All American Derby Qualifier: Ochoa

OCHOA
S.g. Tres Seis-Stolis Fortune by Stoli

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Race Record: 9-6-1-1 $1,645,736

Breeder: Johnny Jones Jr. Interests (TX)
Owner: J Bar 7 Ranch LLC, Monte and Katsy Cluck and Doug Benson
Trainer: C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath
Qualifying Jockey: Roy Baldillez
Qualifying Time: :21.431 (Trial 8)

Race Record: Winning the eighth trial from Post 8, reigning champion 2-year-old gelding and champion 2-year-old Ochoa moved clear of the field to win by 2 lengths. The All American Futurity and Rainbow Derby (G1) winner will bid for history in the All American Derby, as a win in the race would make him the sport’s all-time leading money earner.

Breeder: Racing icon John T.L. Jones Jr. of Quanah, Texas, got his start in Quarter Horse racing before moving into Thoroughbred racing. Jones owned and managed Walmac International Stud, where he stood the famed Nureyev (TB). The farm is now managed in part by his son John Jones III. In his own name, Jones also bred stakes winner Eye Am Forever Yours and his horses have earned more than $2 million. In partnership with R.D. Hubbard, the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame member has raced champions Noconi and Brenda Beautiful.

Owners: A $25,000 repurchase from the Ruidoso Select Sale, Ochoa is owned by a Texas-based partnership that includes John T.L. and Brenda Jones’ J Bar 7 Ranch, Monte and Katsy Cluck and Doug Benson. The partners have sent out the winners of more than $1.6 million.

“I was a little worried about the track, but he won easily,” Jones said. “He had the fastest time of the last seven trials.

“He’s a special horse, and we’re pretty fortunate to ever have one like him,” Jones added. “They sure don’t come in trailer loads.”

Trainer: Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, a member of the Ruidoso Hall of Fame, has trained the winners of 1,349 races in 6,986 starts. Since 1970, Gilbreath has sent out the earners of more than $25.1 million. They include All American Derby winners Six Popper (’86) and Snow Big Deal (’03).

Qualifying Jockey: Roy Baldillez has since 1985 ridden the winners of 1,337 races from 9,756 starts. His mounts have earned more than $16 million. Baldillez was aboard for Ochoa’s All American Futurity last year, and other mounts include world champion Cold Cash 123 and Grade 1 winners Illegal Memories, Thewayouwantmetoo, Red Clay Of Texas, Invisible Injun, Significant Speed, Easily A Rogue and First Down Kelly.

Pedigree: Champion Tres Seis in his racing career was second in the All American Derby, as well as second in the All American Futurity. He won the Golden State Futurity, and was second in the Rainbow Derby and third in the Los Alamitos Million Futurity. Now owned by Guy Rodrigues Peixoto Jr.’s Blessed River Ltd, Tres Seis has from seven crops sired the earners of more than $13.2 million, including 36 stakes winners. Ochoa was his first champion. Tres Seis stands at JEH Stallion Station-Texas.

Ochoa is the first starter for the Stoli mare Stolis Fortune. The mare, a starter on the track, is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Fortune First (by First Down Dash, $98,147). Second dam Splashing Fortune is a half sister to stakes winner and dam of distinction Beat Your Pants Off, dam of champions Jumping Tac Flash and Splash Bac, and stakes winner BCR My Main Man (by Murrtheblurr (TB), $167,577). Stolis Fortune is now owned by Julianna Hawn Holt.