DM Streakn Thru Fire clicks at 26-1 in All American Gold Cup

For the second consecutive year, DM Streakn Thru Fire has won a major Quarter Horse stakes in New Mexico to earn a berth for the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in December.

Saturday at Ruidoso Downs, DM Streakn Thru Fire ($54.60) ended a four-race losing streak in the $200,000 All American Gold Cup. Dm Streakn Thru Fire was ridden by Joe Badilla Jr., who returned to riding in May after an eight-year retirement.

The winner of the All American Gold Cup earned an automatic berth to the Champion of Champions on Dec. 13, a race that plays a pivotal role in year-end voting. Last year, DM Streakn Thru Fire won the Zia Park Championship, which provided an automatic berth to the Champion of Champions. DM Streakn Thru Fire did not start in the Champion of Champions because trainer Mike Joiner thought the 17-day break between races was too quick.

Saturday, DM Streakn Thru Fire ran 440 yards in 21.47 seconds to win the All American Gold Cup by a neck over 12-1 Jesscuzican, who was a neck in front of 22-1 Zoomin Away.

Jodys Pop Zoomer, the 9-5 favorite, stumbled at the start and bumped with a rival, essentially losing all chance. Jodys Pop Zoomer finished eighth, one position behind Handsome Jack Flash, the winner of the 2013 All American Futurity and one of two 3-year-olds in the Gold Cup field. Handsome Jack Flash, the 2-1 second choice, was bumped at the start and lost his running lane.

DM Streakn Thru Fire, a 6-year-old gelding by Walk Thru Fire, has won 8 of 28 starts and earned $658,488.

“He’s got a little age on him, and he’s not as consistent as he used to be, but every once in a while he’ll fire one of those races,” Joiner told Ruidoso Downs publicity. “It was the right time today.”

Owned by Joe David Yates, Terry Wootan, and Richard Sturdevant, DM Streakn Thru Fire was fifth in the 2010 All American Futurity.