$300,000 Ruidoso Select Sale Grad Whiskey Creek Surprises at 27-1 In $1M All American Derby Sunday
RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM–SEPTEMBER 3, 2023–
Whiskey Creek, a $300,0000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate in 2021 surprised at 27-1 odds today when he defeated Chasing Aj by a neck in the $1,199,686 Grade 1 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino.
Under two-time champion jockey Ramon Sanchez, who took over riding duties after jockey Juan Pulido opted to ride fastest qualifier Delight Interest, Whiskey Creek brushed at the start but went all-out to completed the 440 yards in :21.459 seconds, an 89 speed index into a 9 mph headwind.
Trainer Toby Keeton saddled Whiskey Creek to his fourth career win for owners Wootan Racing and Roger K. Beasley. The son of leading sire Apollitical Jess picked up the winner's share of the purse valued at $503,868 to boost his earning total to $525,186.
Jim Streelman and Bill Dale bred the gelding in Missouri from the Check Him Out mare Checknbac. Whiskey Creek is a half-brother to multiple grade 1 winner Flash Bak.
Multiple Grade 1-placed Chasing Aj earned $215,943 for his second-place effort under champion jockey Rodrigo Vallejo. M. Heath Taylor saddled the son of Apollitical Jess for owners Steve Holt, Charles Cox, Jack Powers and Roger Moore.
Don Griffin Jr. bred Chasing Aj in Oklahoma from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye On This Candy. Third in the Rainbow QH Derby(G1) in July and third in last year's All American Futurity(G1), the gray gelding has banked $688,022 in 13 career starts.
Hooked N Gone vied throughout under jockey Justine Klaiber to finish a head back in the blanket-finish. Trainer Eddie D. Willis saddled the Oklahoma homebred for owner-breeder Regina Laymon.
The son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon, from the Pretty Boy Perry mare Pretty Girl Kate, earned $199,969 for the effort. Winner of the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby(RG1), second in the Heritage Place Derby(G2) and fourth in the Rainbow Derby(G1) this year, Hooked N Gone has earned $471,918 in 15 career starts.
Shakers No Secret, Magnanimous V, Getthere Fast, Delight Interest, Cyber Attack, Sicario V and Hes A Jet One completed the field.
