Joiner has solid pair for All American Futurity
Trainer Mike Joiner prepared more than 50 young Quarter Horses for the 2015 racing season, and his program will be well represented Monday in the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity. Joiner will send out probable favorite First Valiant Sign and the improving McClintock B. The horses were among 10 who qualified for the 440-yard classic that closes out the meet at Ruidoso Downs.
The All American will be run for the 57th time Monday. Its purse is a record, and the winner will earn $1.5 million. The All American will be showcased on a 12-race card that includes the $200,000 All American Juvenile, the $100,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship, and a seventh-race tribute to retiring jockey Casey Lambert.
First Valiant Sign and McClintock B proved to be elite members of their class last month when earning spots in the All American after 34 trials were run Aug. 21-22. There were more than 300 horses seeking to be finalists in the race.
“It’s kind of what everybody in the Quarter Horse industry shoots for every year, to try and get one in the All American and try to win it,” said Joiner. “It’s been the No. 1 race to win in the Quarter Horse world for a lot of years, and this year it’s the biggest purse for any 2-year-old race in the nation.”
First Valiant Sign was the fastest Day 2 qualifier under G.R. Carter Jr., who qualified four horses to the All American.
All American Futurity (Race 11)
KEY CONTENDERS
First Valiant Sign
◗ He’s the lone member of his crop who will have started in the three major futurities at Ruidoso. He won the Grade 1, $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity on June 7, then was second by a neck after trouble at the start in the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Futurity on July 19. First Valiant Sign returned to win his All American trial by a length in 21.58 seconds.
“He got away good and clean in his trial and really finished strong like he normally does,” Joiner said. “Fortunately, he ran fast enough to qualify.”
◗ Joiner feels the classic distance suits First Valiant Sign, a $100,000 yearling purchase during the Ruidoso select sale in 2014.
“Probably his biggest asset is he’s really good-minded,” Joiner said. “And he does like the added distance. The last 100 yards, he’s really strong.”
◗ First Valiant Sign will break from post 4 for the partnership of R.D. Hubbard and his son, Derrol, Scott Bryant, Joe Dee Brooks, and Lee Lewis.
“We like that we’re in the middle of the racetrack,” said Joiner.
McClintock B
◗ He was second by a nose in his trial Aug. 22 and was the fourth-fastest qualifier on Day 2.
“He’d been having trouble getting away from the gate, but he’s finally kind of come around,” Joiner said. “He’s maturing a little bit. The trial was the best race he’s run so far. He just seems to kind of be steadily improving.”
◗ Omar Reyes has the mount from the rail.
One Fabulous Eagle
◗ He was the fastest qualifier on the first day of trials, and his time of 21.45 seconds was the quickest overall for the All American.
“We gave him a break after the Ruidoso Futurity,” trainer Kasey Willis said of the horse who finished fourth by a half-length. “He was in the Rainbow Futurity [trials], but we decided to pass and point at the All American trials.”
◗ One Fabulous Eagle races for Darling Farms and was bred by Christine Hudson.
“We called him Bullet,” Hudson said. “He was born the fastest of any foal we’ve ever had. He stood up before the mare stood up, and he nursed faster than any foal we’ve had.”
◗ Cesar Gomez has the mount from post 9.