Treis Seis fastest in All American Derby trials

RUIDOSO, NM - Treis Seis qualified fastest to the Grade 1 $219,403 All American Derby Friday at Ruidoso Downs giving trainer John Bassett a strong hand to pull off a double of Ruidoso's two premier Labor Day weekend events, the All American Futurity and All American Derby.

Bassett qualifed two runners to the All American Futurity on Thursday, second-fastest First To Flash and seventh-fastest First Place Queen.

Treis Seis, runnerup in last year's All American Futurity, posted a time of :21.485 for the 440 yards in taking the second of six trials by one length over A Real Man. A Real Man will go on to the Derby final as the fourth-fastest qualifier with a time of :21.623.

It was the sixth victory in 11 career starts for Treis Seis who races in the colors of the Eaves Family Horses Ltd. Partnership. The Texas-bred Sixarun colt, who was beaten a nose here in the July 20 Grade 1 Rainbow Derby, has now earned $819,433.

Treis Seis's owner, Gwendolyn Eaves, said her star 3-year-old's Friday performance was the fruit of patient handling this year.

"He ran the way he was supposed to today. He almost did it in the Rainbow Derby and in the trials, but the Rainbow trial was his first out since December. We have been taking it slow and easy with him," Eaves said.

Treis Seis's 3-year-old campaign will be his last according to Eaves.

"He is going to stand for stud next year. I have not decided where yet, but he is going to be a daddy," the owner added.

Its Called Splash broke sixth but quickly got rolling and drew off late to capture the last trial of the day by one length over Friday 123 in :21.525 to qualify second-fastest. Friday 123's final time of :21.687 was good enough to qualify seventh-fastest.

Its Called Splash's co-owner Butch Southway summed up the Splash Bac gelding's gate habits.

"If he breaks good he runs good. If he tries to break too hard he stumbles. If he leaves there close with the other horses he can challenge them."

Genuine Strawfly ran into the strongest headwind of the day - 25 miles-per-hour - when he took the third trial by 1 1/4 lengths over non-qualifier First Regards in a time of :21.620 to qualify third-fastest. All other trials were run into a headwind of 20 miles-per-hour.

The All American Derby final will be run on Sunday, September 1.