Ruidoso: Pj Chick in Black fastest qualifier to All American Futurity

Pj Chick in Black made a statement during Ruidoso Downs’s trials for the Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Futurity on Thursday, when she darted to a 5 3/4-length win in race 24 and established the fastest qualifying time for the Sept. 3 finale. Pj Chick in Black covered 440 yards in 21.08 seconds, a time that led all 253 horses vying for the 10 available spots in the All American. The race features the richest purse available to Quarter Horses.

Ruidoso put on 26 trials Thursday in a program that began at 9:30 a.m. and ran through 7:20 p.m. One Dashing Eagle, the nation’s top-ranked 2-year-old heading into the card, won the final race on the day and made it into the All American with a time of 21.36 seconds.

Pj Chick in Black ($2.20), who was a $50,000 supplement to the trials Thursday, is now undefeated in five starts. She’s also the favorite for the All American, a race in which she will be seeking her second Grade 1 win at the meet, behind the Ruidoso Futurity on June 9.

Pj Chick in Black was making her first start for trainer John Stinebaugh on Thursday after one of her original partners, Fredda Draper, sold her half-interest in the filly, who had been trained by her husband, Carl Draper. Fredda Draper sold her to Jack Smith Farms, who races Pj Chick in Black with Dennis Bowen and Susan Taylor. Esgar Ramirez was the winning rider Thursday.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, with their times, were: Pj Chick in Black, 21.08; Jess a Zoomin, 21.24; Krash Cartel, 21.25; Just Wanna Corona, 21.28; Native Tea Rose, 21.35; One Dashing Eagle, 21.36; Aha Moment, 21.38; Bp Cartels Alibi, 21.38; Mr Perry Cartel, 21.4; and Sudden Thoughts, 21.4.