Gone Shoppin ready to show off mother's traits

Like mother, like daughter.

That has been the case with Gone Shoppin, who could go favored Sunday in the $134,770 Rio Grande Senorita Thoroughbred Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. She is a daughter of Glory Be Mine, a past winner of the race who has passed on some of her best qualities to Gone Shoppin.

“This filly is quiet as a church mouse all the time, and as soon as you take her to the paddock she really blows up,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “That’s exactly what her mother used to do. They just swell up and they just really get on their toes. In my experience, horses that do that are usually pretty nice horses.”

The Rio Grande Senorita is a 5 1/2-furlong race restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico. It’s one of three stakes supporting the program’s main event, the Grade 1, $1.3 million All American Derby for Quarter Horses.

Gone Shoppin, whose dam won five stakes and earned $426,918, is looking for her first stakes win. She started her career in a trial for the Mountain Top Futurity on June 9 at Ruidoso, finishing second in a race open to colts. In the finale June 24, Gone Shoppin was fifth in a field of 10.

“She drew down on the rail and had a bad start and a stumble,” Fincher said. “She ran good. It was only her second out and she had a couple of obstacles to overcome.”

This time around, Gone Shoppin will break from post 10 in the field of 10.

“I love it,” Fincher said. “You’re not going to get forced speed-wise, and you should get a clean trip.”

Gone Shoppin was one of five fillies Fincher qualified for the Rio Grande Senorita. She won her trial by 1 1/4 lengths Aug. 12, in what was her first start in a race restricted to fillies. Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard and has the mount for owners Bobby McQueen and Dale Taylor, who also raced Glory Be Mine.

Fincher’s other starters are Comics Cashway, winner of the C.O. Kendrick Memorial in May at SunRay Park; Donna Who, a maiden who was third in her trial; Hennessy Express, a maiden winner in July at Ruidoso; and Western Style, third in the trial won by Gone Shoppin.

Rivalry renewed in Gold Cup

Jessies First Down, the reigning world champion Quarter Horse, will attempt to turn the tables on multiple Grade 1 winner Zoomin Effortlessly when the frequent rivals meet in the $200,000 All American Gold Cup. The 440-yard race drew an elite group of older horses, including Bodacious Eagle, a winner of three graded stakes in his last three starts, and First Valiant Sign, winner of the Texas Classic Derby last year at Lone Star Park.

Jessies First Down finished a head behind Zoomin Effortlessly last out, when the two met in the Grade 1 Remington Park Invitational Championship. It was the third time the horses had finished inches apart. Jessies First Down defeated Zoomin Effortlessly by a nose in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland in December, and by a head in the Grade 1 Zia Park Championship in November. Prior to those races, Zoomin Efflortlessly defeated Jessies First Down by a length when they ran one-two in last year’s Grade 1 All American Gold Cup.

Zoomin Effortlessly will break from post 4, while Jessies First Down drew post 10.

Also on the card, Imperial Eagle goes in the $100,000 First Down Dash, the consolation for the All American Derby. He boasts a 6-for-7 record at Ruidoso, and among his wins there is last year’s All American Futurity.

Go for a Stroll probable favorite

Go for a Stroll could go favored in Saturday night’s $96,982 Casino at the Downs Thoroughbred Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque. He will be seeking the third stakes win of his career when he runs in the 6 1/2-furlong race restricted to 3-year-olds bred in New Mexico.

“Go for a Stroll has been nothing but golden,” trainer Todd Fincher said.

Go for a Stroll has run first, second or third in all but two of his eight starts, and had an excuse for an off-the-board finish in the $70,000 O.D. MacDonald in June at Albuquerque.

“I stuck him in with older horses coming right off a stakes win,” Fincher said. “I ran him right back in 17, 18 days. He had plenty of excuses.”

Tracy Hebert has the mount for breeder-owner R.D. Hubbard.