Llano Teller, Quiet Again Ruidoso Horses of the Meet

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM - Sept. 8, 2011 - Two-time grade 1 derby winner Llano Teller has been named quarter horse of the meet and Free Spirit Handicap winner Quiet Again, who was also second in the Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship, has been named thoroughbred of the meet at Ruidoso Downs.

The summer season concluded on Monday at the New Mexico track.

Owned by Wootan Racing with the Reed Land and Cattle Company, Llano Teller won the Grade 1, $703,000 Ruidoso Derby in June and then took the Grade 1, $1.3-million All American Derby on Sunday. The Heath Reed-trained gelding moved up to the top spot in the AQHA Racing/Horseplayernow.com national poll this week after his All American Derby victory.

The Teller Cartel son is also the top three-year-old quarter horse of the meet.

Paul Thomason’s homebred Quiet Again, trained by Jimmie Claridge, won the $40,000 Free Spirit Handicap at six furlongs in June and then finished second as the 7-10 favorite in the $50,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship over one-and-one-sixteenth mile. He was the defending winner of the Thoroughbred Championship.

The gelded son of Real Quiet is also the season’s top older thoroughbred.

All American Futurity winner Ochoa, trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, earned the top two-year-old quarter horse honors after his overpowering one-and-one-half length win in the world’s richest quarter horse race on Labor Day. The gelding was also third in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity.

The number-one horse is the national poll, Ochoa is owned by co-breeder Johnny T.L. Jones Jr. with Monte and Katsy Cluck and Doug and Shavon Benson.

Jones is also co-owner and co-breeder of top older quarter horse of the meet Noconi. Jones owns and bred Noconi with R.D. Hubbard.

Two-time national champion Noconi, trained by Paul Jones, earned his Ruidoso honors with wins as the strong favorite in the Higheasterjet Handicap and the All American Gold Cup.

Bill Vanlandingham’s Wally Van shipped to Ruidoso Downs for a winning run in the Ruidoso Thoroughbred Derby and his win at 7-5 odds earned his the top three-year-old thoroughbred title. He is trained by Tyrone Gleason.

New Mexico-bred Our Flying Angel won the $156,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity to he honored as top two-year-old and top New Mexico-bred two-year-old. In her only other career start she won her Rio Grande Senorita Futurity trial by more than 11 lengths.

The Ross Amestoy-trained Our Flying Angel is owned by Leslie Amestoy and Mike Abraham.

The top New Mexico-bred three-year-old is Mostly Dust, owned by Larry and Harry Teague. The Weston Martin-trained gelding defeated open horses in the Norgor Derby and then was second as the favorite in the Road Runner Handicap.
Martin also trains Road Runner Handicap winner Thenew Normal, who was a second in the voting for New Mexico-bred three-year-old honors.

Frank Sumpter’s homebred Lota Talent was chosen as the top older New Mexico-bred with two wins from two Ruidoso Downs starts this summer for trainer Joel Marr. He easily won an optional-claiming race and then stepped up with a win in the $50,000 Land Of Enchantment Stakes.