Jm Miracle takes All American Futurity

Jm Miracle won the richest race for 2-year-olds in North America on Monday, when he rushed home by a half-length over Mad About the Moon in the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Quarter Horse Futurity. He gave jockey Ramon Sanchez a third career victory in the 440-yard classic that annually closes out the meet at Ruidoso Downs.

The All American is often likened to the Kentucky Derby as one of the most coveted but elusive prizes in racing. The field for the All American is decided by time trials, and the 10 spots in the gate for this year’s finale were determined last month, when almost 280 horses participated in two dates of trials. For the finale Monday, Ruidoso drew a record crowd of 24,778.

Jm Miracle ($16.80) broke with the field, picked up speed through the stretch, and was a clear winner. He covered the distance over a track rated “fast” in 21.38 seconds, becoming Sanchez’s third winner in the race, following Runnning Brook Gal in 2009 and One Famous Eagle in 2012.

“He warmed up pretty good, but he was a little excited in the gate, turning his head and looking around,” Sanchez said of Jm Miracle. “We got him settled down, and he got quiet. He broke decent. He didn’t break in front, but he went to running, I switched [sticks], and we got the lead about the middle way. And after that, he finished strong.”

Jm Miracle is owned by J & M Racing and is trained by Umberto Belloc. He was the second stakes winner on the card for the owner-trainer team, which also accounted for the $100,000 All American Juvenile with Jm Specialwynn ($18.20). The All American Futurity win was the first for Belloc, whose first starters came this year, with Jm Miracle and ninth-place finisher This Fire is Cold.

“I don’t know if I can describe this; it’s so good,” Belloc said of winning the classic. “I wish everyone who does what I do would win it once in their lifetime. It’s a great feeling.”

Jm Miracle was winning for the fourth time in six starts, and the $1.3 million first-place check pushed his earnings to $1,462,000. Following the race, Jm Miracle appeared to become overheated while walking back to the winner’s circle. He skipped the presentation, was cooled down with water, and was vanned back to the barn as a precautionary measure, according to a release from Ruidoso.

“He’s tired. He’s exhausted,” said Belloc.

Jm Miracle was the fourth-fastest qualifier for the All American during the first of two days of trials. Overall, he qualified for all three major stakes for his division at this meet, running second in the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity in June and eighth in the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity in July.

Jm Miracle is a son of the First Down Dash stallion Volcom and was bred in Oklahoma by P.K. Thomas.