding a 3-race winning streak, including the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity in his most recent out. His trainer, John Bassett, won last year's All American Futurity with Ausual Suspect.

The All American Futurity purse was boosted by four $50,000 supplemental nominees. These nominees include Meteoric, who is undefeated in five starts, racing primarily in the Northwest.

Leading the California-based entrants are the Grade 1 Governor's Cup Futurity winner, Flys R Steakin, and supplemental nominee Straw Flying Dash, who sustained his first defeat after a poor start in the Grade 1 Ed Burke Futurity as the 2-5 favorite.

Two Grade 1 futurity winners at Remington Park are coming off layoffs. The Remington Park Futurity winner, Outdashing, is making his first start since April 20, while Fast First Prize, winner of the Heritage Place Futurity, will be making his first appearance since June 1.

Derby trial matchup at Ruidoso

Last year's champion 2-year-old colt, Tres Seis, meets two-time Grade 1 derby winner A Real Man in the second of five 440-yard trials for the Grade 1, $219,400 All American Derby on Friday at Ruidoso Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers qualify for the finals on Sept. 1.

Tres Seis is coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby on July 20, his second 2002 start.

During his championship campaign in 2001, Tres Seis won the Grade 1 Golden State Futurity and was second in the All American Futurity.

A Real Man won the Remington Park Derby and the Heritage Place Derby before finishing third behind SC Chiseled in Stone and Tres Seis in the Rainbow Derby.

SC Chiseled in Stone is in the third trial.

Trials rock Golden State

Double-digit upsets in the two Aug. 3 trials for Saturday's Grade 1, $207,800 Golden State Futurity at Los Alamitos raise a question: Can the Grade 1 stakes winners who were upset victims rebound in the 400-yard finals?

In the first trial, 15-1 outsider A First Tac defeated Grade 1 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity winner Check Him Out and Grade 1 Governor's Cup Derby winner Last Shall Be First.

In the second trial, 18-1 longshot Chicks Rapidash defeated Grade 1 Kindergarten winner Sassy Smith and Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby winner Panther Mountain.

A Tac First has recovered from a hoof injury last year to qualify for the Governor's Cup Derby and the El Primero del Ano Derby this year.

Check Him Out was third in the El Primero Derby, and Last Shall Be First won three straight races before her trial defeat.

Chicks Rapidash closed strongly to defeat Sassy Smith in their trial, while Panther Mountain was a close fourth, beaten a neck.

Sassy Smith and Panther Mountain were each coming off over five-month layoffs and figure to improve in the finals.