Stolis Winner Looks For All-Time Record in All American Derby
RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 31, 2009—World champion Stolis Winner will face a tough contingent from the powerful stable of champion trainer Paul Jones in Sunday's $624,784 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs as he tries to become the All-Time Leading Money Earning Quarter Horse.
The winner will play for a $312,392 payday and an invitation to the $750,000 Champion Of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course in December.
That payday could make Jerry Windham’s homebred World Champion the All-Time Leading Money Earner with earnings of $2,132,829. AQHA Hall of Famer Refrigerator is the current leader with $2,126,309.
Stolis Winner and G.R. Carter, Jr., return after winning
the 2008 All American Futurity(G1).
Photo by: Bill Pitt, Jr.
The Stoli gelding received 2008 world champion honors after finishing first in last year’s All American Futurity (G1), winning the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity (G1) and capturing the $625,000 Rainbow Futurity(G1).
His 2008 earnings of $1,820,437 set a record for annual earnings recorded by an American Quarter Horse. He also took home champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old gelding honors.
If he wins the All American Derby, he will join DM Shicago, Winalota Cash, Ronas Ryon, A Delightful Dasher and Higheasterjet as horses who have swept the All American Futurity and All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs.
The son of 2001 All American Derby winner Stoli made his 2009 debut in the All American Derby trials following a nine month layoff. Saddled by Heath Taylor, he turned in an outstanding performance over the 440 yards. Breaking from the rail, he was in a trial that could have been considered a Grade 1 stakes on any other card. Stolis Winner finished a game third behind fastest qualifier Fantastic Corona Jr and One Diamond Kitty.
His time of :21.210 for the 440 yards were the third fastest on the day.
King Brimmerton followed Stolis Winner to be the four-fastest qualifiers. They were also joined champion Brendas Beautiful as that trial produced half the derby qualifiers.
Heading the Jones' barn is fastest qualifier Fantastic Corona Jr.
Racing for the partnership of Gianni Samaja, John Andreini and Vince Genco, Fantastic Corona Jr has been pointed at the All American Derby since finishing second in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) in March.
Jones brought the Corona Cartel colt back in a Ruidoso Downs allowance race on July 25th off. He finished a close enough second-place effort to convince his connections to pay the $40,000 supplemental fee to enter the trials.
Fantastic Corona Jr moved forward off that race to defeat second-fastest qualifier One Diamond Kitty, a filly by Genuine Strawfly, by a neck in their All American Derby trial. Fantastic Corona Jr turned in a :21.131 time while One Diamond Kitty was clocked in :21.153.
Joining Fantastic Corona Jr, One Diamond Kitty and Stolis Winner from that trial were the aforementioned Brimmerton gelding, King Brimmerton and the Feature Mr Jess mare Brenda Beautiful.
Bobby Cox’s King Brimmerton was a close third in the $204,000 Remington Park Derby (G1) and third in the $1.1 million Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park for trainer John Buchanan.
R.D. Hubbard and Johnny T.L. Jones Jr.’s Brenda Beautiful hope to follows big brother Noconi, who won last year’s All American Derby and returned to win two stakes this summer at Ruidoso Downs.
Brenda Beautiful earned her 2008 champion 2-year-old filly title with wins in the $274,000 Hobbs America Futurity (G2) and the $300,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) last fall at Zia Park.
She set the fastest-qualifying time to the Ruidoso Derby in her 2009 debut before finishing fourth as the odds-on favorite after jumping shadows nearing the grandstand.
Joining Fantastic Corona Jr and Brenda Beautiful from the Jones barn in the All American Derby are $481,000 Rainbow Derby (G1) winner Inseperable, a colt by Separatist; $192,000 El Primero Del Año Derby (G2) winner Royal Proclamation, by A Regal Choice; and $236,000 Heritage Place Derby (G2) finalist Fearless Fritz, a daughter of Shazoom.
Photo by: Bill Pitt, Jr.
Friday, September 4, 2009
