Monday, September 06, 2010
Tenth-fastest qualifier Mr Piloto outran his 22-1 odds to win Monday’s Grade 1, $1.9-million All American Futurity in front of 21,402 fans at Ruidoso Downs.
Saddled by Felipe Quintero for Tremor Enterprises LLC, Mr Piloto covered 440 yards in :21.553 while defeating fastest qualifier and 2-1 favorite JLS Mr Bigtime. The $1-million winner’s share of the purse increased the sorrel colt’s earnings to $1,002,240, making him Quarter Horse racing’s 58th millionaire.
“He broke really good,” said jockey Esgar Ramirez, who has ridden Mr Piloto in all four of the colt’s starts. “I was in front all the way, and I started getting excited because I didn’t see anybody beside me. I just kept riding all the way to the wire.”
Quintero, 27, became the second-youngest trainer to saddle an All American Futurity winner.
“This is the best feeling in the world,” he said after the race. “I think Esgar Ramirez did a wonderful job – he got the horse out of the gate the way he should. He did a marvelous job. It’s a team effort.”
Mr Piloto was bred in Louisiana by Ill Take A Twirl LLC, and the colt became the 96th stakes winner sired by Mr Jess Perry, Quarter Horse racing’s champion 2-year-old in 1994. Now 18, Mr Jess Perry has sired the earners of more than $32.9 million, and his 12 crops consist of 824 starters. He stands at 6666 Ranch at Guthrie, Texas.
Mr Piloto’s dam, the 8-year-old Splash Bac mare Ms Pilot Point, won the 2006 AQHA East Distaff Challenge (G3) at Delta Downs. Ms Pilot Point has foaled two winners from as many starters, and she is a half sister to JLS Streak Of Snow, a filly by This Snow Is Royal who won two Grade 3 stakes in ’05, including the AQHA East Distaff Challenge. Another of Ms Pilot Point’s half siblings, JLS Streak Of Dash, ran second in the $71,925 Cajun Kindergarten Futurity (G3) at Delta Downs in 2001.
Mr Piloto’s third dam, the Ichibon mare Miss Air Mail, won the 1983 TQHA Texas Derby at Trinity Meadows near Fort Worth. A 1980 foal, Miss Air Mail produced two stakes-placed runners, including 1998 AQHA Oklahoma Juvenile Challenge (G3) runner-up Big Cash Roll.
Miss Air Mail’s half sister, the late War Charge mare Roma Charge, won the 1966 Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
All told, Mr Piloto has won two of four races, including the 15th of 20 All American Futurity trials on August 19.The colt returned a $46.60 win mutuel and teamed with JLS Mr Bigtime for a $278.40 ($2) exacta. Third-fastest qualifier Dominyun finished third, a nose behind the winner, to complete a $2,216.40 ($2) trifecta.
Make Me Fly, DM Streakin Thru Fire, Cuz IBA Okey, Miss Racy Jess, JD Baccarat, and Prospect To The Top completed the official order of finish. Prospect To The Top crossed the wire seventh but was disqualified and placed ninth for lugging in shortly after the start and bothering Miss Racy Jess and JD Baccarat.
Episode Of Fire was scratched, as the Walk Thru Fire filly sustained a career-ending injury in her trial.
JLS Mr Bigtime earned $285,000 for his owner JLS-Speed Horse Ranch Inc. of Opelousas, Louisiana. A $50,000 supplement to the trials, the homebred gelding by freshman sire Bigtime Favorite has banked $378,329 from four wins in seven outs, and his stakes resume includes a runner-up finish in the July 10, $375,700 Lee Berwick Memorial Louisiana-Bred Futurity (RG1) at Delta Downs.
“He kind of threw his head up just as the gates open, and it probably cost him three-quarters of a length,” said Jacky Martin, who rode JLS Mr Bigtime . “After I got by the horse next to me, there were four or five horses in front of me, and I thought I won the race down here (at the end). I thought I caught him, but I guess I was just a jump or two short.”
“He just needs to learn that he has to break,” added trainer Darrel Soileau. “I’m disappointed, because I was hoping he’d leave today. He was just a little tardy.”
A homebred Mr Jess Perry colt racing for Bobby D. Cox, Dominyun was the fastest qualifier for the August 7 John Deere New Mexico Juvenile Challenge (G3), but he was scratched from the $62,210 final to point to the All American trials.
Dominyun has earned $143,345 from two wins in four races, and he was coming off of a one-length victory in his trial.