Ruidoso Downs: Cold Cash 123 geared up for All American Derby

The 64-year-old Sleepy Gilbreath could be sitting on the biggest training double of his training career this weekend at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He will send out the fastest qualifiers for two of the richest Quarter Horse races of the year, with Cold Cash 123 set to run Sunday in the Grade 1, $1,316,760 All American Derby, and Ochoa on deck for the Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Futurity on Monday.

Gilbreath is only the third trainer in history to have the fastest qualifier for both races in the same year, behind Johnie Goodman in 1981 and Jack Brooks in 1983.

“It’s good to be there,” said Gilbreath.

Cold Cash 123 can get the weekend off to a rousing start. He is 6 for 6 at the 440-yard distance of the All American Derby, among his wins at the trip the Grade 1 Rainbow at Ruidoso Downs in July and the Grade 1 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park last December.

“That last 100 yards, he just really gets to striding and running,” said Gilbreath. “I don’t know just how to explain it. That just seems to be his distance, the quarter of a mile.”

Cold Cash 123, who races for T Bill Stables, will be seeking his fourth consecutive win on Sunday. Gilbreath likes how the horse has done since the All American trials, when he won his heat by a half-length Aug. 19. Cold Cash 123 covered the distance in 20.83 seconds, under regular rider Roy Baldillez.

“I really think the horse will run back good, if he just doesn’t get in any trouble,” said Gilbreath. “If he’s got a weakness, it’s right away from the gate.”

Gilbreath tends to prefer outside posts for Cold Cash 123, who has drawn such gates for his last three starts. But on Sunday, he will break from post 2, and Gilbreath said he was okay with the draw for the All American.

“If everything goes right, he’s got a place to run,” he said.

Other top horses set to start include Llano Teller, winner of the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby in June; Jls Mr Bigtime, who was second as the favorite in last year’s All American Futurity; and One Sweet Jess, the winner of last year’s Los Alamitos Two Million.

The first-place check Sunday is $658,380, with the winner also securing a berth into the Grade 1 Champion of Champions later this year at Los Alamitos.