New Mexico-bred Arealstraitheart, the 6-to-5 favorite, pulled away from eight rivals in the $406,299 All American Derby to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths on Sunday, September 3 at Ruidoso Downs.

“He broke good and had a clean trip,” said jockey Edgar Ramirez after winning his first major stakes race. “He did it all by himself. He’s a really great horse.”

The All American Derby win purse of $194,954 pushed Arealstraitheart’s earnings to $714,598. The Real Runaway-sired gelding also received an invitation to the prestigious $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos Rack Track in December.

Trained by Ben Torres for Stan Munro’s MJ Enterprises, Arealstraitheart was second in last year’s All American Futurity, over an off racing surface.

Paul Jones, trainer of All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here, finished second and third, consecutively, with First Wicked Lady and Rainbow Derby winner and Ruidoso Downs 440 track record holder Strawkins. Jones saddled five of the nine starters in the All American Derby. His other finishers were Ketel Won (fifth), In Dispute (sixth) and Kelowna Kash (seventh). The Jones-trained Separate Tac also qualified for the All American Derby, but was scratched.