Dateline: 9/02/02

A popular question around Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, the last two weeks has been -- Can this Idaho filly really run that fast?

Well, AB What A Runner answered with a definitive yes as she rolled to victory in Monday's $1,896,250 All American Futurity (G1). The 44th running of American Quarter Horse racing's richest and most prestigious race was contested in front of a track-record crowd of 17,009.

All American Info Results Article Chart Post Positions & Odds AB What A Runner Eye Opening Episode Meteoric Silvered Eyes Flys R Streakin First To Flash Special Red Warrior Andthebeatgoeson First Place Queen The Down Side

With Jay Conklin riding in his first All American, the Royal Quick Dash filly completed 440 yards in :21.308 to earn a 101 speed index and a check for $1,025,000 for owners Dennie and Kris Hill of Blackfoot, Idaho. Bret Vickery, one of the leading trainers in the Intermountain region, made his All American debut a winning one.

Making her third career start, the Arizona-bred filly did not win by daylight as she had in her first two starts - this time she had to hold off a few late challengers. Breaking sharply from post 6, she opened up an early half-length lead that diminished as she approached the wire and a three-horse photo finish. Despite being chased by a pair of seasoned stakes winners in Eye Opening Episode and Meteoric, AB What A Runner held on gamely to win by a head.

AB What A Runner winner of the All American Futurity with Jay Conklin up Photo courtesy of AQHA

A five-length maiden winner at Idaho's Les Bois Park, AB What A Runner did not race for nearly three months after her May 26 debut. Her eye-popping performance convinced her connections that she deserved a shot at the All American Futurity, so they shipped her to Ruidoso six weeks before the trials.

"There are so many tough horses in this part of the country," said Vickery. "I know it's especially tough to bring them from the Northwest, but we got this filly down here so early, and she looked so good in her trial heat that I thought she had a good shot."

AB What A Runner rewarded the confidence of her owners and trainer with a track-record setting performance in the August 15 trials. Breaking sharply in the 10th of 23 heats, AB What A Runner drew clear to win by daylight and stopped the timer at :20.993, breaking by 3/100ths of a second the 29-year-old mark established by world champion Truckle Feature.

Vickery plans to ship the filly to California for the $1.2-million Los Alamitos Million Futurity (G1), a move which could put her on a collision course with another brilliant filly, two-time Grade 1 futurity winner Morning Snow. That filly will be shooting for the $1-million Los Alamitos Bonanza if she can complete her sweep of Los Alamitos' major 2-year-old stakes.

West Texas Futurity (G1) winner Eye Opening Episode took second and earned $293,150 for owner Sandy Erwin. Meteoric, which entered the All American with a perfect six-for-six record, battled gamely along the inside and finished third. Silvered Eyes, Governor's Cup Futurity (RG1) winner Flys R Streakin, Rainbow Futurity (G1) winner First To Flash, Special Red Warrior, Andthebeatgoeson, First Place Queen and The Down Side completed the order of finish.

Sandy Erwin's Dooley For Cash rallied to victory in the $153,750 All American Juvenile (R), formerly the All American Futurity Consolation. Ridden by Freddie Martinez for trainer Jose Dominguez, the New Mexico-bred covered 440 yards over a sloppy track in :21.593 to earn a 95 speed index.

A winner of five of six starts, Dooley For Cash earned $79,205 for the win and boosted his bankroll to $155,563. Second in his career debut, the son of Dooley Authorized has won five consecutive races, including the July 14 Zia Futurity (RG2).

Remington Park Futurity (G1) winner Outdashing finished second and was followed by Coronas Prospect, Catscape, Royal Streakin, Snow Big Deal, First Dashaway, Catch This Snowball and Twenty Twenty Type.

Doreme Fasolasi Win was scratched and will be pointed toward the PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity (G1) trials at Los Alamitos, according to trainer Scott Willoughby.

Genuine Strawfly wins the All American Derby

Ridden by Antonio Escareno for the partnership of B. Willis, Joyce McBride and Elmer Criswell, Genuine Strawfly defeated champion and 7-10 favorite Tres Seis by a neck in :21.462 for 440 yards. The colt by Strawfly Special picked up his fourth victory in 10 races, boosted his bankroll to $175,091 and earned a berth in the $500,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos.

Genuine Strawfly has bloomed at age 3. Last season, the colt struggled through a season in which he was winless in three outs.

"I never doubted his ability, but he was the dumbest gate horse I'd ever trained in my life," said trainer Carl Draper. "So I turned him out, and brought him back with a clean mind, and this is the result."

Genuine Strawfly's victory in the June 9 Ruidoso Derby (G2) gave the colt a berth in the season-ending $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1).

"I think it would be cutting it too close to run in both the Champion of Champions and Championship at Sunland Park," said Willis. "We may decide to stay on our home turf. He kind of likes Sunland."

The fastest qualifier and 7-10 favorite, Tres Seis was coming off of a one-length victory in the second of five trials on August 16. The sport's champion 2-year-old colt last season, Tres Seis ran second in the July 20 Rainbow Derby (G1).

"We had a great trip," said Joe Badilla. "He didn't break as sharply as he did in his trial, but we have no excuses. We just got beat today."

A Real Man, the winner of the Grade 1 Remington Park and Heritage Place derbies, ran third, a half of a length behind Genuine Strawfly. Moonshine Six, Its Called Splash, Dashin Prince Henry, Friday 123, Oxygen and First Down Dandy completed the order of finish.

Article by Denis Blake, logo, and photo 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