Bassett horses pack one-two punch

The John Bassett-trained pair of Ausual Suspect and Tres Seis took the top two spots in the Grade 1 $1,954,649 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Monday afternoon.

The only other trainer to saddle the first- and second-place finishers in the All American Futurity was Jack Brooks in 1982.

The first All American mount for jockey Dennis Means, Ausual Suspect started from the outside post position and drifted toward the outside rail at the break. He rallied strongly in the last 200 yards of the 440-yard race win by a neck over Tes Seis. Ms Wandas Fortune finished third.

Ausual Suspect ($20.60) was timed in 21.542 seconds.

Means got the mount on Ausual Suspect when Joe Badilla, who qualified the top two finishers, elected to ride Tres Seis.

It was the second All American Futurity win for Bassett and Ausual Suspect's owners, Charlie and Deborah Therwhanger. Bassett won in 1999 with A Delightful Dasher and the Therwhangers won in 1992 with Dash Thru Traffic.

Bassett said that Ausual Suspect will now point to the Grade 1 Golden State Futurity on Nov. 3 at Los Alamitos.

Stoli retires a winner

Stoli, owned by Jackie Spencer and R.D. Hubbard, won the Grade 1 $204,439 All American Derby in his final career start.

The winner of last year's Grade 1 West Texas Futurity, Stoli won by a half-length over 14-1 longshot Special Hippity Hop. Stoli ($19.40), ridden by Bonifacio Perez for trainer Claire Greenwood, raced the 440 yards in 21.421 seconds.

for the All American Futurity chart.*

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