All American Derby

A Pollitical Candy V, a son of 2011 world champion Apollitical Jess owned by Valeriano Racing Stables LLC, sprinted to a wire-to-wire, 1 3/4-length victory in Sunday's 440-yard, $808,538 All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Ridden by Juan Pulido for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr., A Pollitical Candy V made his quarter-mile trip in :20.842. The brown gelding earned a 107 speed index and the $339,586 winner's share of the purse.

"This horse is amazing," said Pulido. "I felt him take off about 50 yards into the race, and that's when I knew we had it."

A Pollitical Candy V was extending his win streak to five races, a streak that includes victories in the July 23, 440-yard Rainbow Derby (G1) and June 11, 400-yard Ruidoso Invitational Stakes. The gelding was bred in California by Randy and Stacy Hill, and he is out of Rock Candy SA, a winning 9-year-old daughter of the Favorite Trick (TB) stallion Good Reason SA.

The fastest qualifier, A Pollitical Candy V was coming off of a 2 3/4-length win in the fourth of eight All American Derby trials on August 21. All told, the gelding has won nine of 18 races and he has earned $731,309.

A Pollitical Candy V's connections indicated that the gelding would be pointed to the Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) trials this fall.

Delight Us All ran second and was followed by Lethal Avenger, Bomb Cyclone, Muy Peligrosito, FDD Scout, Strong Soul, Whirlaway Wagon, and Apolitical Eyeopener. Tenth-fastest qualifier HT Double Jess was listed by the Equibase chart as a trainer scratch.

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