First day of All American trials pit Whistle Stop Cafe against Mister Illusion

Trials for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs will get off to a rousing start Friday when the 12th race features a rematch between Whistle Stop Cafe and Mister Illusion.

“On paper, it shapes up to be a fast trial,” said Heath Taylor, who trains Mister Illusion.

The horses ran a respective first and second in the $1 million Rainbow Futurity last month. The race is the second of three major stakes for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso. The crown jewel is the All American Futurity, a 440-yard classic set for Sept. 7.

There will be two days of trials for the All American. The card Friday features 16 trials, and the card Saturday features another 16 led by Ruidoso Futurity winner Cyber Monday. There are a total of 313 horses in the entries, and those with the five fastest times from each program will earn a spot in the 10-horse gate on Labor Day.

Whistle Stop Cafe has won all four of her career starts, her most recent the Rainbow by three-quarters of a length July 19 at Ruidoso. Mister Illusion was second in what was his second career start, and Taylor enters the trials Friday with full respect for Whistle Stop Cafe, who is trained by Blane Wood.

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“That filly is very gritty,” Taylor said. “She’s a Grade 1 winner, and it’s going to take a perfect race to be able to hang with her. We’ll see what happens.”

Taylor believes Mister Illusion can improve. He launched his career July 3, posting a two-length Rainbow trial win. He set the fastest qualifying time on the first day of those trials.

“He was a non-starter, running 400 yards his first race in that altitude,” Taylor said. “The turnaround for the Rainbow was a little quick for having given a first effort like that. Now, with that base under him, and we’ve had a month, I’m hoping he’ll be a little stronger – in seasoning and just general conditioning.”

Taylor has another high-profile runner in Friday’s trials in Shott Gun. The winner of the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park goes in the fifth race. He comes off a troubled, seventh-place finish in trials for the Rainbow on July 4.

“He was a little sharp, a little anxious, and when he broke he pulled the ground out from under him,” Taylor said. “I didn’t realize how bad he stumbled until I watched [the replay]. He bounced his stomach off the ground twice. He got up, got his feet under him, but the race was over before it started.

“The horse is coming into the trials real well. He had a really good work, schooled very well in the gate.”

Other trials of note Friday include the third, which is led by Zia Futurity winner Hollyn Bootie, and the 10th, which is led by Remington Park Futurity winner Eye Work for You.

◗ Delta Downs closes its Quarter Horse meet Saturday night with the $1,025,782 Lee Berwick Futurity. It will be the richest race ever run at Delta.

Ought to Go Tee could go favored after setting the fastest qualifying time on the first day of trials for the Berwick. It’s the first year there’s been two cards of trials for the fixture for Louisiana-breds. The card of eight stakes also includes the $256,305 Delta Downs Derby.