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Feature Mr Bojangles Upsets Richest Rainbow Futurity RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (July 24, 2011) – Feature Mr Bojangles might have been at 9-1 longshot in the final odds, but he raced down the Ruidoso Downs straightaway like a solid All American Futurity hopeful to win the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity on Sunday afternoon. The $700,000 purse exceeded the previous record purse of $636,881 and will rise to $1-million in 2013. The Grade 1, $2.4-million All American Futurity is held on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs. It is North America’s richest race for two-year-olds, regardless of the horse’s breed. Feature Mr Bojangles, starting from the third post position, raced the 440 yards in :19.608 to defeat The Long Knife by one-half length. Jess Cuervo was third, one-half length behind The Long Knife. “He crowded (pushed up against) the front of the gate,” said jockey Jacky Martin, winner of his sixth Rainbow Futurity. He also won last year with Hes Too Icy For Me. “The four horse (The Long Knife) had me beat about a length and we ran him down. About 100 yards from the wire we got by him and then he was coasting.” Owned by SM Cattle Export Company with Jaime Dominguez, Feature Mr Bojangles has been stabled off the Ruidoso Downs grounds and shipped from his home base north of El Paso for the Rainbow Futurity trials and finals. “He got here the morning of trials and came back up yesterday for the finals,” said Martin. The son of Feature Mr Jess has become accustomed to the horse trailer and has gained familiarity with the winner’s circle. The Roberto Sanchez-trained colt has won three straight races after finishing second in his career debut. He won the Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park in Farmington, New Mexico by a neck at 2-1 odds on June 19 for his first win. Feature Mr Bojangles, a $16,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, then raced to the third-fastest qualifying time of :19.481 when he won his Rainbow Futurity trial. Martin gained the mount on Feature Mr Jess after G.R. Carter Jr. rode four qualifiers to the Rainbow Futurity, including Feature Mr Bojangles, and elected to ride fastest qualifier and odds-on favorite Mighty B Valiant. Martin then had the choice to ride Feature Mr Bojangles or Jess Cuervo. “I thought this horse may have been a little sharper and this horse is a true quarter-mile horse. Plus, I get to ride him back in the All American (Futurity trials),” said Martin. “That’s why I picked him.” The All American Futurity and the All American Futurity trials are at 440 yards. G. Stephen Denny’s second-place finisher The Long Knife contributed to a superb weekend for trainer Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, a member of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame. On Saturday afternoon he sent out favored Cold Cash 123 to win the Rainbow Derby. The Long Knife was an 8-1 outsider even though he had won his two previous outs. The Tac It Like A Man-sired gelding won his maiden in his first start at Remington Park and then was a one-and-a-one-half Rainbow Futurity trial winner with the 10th-fastest qualifying time. Roy Baldillez, who was also aboard Cold Cash 123, rode The Long Knife. Jess Cuervo ran a strong race under jockey Cody Jensen to finish in third place. The Corona Cartel son has won three of his five starts and had a fourth-place finish in the Easy Jet Stakes at Remington Park. He was one of three horses owned by You And Me Partners and trained by Raymond Vargas in the Rainbow Futurity. They were also represented by Remington Park Futurity winner Mighty B Valiant and YM Quick. After third-place finisher Jess Cuervo, the order of finish was Big Daddy Cartel, Mighty B Valiant, Jess Sass Dash, Bovet, YM Quick and Texas Rockstar. Texas Rockstar finished eighth and was placed ninth for interference. Hez Our Secret colicked the night before the Rainbow Futurity and was scratched.
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by Roberta Harris