Kiss My Hocks puts unbeaten record on line in Ruidoso Futurity

Kiss My Hocks comes into the Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity as the nation’s top-ranked 2-year-old Quarter Horse, but his trainer, Toby Keeton, is taking nothing for granted as the colt attempts to run his record to 4 for 4 on Sunday.

“There’s a bunch of horses in there that are going to improve,” he said. “It’s going to be a horse race.”

But there is no horse Keeton would rather bring to the fight than Kiss My Hocks, who in April won the Grade 2, $563,950 Sam Houston Futurity. Kiss My Hocks had previously set a Sam Houston track record in his career debut and more recently set the fastest qualifying time for the 400-yard Ruidoso Futurity during Day 1 of the two-day trials.

“He’s a phenomenal horse,” Keeton said. “We all talk about having freaks. He’s one that can do things other horses can’t.”

The Ruidoso Futurity is the first leg of Ruidoso’s annual Triple Crown for 2-year-old Quarter Horses. The series continues with the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity on July 20 and the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Sept. 1.

Kiss My Hocks is part of a large division of horses Keeton has brought to Ruidoso for the first time in years. The horse has taken to his new headquarters, winning his 350-yard trial in 17.28 seconds May 22. Cody Jensen was aboard for the first time and will be back up for the finale Sunday, when the pair breaks from gate 6.

“I love my post,” Keeton said.

Keeton, Jensen, and the partnership of Conda Maze and Tyler Graham come into the Ruidoso Futurity red-hot, as they all teamed to win the Grade 1, $1,020,980 Heritage Place Futurity last weekend at Remington Park with Lovethewayyoulie ($17.20). She is now the nation’s second-leading 2-year-old in the same American Quarter Horse Association poll as Kiss My Hocks.

Keeton said Lovethewayyoulie is to make her next start in trials for the Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park.

As for Kiss My Hocks, to keep the barn’s momentum going, he will have to defeat a field that includes Famous Corona Lady, a three-length trial winner in her career debut for trainer Paul Jones. Tempting Destiny, who lifted G.R. Carter to an all-time record for Quarter Horse wins by a jockey when he captured his trial to give the rider victory No. 3,632, is another notable contender for a partnership that includes Mark Allen and Leonard Blach, who raced 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.