Utah filly Runnning Brook Gal wins All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs

Runnning Brook Gal wins All American Futurity

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Mine That Bird drew a record number of fans to this year’s All American Futurity, then Runnning Brook Gal gave them a great show.

Runnning Brook Gal, a 2-year-old Utah filly, got a clean break on a wet track and wasted no time getting into a full sprint to win the $2 million All American Futurity on Monday, the biggest event in quarter horse racing.

The second-fastest qualifier in trials, Runnning Brook Gal wasn’t slowed by a light drizzle and covered the 440 yards in 21.144 seconds. It was the third All American victory for trainer Paul Jones but the first for owner Albert Richard of Roosevelt, Utah.

“She’s a quick little filly and she can scoot across the ground,” Jones said. “She got an awesome break. The field kind of opened up. She had plenty of running room and the further she went, the better she got.”

Shesa First Ratify ran second and New Mexico-bred First Corona Call was third.

The favored Love Samba, a 9-5 pick, got an awkward start from the No. 4 gate, slipping to the left. It cleared an open path for Runnning Brook Gal to turn on the speed as she left the No. 5 post. Jockey Ramon Sanchez let her go and she never was challenged.

“It was a very good break. After that, the race was done,” Sanchez said.

Runnning Brook Gal broke at 7-2 odds and paid $9.20, $5.20 and $3.60.

Fans were treated to a post parade appearance by Mine That Bird, the New Mexico-based thoroughbred who won this year’s Kentucky Derby. A Ruidoso Downs record crowd of 23,478 turned out, filling the grandstands and overflow parking areas near the track.

Chip Woolley Jr., the trainer from Bloomfield, N.M., who handles Mine That Bird, said spending the past week back in New Mexico was like slipping on an old boot.

Since returning to Ruidoso with Mine That Bird last Wednesday, Woolley said he enjoyed catching up with old friends. He also made sure the horse got his workouts and Woolley even made a few purchases at the annual Ruidoso quarter horse yearling sale.

Asked if he was treated like a celebrity after winning the Kentucky Derby, Woolley chuckled.

“It’s like same-old, same-old,” he said. “Up at the grandstand you get some people wanting autographs, things like that, but otherwise it’s just our normal crew, our normal group.”

Woolley said Mine That Bird has recovered from throat surgery, saying the horse is “for sure 100 percent.” He said the gelding will run at Santa Anita in the Goodwood Stakes on Oct. 10, then in the Breeders Cup on Nov. 7.

Mine That Bird got a big cheer when he came onto the track for the post parade. Owner Mark Allen said the appearance was an effort to share the horse with New Mexico racing fans and thank them for support. Later this week, Mine That Bird will be displayed at Allen’s Double Eagle ranch near Roswell.

“This horse is a hometown hero,” Woolley said. “It’s nice to come back and share him with the people, our hometown people. I’ve raced here in this state for 25 or 26 years. It’s nice to come back and let the people be a part of it.”

For Richard, the All American victory was bittersweet.

Earlier in the day, he scratched his other filly, Brooks Midnight, because she stepped on a rock and got a bruise. Richard said Brooks Midnight and Runnning Brook Gal were purchased as breeding mares for Brookstone Bay, who started the family in the racing business in 2002.

“You know what I call them? My girls,” Richard said.

Runnning Brook Gal was second in the Rainbow Futurity this summer and was the third-fastest qualifier in the Ruidoso Futurity. Jones called her “the most consistent 2-year-old in the country.”

A native of Church Point, La., Richard moved to southern Utah in 1977 to work in the oilfields. His son, Chad, co-owns the horses, and their large family celebrated in the winner’s circle after the All American.

“When the gates popped open and she had that wide-open spot, I knew the others had some troubles ahead of them,” Albert Richard said. “Quarter horse racing is a lot of luck. If you don’t get pounded coming out, you’ve got a chance. Today was our day.”