Apocalyptical Jess targets Texas Classic Futurity

Apocalyptical Jess, winner of the $3 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses on Monday at Ruidoso Downs, could see action next at Lone Star Park. Trainer Blane Wood said Wednesday that Apocalyptical Jess could run next in the Oct. 20 trials for the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity. The finale is Nov. 10.

“If he pulls up like he has me thinking he has, we’ll probably take him to the Texas Classic at Lone Star,” Wood said. “He seems to be perfectly fine.”

Wood said Apocalyptical Jess is at Ruidoso, which closed Monday, and will move to one of two family-owned training centers in Texas.

“We’re just letting him rest, evaluating him,” Wood said.

Wood joined his father, Leo Wood, in the record books Monday. They are the first father and son trainers to win the All American Futurity, with Leo Wood taking the 1979 running with Pie In the Sky. Blane Wood said he was thinking about his father after Apocalyptical Jess crossed the wire.

“The first thought was my dad,” Blane Wood said. “He won it back in 1979. That was a big deal. I guess the next thought that came to me was, ‘We did this!’ ”

Wood had two other starters in the All American – Mm Fourinthemorning, the Rainbow winner and favorite who was fifth; and Badhabit Jess, who was seventh. He said both are candidates for the Texas Classic Futurity.