Triple Crown anticipation will be a sustained vibe at Ruidoso Downs in southern New Mexico this weekend. Understandably, much of the focus is centered on Jess Savin Candy’s start in Monday’s $3 million All American Futurity, Quarter Horse racing’s richest race. With a win, the gelding can become the second horse to sweep the track’s leading futurities, a milestone achieved only by Special Effort in 1981. Sunday, Empressum can become the fourth horse, and first since 2005, to sweep the track’s three leading derbies when he starts as an odds-on favorite in the $929,225 All American Derby at 440 yards. Earlier on Sunday’s card, Whistle Stop Cafe, winner of the 2020 All American Futurity and that year’s World Champion, will be a heavy favorite in the $439,884 All American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 440 yards. Whistle Stop Cafe is unbeaten in nine starts. :: DRF’s Labor Day Sale: Save big on DRF Formulator Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and DRF+ Pro. Limited time only. Empressum won the Ruidoso Derby at 400 yards on June 12 and the Rainbow Derby at 440 yards on July 24, the first two races in the Ruidoso series. Empressum won a division of the All American Derby time trials by three lengths on Aug. 22 in 21.13 seconds, setting the second-fastest qualifying time. Trained by Heath Taylor for Steve Holt and Jeff Jones, Empressum is unbeaten in seven starts this year. In five races at Ruidoso, Empressum has won each by at least a length. :: DRF Bets players get free Daily Racing Form Past Performances and up to 5% weekly cashback. Click to learn more. “If you win by those kind of margins, it’s pretty remarkable,” Taylor said Thursday. “Everything has to go right. I’ve been a little surprised and haven’t taken it for granted. “The horse is doing well. He’s well within himself, confident, and relaxed. I think this derby is the toughest of the three. It’s the most prestigious. He’ll have to continue to bring his A game.” Empressum drew post 2. Post positions were chosen by participants after a random draw determined the selection order. Taylor had the ninth pick with Empressum, which he said was not ideal. “I’d like to be further out,” he said. Empressum did win the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby in April from post 2 and a division of the Rainbow Derby trials from the rail. Taylor has three of the 10 runners, including trial races winners Shott Gun and Mister Illusion, who were fifth and seventh in the Rainbow Derby. Instygator, who set the fastest-qualifying time of 21.07, will be the clear second choice and a danger to Empressum. Trial race winners Candy Blood, a troubled fourth in the Rainbow Derby; and Jettz, who was fourth in the 2020 All American Futurity and third in the Ruidoso Derby, have leading chances to finish in the first three. Empressum can join My Easy Credit (1977), Dash for Speed (1988), and DM Shicago (2005) as horses who have swept Ruidoso’s three major derbies. “It’s a tremendous amount of excitement,” Taylor said. “We’re shooting for it, that’s for sure.” Whistle Stop Cafe beat males in the Rainbow and All American futurities in 2020, but this year has raced only against fillies, beginning the year with wins in a trial and the final of the Rainbow Oaks in July. Trained by Trey Wood for Lainie and Raymond Whitmire, Whistle Stop Cafe won a division of the All American Oaks trials by 4 3/4 lengths in 21.42, the second-fastest qualifying time. Apollitical Daizies set the fastest time of 21.30 and will break from the rail Sunday in her 12th start and first stakes final.