Horse Racing Story of note

Jones excited about a pair of talented two-year-olds
By Felix Chavez
El Paso Times
RUIDOSO DOWNS – Paul Jones is one of the top quarter horse trainers in the country.
On Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino, Jones hopes two of his horses in particular fare well in the Grade 1, All American Futurity. Runnning Brook Gal, the second-fastest qualifier for the All American and Brooks Midnight, the 10th fastest qualifier, have a history together. The two were raised together on the same pasture in Roosevelt, Utah. They are close to identical in how they look and have many of the same connections. The talented Brookstone Bay sired both and both have similar ownership connections.
Runnning Brook Gal, who ran a :21.213 in the All American Trials on Aug. 20, is owned and was bred by Albert Richard and his son Chad Richard. Chad Richard is the owner and breeder of Brooks Midnight.
“Runnning Brook Gal is a very nice horse,” Jones said. “She is competitive and is getting better all the time. She has been consistent in her career and I wouldn’t be surprised with anything she does. I was fortunate enough to have trained Brookstone Bay and now I have both of these promising fillies. It’ll be interesting to see how everything does work out, but for now I’m really happy with their progress. Hopefully, they both can continue to progress.”
To prove Runnning Brook Gal’s consistency, here is something to think about. She is the only horse to qualify for the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American Futurities. She finished sixth in the Ruidoso Futurity and second in the Rainbow. She’s won all three of her trials in the quarter horse triple crown. Jockey Ramon Sanchez rode her in the All American trials to fairly easy win over Ragazzo, who won the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity earlier this year. Overall, Runnning Brook Gal has won 3 of 5 lifetime.
“I expect the best from her all the time,” said Jones of Runnning Brook Gal. “It would not surprise me if she won the All American.”
Meanwhile, Brooks Midnight ran in the Rainbow Futurity and finished sixth. She won her All American trial in :21.418.
“A very good horse,” said jockey Cody Jensen, who was aboard Brooks Midnight in the All American trials. “She has shown improvement and she ran a great race in the trials. She runs straight and you don’t have to do much with her. I think she has a bright future ahead of her.”
Added Jones of Brooks Midnight: “She’s maturing and learning all the time. She had a good day in the trials and we’ll see if she can improve and take the next step in the All American.”

Felix Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; (915) 546-6374

Onate was terrible on defense

Wow, what a disappointing start for Onate High School on the football field. The Knights lost 28-14 to Bel Air, giving up an incredible 464 yards on the ground. The Knights better wake up in a hurry or this year could get away quick. Bel Air is improved, but certainly not a top tier El Paso team. But give the Highlanders credit for what they were able to do.

Onate looked sluggish stopping the run and a critical fumble in the third quarter stopped a potential scoring drive and gave life to Bel Air.

The Knights have to find a way to get over the hump in 3-5A and after the first game showing, I don't know if the team has what it takes to get it done. Fortunately for OHS, Gadsden, Alamo and it appears Cruces High are all beatable. It looks like Mayfield's district to take.

Felix

First game predictions, Class 5A Cruces teams only

Mayfield in a tight one over an improved El Paso Chapin 23-17
Las Cruces High begins defense of its 5A title with a 28-14 win at El Paso El Dorado
Onate starts its season with a 21-7 win against El Paso Bel Air, likely w/o linebacker Zach Daugherty, who I have been told has an injured ankle.

- Felix

All American Futurity qualifiers

Here are the 10 qualifiers for the All American Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses to be run on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Love Samba 21.201
Runnnng Brook Gal 21.213
First Corona Call 21.252
Favorite Cartel 21.305
Shesa First Ratify 21.330
Winners Cartel 21.331
Swingin Daddyo 21.358
Gols Victory Pop 21.394
Jess So Sixy 21.402
Brooks Midnight 21.418

Solid undercard bouts

Word came recently that there will be three solid undercard bouts on the Juan Manuel Marquez/Floyd Mayweather welterweight title bout on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas, Neva.

