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 Qualifier Profiles |
Dateline: 8/29/02
Involved for several years in Thoroughbred racing, country music artist Toby Keith has hit the big time with his first American Quarter Horse.
The Down Side, a colt by leading sire First Down Dash, represents Keith's first American Quarter Horse racing venture. Acquired by Keith and partners R.D. Hubbard and John T.L. Jones for $47,000 at last year's Ruidoso Yearling Sale, the colt is a finalist in Monday's $2,050,000 All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs, the sport's richest and most prestigious race.
Keith, who has performed during Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino's summer concert series, was encouraged to get involved in American Quarter Horse racing by Hubbard, the track's majority owner and chairman.
"He's been in the Thoroughbred business for some time, and I talked him into buying some American Quarter Horses," said Hubbard. "We hope to have some success and buy more."
A half brother to three winners, The Down Side is one of five starters produced by RR Le Mistral, a stakes-winning daughter of Easy Jet. Racing from 1989-91, the mare won the 1989 QHBC Freshman Classic (G3) and '90 West Texas Derby (G3) and earned $90,234 from eight wins in 15 starts.
After beginning his career with a second-place finish in a July 5 Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial, The Down Side broke his maiden with a 1 1/2-length victory in the 11th of 23 All American trials on August 15. Trained by two-time All American winner C. Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath and ridden by Roy Baldillez, the colt posted the ninth-fastest qualifying time.
Despite a busy Labor Day weekend schedule that includes concerts in Massachusetts and Alabama, Keith plans to attend this year's All American.
THE DOWN SIDE
Brown colt
First Down Dash-RR Le Mistral by Easy Jet
Owners: Toby Keith, Norman, Oklahoma , John T.L. Jones, Lexington,
Kentucky; and R.D. Hubbard, Palm Desert, California
Breeder: Chuck and Terryll Griffeth, Rosamond, California; and James
Markum, Orange, California
Trainer: C. Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath
Qualifying Jockey: Roy Baldillez
RACE RECORD:
- One win in two races, earnings of $2,624.
- Won All American trial heat 11 by 1 1/2 lengths.
- Posted the ninth-fastest qualifying time of :21.336.
- Made his career debut by running second to Grade 1 finalist Southern Cartel in a July 5 Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial.
CONNECTIONS:
- Owned by the partnership of John TL Jones, RD Hubbard and country music artist Toby Keith. Longtime partners in the horse business, Hubbard and Jones won the 1998 Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity (G1) with First Down Bounce and the '99 Rainbow Derby (G1) with My Dashing Lady, one of world champion Dash For Cash's final foals. Born and raised in Quanah, Texas, Jones trained 1967 Kansas Futurity winner Jet Smooth for legendary Quarter Horseman Walter Merrick. Since the mid-1970s, he has been the owner and general manager of Walmac International near Lexington, Kentucky. In 1978, Jones joined with several other prominent horsemen to establish the Heritage Place Sales Company in Oklahoma City. A native of Kansas, Hubbard's involvement in Quarter Horse racing dates back to the 1960s, when he bought his first racehorse. In 1988, he acquired Ruidoso Downs Racetrack as majority owner, and he currently serves as the track's chairman. Actively involved in philanthropic causes, he is founder and benefactor of the RD and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation, and he is also founder of The Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso. A longtime Thoroughbred owner, Keith was encouraged by Hubbard to get involved in Quarter Horse racing. A native of Moore, Oklahoma, Keith was named 2001 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. He lives near Norman, Oklahoma, with his wife, Tricia, daughters Shelley and Krystal, and son Stelen.
- The partnership acquired The Down Side from breeders Chuck and Terryll Griffeth of Rosamond, California, and James Markum of Orange, California for $47,000 at last year's Ruidoso Yearling Sale. With his wife, Judy, Markum bred Speed Doctor, a Merridoc colt that was a finalist in champion Easy Austin's 1985 El Primero del Ano Derby (G1). He also campaigned Grade 1 winner and 1996 Champion of Champions (G1) runner-up Blushing By.
- Trainer C. Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath, who began training racehorses in the 1960s at nonpari-mutuel tracks across Texas, has won the All American Futurity twice -- with On A High in 1983 and Refrigerator in 1990. He also qualified The Down Side to this year's race. All told, Gilbreath has qualified a total of 25 horses to the All American. Since 1970, he has saddled the winners of 1,010 races and the earners of more than $16 million, including champions Significant Speed and Ed Grimley.
- Jockey Roy Baldillez belongs to a family of successful horsemen that includes his brothers, Alex and Orlando, both of whom are jockeys. Alex won the 1981 All American (G1) on Elans Special. Roy began his career in 1985 and has ridden 948 winners and the earners of more than $6.6 million. The richest victory of Baldillez's career came aboard Red Clay Of Texas in the 2001 Ruidoso Futurity (G1). He has ridden in four previous All Americans, most recently last year with Phenomenal Fantasy.
PEDIGREE NOTES:
- Sire First Down Dash is the sport's all-time leading sire. From 12 crops, the 18-year-old stallion by two-time world champion Dash For Cash has sired 25 champions, 150 stakes winners and the earners of more than $41.4 million. Bred by A.F. Stanley Jr. and B.F. Phillips Jr., First Down Dash raced exclusively in California from 1986-87, winning 13 of 15 races and earning $857,256. He won eight stakes and was named world champion in 1987. Owned by a syndicate, he stands at Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California.
- Dam RR Le Mistral is a 15-year-old stakes-winning daughter of 1969 world champion Easy Jet. From 1989-91, the mare won eight of 15 races -- including the West Texas Derby (G2) and QHBC Freshman Classic (G3) -- and earned $90,234. She has produced four winners from five starters.
Article and logo courtesy of AQHA from a press release.
All articles in the series:
- Results Article
- Chart
- Post Positions & Odds
- AB WHAT A RUNNER
- FIRST TO FLASH
- SILVERED EYES
- SPECIAL RED WARRIOR
- FLYS R STREAKIN
- METEORIC
- FIRST PLACE QUEEN
- ANDTHEBEATGOESON
- THE DOWN SIDE
- EYE OPENING EPISODE
