Imperial Eagle scores as favorite in All American Futurity

Imperial Eagle won his fourth straight race in the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity on Monday at Ruidoso Downs and in the process helped jockey Esgar Ramirez complete a sweep of the meet’s two richest races. On Sunday, Ramirez won the Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Derby with Ec Jet One.

The All American Futurity closed out the New Mexico meet. The race is the richest 2-year-old offering for Quarter Horses.

Imperial Eagle ($8) was a neck winner as the favorite, edging second choice The Marfa Lights. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Coronas First Diva. The winner covered 440 yards on a fast track in 21.47 seconds.

Tony Sedillo trains Imperial Eagle for Charles E. Robinson.

Imperial Eagle had won three trial races for various Ruidoso futurities leading up to the All American. He set the fastest overall qualifying time for Monday’s finale, when he won the 15th and final race on the first day of All American trials Aug. 19.

On Monday, Imperial Eagle ran straight and true to the wire to earn the first-place check of $1.5 million. It was the first career stakes win for the horse, who improved his career record to 4 for 6. Imperial Eagle is a son of One Famous Eagle and was bred in California by Fredda Draper.

The Marfa Lights also is a California-bred son of One Famous Eagle.

Ruidoso offered a double between the All American Derby and Futurity, and the 9-7 combination ridden by Ramirez returned $46.40.

Sedillo on Monday also won the $50,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship with D E Lover ($4.80). The horse rolled by 6 3/4 lengths.

In other supporting stakes, Jm Mister Destiny ($17.80) dominated the $500,000 All American Juvenile by 1 1/4 lengths over Twig. The 440-yard race was the consolation for the All American Futurity. The winner covered the distance in 21.56. Manuel Gutierrez was aboard for J and M Racing and Farm and trainer Paul Jones. Jm Mister Destiny earned $210,000.

* Thunder Dome ($13.60) was a three-quarter-length winner over Another Brother in the $152,974 Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity. Thunder Dome covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.75. He is a son of Dome.