Ruidoso Downs: Feature Hero scores upset in All American Derby

Feature Hero picked the perfect day to run the race of his life at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday.

The 3-year-old gelding ran a flawless 440 yards to win the $2,809,784 All American Derby, the richest race in Quarter Horse history. Ridden by Jimmy Brooks for trainer Eddie Willis, Feature Hero ($49.80) edged the fastest qualifier, Bon Accord, to win by a neck.

Point Break Dash was third in the field of 10, a length behind Feature Hero.

Wicked Courage, the 9-10 favorite, finished a disappointing seventh. The winner of the Ruidoso Derby and Rainbow Derby earlier this summer at Ruidoso Downs, Wicked Courage broke without incident but was not a factor, finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind Feature Hero.

Feature Hero, an Oklahoma-bred by Valiant Hero, races for Reliance Ranches of Llano, Texas.

Feature Hero earned $1,180,110 for the victory, the richest first-place prize in Quarter Horse history. Feature Hero has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $1,306,638. Earlier this year, Feature Hero was second in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby. At 2, he was fourth in the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

The victory in the All American Derby gave Feature Hero an automatic berth to the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14, a race that annually plays a pivotal role in voting for World Champion Running Quarter Horse.