Calderon hopes he can make history

Earlier this week, jockey Francisco Calderon made the nine-hour drive from Ruidoso, N.M., to San Antonio to spend a few dark days at his Texas home. The journey gave the 27-year-old Calderon plenty of time to reflect on what he accomplished last Saturday and the assignment he faces on Labor Day.

Calderon is the regular rider of Jess Savin Candy, who will start favored in the $3 million All American Futurity on Sept. 6 with a chance at Quarter Horse racing history.

Jess Savin Candy won the Ruidoso Futurity on June 13 and the Rainbow Futurity on July 25 and can become the first horse since Special Effort in 1981 to sweep the track’s Triple Crown of futurities. Special Effort is the only horse to reach the milestone.

“When you think about, and you get really deep into it, it’s amazing,” Calderon said on Tuesday evening. “I would love for it to happen. Not because of me, but for the horse.”

Jess Savin Candy is the first horse in 28 years to be in position to sweep the Triple Crown. In 1993, Treacherously won the Ruidoso and Rainbow futurities, and finished third in the All American Futurity. Others, such as Deceptively in 1992 and Leading Spirit in 2005, have won the first two futurities, but did not make the All American Futurity final because of injuries or a poor performance in the time trials.

Last Saturday, Jess Savin Candy ran 440 yards in 21.187 seconds, the fastest of 30 time trials over two days. The runners with the five fastest times from each day advanced to the final.

Jess Savin Candy, who races for the Dutch Masters III partnership of Jim Streelman and Bill Dale and trainer John Stinebaugh, won his trial by a half-length over Press Is My Hero, who also qualified for the final.

Calderon was not entirely pleased with Jess Savin Candy’s win, concerned that the gelding drifted to his inside from an outside post. The issue could be solved if Jess Savin Candy draws between horses in the final.

“I was a little worried about that,” Calderon said. “Thank God, it turned out good. I think he likes to be in between horses.”

Jess Savin Candy’s main rivals will be FDD Scout and KJ Desparado. FDD Scout, trained by Trey Wood, was fourth by a half-length in the Rainbow and won a trial last Saturday in 21.189 seconds for the second-fastest qualifying time.

KJ Desparado was the fastest qualifier from the Friday trials in 21.452 seconds on a day with a prevalent head wind. The Saturday trials were run with tailwinds or cross winds through the 15 divisions.

Last year, Calderon finished fourth aboard Jettz with his first mount in the All American Futurity, valuable experience that will be put to use on Labor Day.

“You have to take it as another race,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure. Don’t get me wrong. You know all eyes are on you.

“I wasn’t even born the last time it happened.”