Kiss My Hocks reinforced his lock on the title of leading two-year-old Quarter running horse with a one-half length victory in the $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity, on June 8 at Ruidoso Downs, N.M. JM Miracle finished second, 1½ lengths ahead of third-placed Bodacious Eagle.
Owned by Conda Maze and Tyler Graham, trained by Toby Keeton, and ridden by Cody Jensen, Kiss My Hocks was the fastest qualifier for the 350-yard race, winning his trial by three lengths, in 17.281 seconds. His perfect record of 4 wins in 4 starts includes a 330-yard track record win in his trial to the $564,000 Sam Houston Futurity, which he won by one-half of a length.
Bred by Tyler Graham and John Mayers, Kiss My Hocks is sired by Tempting Dash and the first stakes winner out of stakes-placed Romancing Mary, by Tres Seis.
“I’m trying to be unbiased, but he might be the fastest horse I’ve ever seen,†said legendary horseman Charlie Graham DVM, of Elgin, Texas Veterinary Hospital and Southwest Stallion Station fame, as well as grandfather of Tyler Graham. As a preeminent equine practitioner and racehorse breeder for 53 years, Graham has seen and stood the best, including Rocket Wrangler, sire of the immortal Dash For Cash.
Kiss My Hocks is from the first full crop of 7-year-old Tempting Dash, who on November 1, 2013 was sold at the Heritage Sale Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City for $1.7 million, an auction record for a Quarter race horse. Purchased by Simmons Ranch, Burnet, Tex., the stallion was sold by VSE Consignment on behalf of the Department of Treasury. Thereby hangs an incredible tale, which can be followed via the following links – Texas Observer and AQHA Racing News.
Should his connections choose to enter him in the $900,000 Rainbow Futurity trials, at Ruidoso Downs on July 3 and 4, thanks to his Ruidoso Futurity win, Kiss My Hocks is eligible for the $4 million All American Triple Crown Bonus, reserved for the horse who can sweep all three of the track’s G1 two-year-old events: the Ruidoso Futurity, the Rainbow Futurity, and the $2.6 million All American Futurity on Labor Day.
Special Effort, who won all three races in 1981 and retired with 13 victories from 14 starts, is the only horse to have ever won the All American Triple Crown.