QUARTER HORSES / ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY : A Classic Dash Will Take On Treacherously

When A Classic Dash won the Dash For Cash Futurity at Los Alamitos in late July, the colt’s owner, Abigail Kawananakoa, decided that the 2-year-old deserved a shot at today’s $1,937,052 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

A Classic Dash, the top 2-year-old in California this summer, has won six of seven starts, including a trial for the All American Futurity on Aug. 20 that gave him the second-fastest qualifying time. He probably will be the second betting choice behind undefeated Treacherously, who has already won the Ruidoso and Rainbow futurities.

Treacherously is attempting to win quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown, Ruidoso’s three futurities. Special Effort, in 1981, is the only horse to do so.

Said Kawananakoa: “It’s almost frightening, everything is going so well (with A Classic Dash). This is what everyone wants in the quarter horse business.”

A Classic Dash is the first horse that trainer Connie Hall has brought to Ruidoso Downs. He will be ridden by Eddie Garcia, the leading rider at Los Alamitos. Hall, one of the leading trainers at Los Alamitos, is seeking to become the first female trainer to win the All American.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot,” Hall said. “Lots of times, you’ll come to the All American with a horse, but this time the horse brought us to the All American.”

Blane Schvaneveldt, leading trainer at Los Alamitos, will have Merganser Line, who won his first race in five starts in the trials. Others entrants include Plexnet, Six Kix, Make My Mark, Shiney Dancer, Coup De Main, Heza Fast Man and Sound Legacy.