First Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown Winner Since 1981

From AQHA,  Courtesy of Q-Racing

Triple One Ranch’s Hezgothelook Z became American Quarter Horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 43 years, as the gelded son of Favorite Cartel won Monday’s 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity G1 at Albuquerque Downs.

The second-fastest overall qualifier, Hezgothelook Z defeated KJ Bad Moon Rising by a neck in :21.120. Bryan Candanosa rode the bay gelding for trainer Toby Keeton.

Hezgothelook Z became the sport’s first Triple Crown winner since 1981 world champion and American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member Special Effort accomplished the feat that same year. The gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Tommy Dinwiddie, and he was purchased by Triple One Ranch for $70,000 at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City.

Hezgothelook Z is out of Shezgothelook, a winning California-bred daughter of champion FDD Dynasty purchased by Dinwiddie for $70,000 at the ’18 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The gelding’s second dam, the graded stakes winning Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic, produced two-time world champion Danjer, a full brother to Shezgothelook.

Hezgothelook Z was winning for the sixth time in seven races, and the $1.5-million winner’s share of the purse from American Quarter Horse racing’s richest race increased his career earnings to $2,358,300. The gelding’s three Grade 1 wins include the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the June 9, 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity, and the July 14, 400-yard Rainbow Futurity.

FDD Dreams finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Hezgothelook Z, and was followed by Painted Eclispe, Mountainaire, Brink Man V, Highly Regarded V, fastest qualifier Ariatt, and Peeple R Scrambled. Tenth-fastest qualifier Turners Hot Habit was listed by the official Equibase chart as a veterinarian scratch.

The triple crown race series includes the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities that are run at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. This year, the final leg of the title was run at The Downs at Albuquerque over Labor Day Weekend. This is due to unprecedented fires and flooding that devastated the village of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs.

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