Carter picks Big Dashing Perry for All American Derby mount

J Bar and Kates Dynasty were sharp winners of All American Derby time trials for trainer Mike Joiner at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 19, qualifying for Sunday’s $1,920,887 final. After those races, all Joiner needed to do was to find riders for his 3-year-olds.

G.R. Carter rode J Bar and Kates Dynasty as well as Big Dashing Perry, who set the fastest qualifying time of 21.18 seconds for 440 yards. Carter chose Big Dashing Perry for the final, leaving Joiner to arrange for jockey Rodrigo Vallejo to ride J Bar and Larry Payne to ride Kates Dynasty.

That may not sound like an ideal situation for Joiner, but a similar scenario worked in his favor last year. Carter qualified Kates Dynasty for the Texas Classic Futurity and then chose another horse for the final. Salvador Martinez rode Kates Dynasty to a win. The filly was later named champion 2-year-old filly.

Kates Dynasty will need a championship-caliber effort to win the All American Derby. Aside from Big Dashing Perry, the competition includes Houdini, who won the Rainbow Derby in July, and Five Bar Cartel, who won the 2013 Ed Burke Million Futurity at Los Alamitos.

The race will have nine runners. Potenzza was injured in the trials and has been retired, trainer Paul Jones said last weekend.

All American Derby, race 11

KEY CONTENDERS

Houdini

◗ Trained by Luis Villafranco, Houdini was 10th in the 2013 All American Futurity and second in the Texas Classic Futurity in 2013. He won a division of the All American Derby trials in 21.26 seconds. Jockey Cody Jensen rode three qualifiers for the All American Derby and chose Houdini.

Big Dashing Perry

◗ Trained by Toby Keeton, Big Dashing Perry won the 2013 Firecracker Futurity at Delta Downs. The All American Derby trial was Big Dashing Perry’s first start since a third in the Sam Houston Derby in Texas in April.

Kates Dynasty

◗ One of two fillies to qualify, Kates Dynasty was sixth in the Rainbow Derby after racing in tight quarters. Joiner said the first 100 yards of a race are vital for Kates Dynasty’s chances.

“Her whole thing is to get away from the gate,” Joiner said. “If she can get that early blast, if she can get her head in front, she’s tough to get by.”

J Bar

◗ J Bar was fifth in the Rainbow Derby after a poor break. He closed from four lengths behind the leaders after 100 yards to finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Houdini.

“He was running strong at the end,” Joiner said. “I don’t know how he came from last to run fifth.”