FIRST KLAS FRED STEPS UP TO WIN GRADE 1 $500,000 RUIDOSO FUTURITY
RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM — JUNE 7, 2009 — Denis and Julie Schoenhofer’s FIRST KLAS FRED continued his race-by-race development with a win in an eventful Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity on Sunday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.
The Mike Joiner-trained FIRST KLAS FRED raced the 350 yards in :17.885 into a fierce headwind in excess of 30 miles per hour.
He defeated Shake Em Money Pop by one-half length and it was another one-and-one-half lengths back to third-place finisher Sir Seth. Shake Em Money Pop and Sir Seth are each trained by Blane Wood.
“I’m shocked,” a beaming Denis Schoenhofer said moments after FIRST KLAS FRED scored the win at 13-1 odds and earned $250,000. “This is massive [winning the Ruidoso Futurity].”
The Schoenhofer's bought the gelding bred by Jim and Marilyn Helzer for $20,000 at the 2008 Eclipse Select Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park last August.
Under regular rider Esgar Ramirez, FIRST KLAS FRED got off to the best start of his five-race career while favored GBH Steppin Johnny and fastest-qualifier Runnning Brook Gal each hopped at the start of the 350-yard dash. GBH Steppin Johnny, by SOUTHRN CARTEL finished eighth and Runnning Brook Gal, by first crop sire BROOKSTONE BAY was sixth.
At the midway point, FIRST KLAS FRED drifted out from the second post position while Sir Seth and Shake Em Money Pop were moving inward from the outside two post positions. Swingin Daddyo, in the fifth post position, was steadied and stumbled while racing behind FIRST KLAS FRED. There was an inquiry, but no change in the order of finish.
“He broke like a bullet,” said Ramirez. “At Sunland, I told Mike [Joiner] that he was going to be a good one and he’s gotten better all the time. The longer [distance] the better for him.”
The gelded son of first crop sire FREDRICKSBURG made three starts at Sunland Park with his best finish a second-place run in his West Texas Futurity trial, which qualified him for the Grade 1 finals. He then finished fifth in the finals behind Varsity Girl and Shake Em Money Pop.
FIRST KLAS FRED won his maiden in his Ruidoso Futurity trial when he won by one-half length with the second-fastest qualifying time of :17638.
“He’s sort of been like a kid with ADD; it has just taken him a while to figure racing out,” said a smiling Joiner after winning his second Ruidoso Futurity. He also saddled 2004 winner All About Ease.
The top two finishers in the Ruidoso Futurity were the only two horses in the race to have also raced in the West Texas Futurity.
“In First Klas Fred’s case it sure didn’t hurt that he raced at Sunland. I think it helps to have the experience,” Joiner said.
The gelding’s rather calm demeanor may have also helped on the afternoon when the wind blew dust and the New Mexico flag off the infield flagpole. Mike and Linda Joiner’s son Justin, who gallops the Joiner horses, said that “you just take him out of his stall and he lays his head down.” When Mike was asked if this “get-along attitude” helped in the windy conditions, he responded: “I don’t know. But, I’ll take it.”
Jim Pitts’ Shake Em Money Pop rarely makes mistakes and his professional demeanor has led to three wins and two Grade 1 second-place finishes from five starts. In the West Texas Futurity, he battled to within a neck of winner Varsity Girl and then won his Ruidoso Futurity trial by nearly three lengths.
Rodney Christiansen’s homebred Sir Seth sustained his first setback after winning his first two starts. He won his Dixie Downs Futurity trial in his native Utah and then Christiansen elected to send him to Wood at Ruidoso Downs instead of running him in the Dixie Downs Futurity finals. That decision paid off with an impressive two-length win in his Ruidoso Futurity trial and a third-place effort in the futurity.
Swingin Daddyo, who stumbled midway through the race, still finished fourth and following him under the wire were Effortless Jessie, Runnning Brook Gal, Jessy Jane, GBH Steppin Johnny and Jess So Sixy.
EYES ON MY CORONA, also a 2008 Eclipse Sale graduate, sired by CORONA FOR ME was scratched.
