All American Futurity: New Mexico-bred horses go 1-2 in photo finish

The favorite with ties to New Mexico did not disappoint Monday in the All American Futurity that for the second straight year was moved to the Albuquerque Downs Racetrack after flooding in Ruidoso washed away the season.

With a $3 million purse, the futurity is the world’s richest quarter horse race.

And this year, 7 to 2 favorite King of the Tide broke out early, then held off Political Twist in a photo finish, winning by 0.45 seconds.

The horse was sired by Eye Am King at MJ Farms in Veguita near Socorro.

“It’s just icing on the cake,” said Mac Murray, who owns the breeding ranch with his wife Janice. “We’ve been in the breeding business 40something-plus years and it’s every breeder’s dream to win the All American.”

Political Twist also came out of MJ Farms.

“So to run first and second, that’s amazing,” he said.

Eye Am King has had some success as a sire, but this win catapults him to another level, Murray said.

“He’s never had a win of this magnitude,” he said of the horse’s offspring. “He had a winner in the Albuquerque million two years ago. And he’s had some really nice winners, but nothing the magnitude of the All American. There’s no race like it.”

Jockey Ricky Ramirez, who won the All American for the second time in 14 attempts, said he had a good feeling about this race.

“I have never felt so confident as I did this year,” he said. “He was sound. All the stars were lining up.”

Things looked particular strong for King of the Tide once the races were moved north.

“The horse seemed to like Albuquerque,” he said. “He got here and he started looking good, training good. He was just peaking at the right time of year in August.”

And it showed once the horses broke from the gate.

“I just had tunnel vision,” Ramirez said. “I could see horses out of the corner of my eyes on both sides in front of me. But I just could tell my horse was responding well, getting into the clear.”

As the race moved to the halfway point, the horse turned up the juice.

“We got to the middle of the grandstand and I finally looked to the side and I saw we were in front,” Ramirez said. “It was exiting, but it wasn’t a surprise. I knew I was on a good horse who had the potential to do it. We go down in history as winning the All American at two different race tracks.”

Entering the final stretch, the jockey knew he would soon be celebrating.

“We had 100 yards to go and we’re already in front and I thought, ‘They ain’t catching us,’” he said. “This horse loves the quarter-mile.”

In the All American Derby, Fdd Dreams, out of La Feliz Montaña Ranch in Hondo, roared to the finish to claim the $1,080,788 race.

It was Fdd Dreams’ fourth win in his last five races and he was ridden by jockey Luis Martinez, who also rode Karmalites to victory in the All American Oaks, which preceded the derby.

“He’s an impressive kid,” owner Javier Rodriguez said of Martinez. “He’s an up and coming. He’s young but he has a lot of talent. He’s a good dude.”

Moments from All American Futurity at the Albuquerque Downs