HEARTSWIDEOPEN AT RUIDOSO

COURTESY OF STALLIONESEARCH.COM


Heartswideopen and Oscar Hernandez at
Ruidoso Downs.
Photo by Bill Pitt, Jr.



Heartswideopen Works In Prep For All American Futurity Trials



RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 27, 2007—Ruidoso Futurity winner Heartswideopen, who bypassed the Rainbow Futurity, prepared for the All American Futurity trials on Aug. 16 with an official 220-yard work of :11.98 with regular rider Oscar Hernandez aboard at Ruidoso Downs on Thursday morning.
The 10 fastest qualifiers from the 440-yard All American Futurity trials qualify for the Grade 1, $2 million (est.) All American Futurity on Labor Day.

While Heartswideopen’s work is listed as a 220-yard work, she actually did more, according to trainer Carl Draper.

“They had the gates set up, so I worked her from in front of the gate — she doesn’t need any gate work — and she worked 50 yards past the wire. It was more like working 3/16ths [of a mile],” Draper said. The veteran trainer is a master at bringing a horse up to a race. He trained DM Shicago to victory in the 2004 All American Futurity and a sweep of the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American Derbies in 2005, the year he was named world champion.

“The work got some air pumped in her and it helped get her body fit,” said Draper. “She did it pretty.”

One veteran clocker, who observed the work, said: “There’s been gossip that she’s hurt. She’s not hurt; she looked great.”

Heartswideopen, a $280,290 earner, has been sensational in her five career starts. The daughter of Feature Mr Jess and champion and champion producer Dashing Phoebe raced to the fastest-qualifying time to the Grade 1, $266,000 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park and won the Ruidoso Futurity by a 1-1/4 lengths by covering the 350 yards in a stakes-record :17.08.