Chris John will defend his featherweight title in a rematch vs. Rocky Juarez. The two fought to a draw earlier this year.
Also, former welterweight king Zab Judah will beet Antonio Diaz and lightweights Michael Katsidis will meet former U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo.
Katsidis is a brawler and has been in some solid fights, while Escobedo is an up and comer.

This is the type of undercard boxing fans want and is a throwback to pay per view cards in the 1980s and 1990s when sometimes the undecard was better than the main event.

Felix

Mine That Bird update

Derby winner Mine That Bird has minor surgery

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has returned to Saratoga Race Course to prepare for the $1 million Travers Stakes after having throat surgery to free an entrapped epiglottis.
Trainer Chip Woolley said the routine procedure, performed Tuesday morning by Dr. Patricia Hogan at the Ruffian Equine Medical Center across from Belmont Park, went perfectly. He said the 3-year-old gelding will resume training in a couple of days.
The condition, which can interfere with breathing, was discovered during a routine endoscopic examination following a workout Monday at Saratoga. The Travers is Aug. 29.

- Courtesy of the Associated Press

This weekend's fights

For you boxing fans, Saturday night will provide some interesting bouts on HBO. Juan Diaz takes on Paul Malignaggi in a junior welterweight bout. Both guys are trying to recover from losses, Diaz to Juan Manuel Marquez and Malignaggi to Ricky Hatton.

Diaz is the harder puncher and just better overall fighter. It's an intriguing fight for TV and should be decent. Diaz has proven more in his career in key fights and should have something left.

Also, on the card is a 12-round title fight between Robert Guerrero and Malcolm Klassen for the IBF super featherweight title.

What are your thoughts on the Diaz/Malignaggi battle?

Felix

Boxing news

Las Cruces Junior middleweight Austin Trout is slated to fight next month in Panama, El Paso junior middleweight Abie Han could fight in Monterrey, Mexico, next month and heavyweight David Rodriguez of El Paso is slated to fight in Mexico.

Also, Las Cruces amateur Siju Shabazz could be headed to Milan, Italy, to fight in the AIBA World Championships.

- Felix

Mike Tyson film

The documentary on Mike Tyson has hit the Las Cruces area at the Fountain Theatre. It started Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 13. It runs nightly at 7:30 p.m. and there is a Sunday showing I believe at 2:30 p.m.

It's an intriguing film about Tyson, particularly if you don't know much about the man or the fighter. There are clips of him fighting early in his amateur career, as well as clips of what he has to say.

It's a film which looks into his life and gives people a chance to try and understand who he is and why he did some of the things he did.

Tyson is a troubled figure, he has been for many years. He was one of the sport's brightest stars and biggest money makers, who squandered much of it.

He could have been remembered as one of the sport's best, but will likely go down as one of the most villified figures in the sport.

- Felix

Boxing Documentary

HBO sports is showing a boxing documentary, title "Assault In The Ring", which is about the 1983 boxing match between then unbeaten Billy Collins Jr. and Luis Resto.
The fight took on national significance because not only did Resto upset Collins Jr., but it was the way he did it. After 10 hard fought rounds, it was discovered that the padding in Resto's gloves were taken out prior to the fight.

The documentary looks into the lives of both fighters and the aftermath of that awful night in the ring. It's a must see event and gives viewers a look into one of the most horrible events in boxing history.

- Felix

Filly Rachel Alexandra

Wow, what a great filly Rachel Alexandra has turned out to be. The talented 3-year beat the boys for the second time this year, with a solid showing in the Haskell Invitational on Sunday. She is 7-for-7 this year. She nearly beat the track record despite a muddy track.

She is making a case to be the most talented filly of all-time. The one thing I'd like to see is her in a battle down the stretch against any horse. It'd be interesting to see another horse look her in the eye to see what she does down the stretch. Any thoughts from you racing fans out there about this great filly?

- Felix