Kearl sends out four contenders in All American Derby

At various times last winter and spring, Ec Jet One, First Fancy Racy, and Volcom Bay underwent surgery to have bone chips removed from knees or throat surgery to aid breathing.

The operations seemed successful. On Aug. 21, those three runners, all trained by Judd Kearl, won divisions of the All American Derby trials at Ruidoso Downs and qualified for Sunday’s $2,414,691 final at 440 yards.

Kearl has another runner in the 10-horse field in Brave Heart Won, a trial race winner who was fifth in the Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs in July before joining his stable.

Thursday, Kearl said he was not playing favorites.

“As long as one of them wins, I’ll be happy,” he said.

Kearl needed a diplomatic tone. Each of his starters has separate owners – and are part of a highly competitive running of the year’s richest Quarter Horse race for 3-year-olds.

Kearl, 41, has won two seven-figure races in his career, including the $1.22 million Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs in July with Valiant Rogue, who did not qualify for the All American Derby. A win in the All American Derby would be the richest of Kearl’s career.

Volcom Bay set the fastest qualifying time of 21.18 seconds in the time trials, closely followed by Ec Jet One at 21.27 seconds. Volcom Bay was second in the Ruidoso Derby in June and did not start again until the All American Derby trials. She is one of four fillies in the final.

“She took some time to mature from last year,” Kearl said. “She was a hot filly as a 2-year-old. We did minor throat surgery after the Ruidoso Derby.”

Ec Jet One swept the two major races for 3-year-olds at Hialeah earlier this year, the Hialeah Derby in January and the South Florida Derby in February, before undergoing surgery to have a bone chip removed.

“His record speaks for itself,” Kearl said.

First Fancy Racy was second in the Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park last November and later had knee surgery. She won a division of the time trials by 2 3/4 lengths in her first start of the year.

“We expected her to throw a big one,” Kearl said. “We were confident.”

Kearl, who has a year-round base in New Waverly, Texas, has the most qualifiers in Sunday’s race, but trainer Eddie Willis has a formidable duo in One Fabulous Eagle, who was second in the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs in July, and Boogies Special Dash, who was second in the All American Futurity last September.

The 2015 All American Futurity was won by Jess Good Candy, who won a division of the All American Derby trials, but did not have a time fast enough to earn a berth in the final.

Gold Cup tops undercard

The $200,000 All American Gold Cup for Quarter Horses highlights the undercard. The cast for the Gold Cup, a 440-yard race for 3-year-olds and up, includes major stakes winners such as Zoomin Effortlessly, Bodacious Eagle, and Mad About the Moon.

◗ Gamey Tee Cos will scratch from the All American Futurity on Monday, according to a Ruidoso steward. He drew post 10 in the field of 10.

- additional reporting by Mary Rampellini