The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Jockey Francisco Calderon to Ride Ratification “In Honor” of Trainer John Buchanan in All American Oaks

As Ratification steps into the starting gate for the inaugural running of the All American Oaks on Sunday, the memory of trainer John Buchanan won’t be far away from her jockey Francisco Calderon.

“I got to know John this season,” Calderon recalled in the barn area this week. “I would come to the barn with extra time on my hands ready to listen to his stories. All the great horses and trainers of the past that were his friends—Sleepy (Gilbreath) and Jack (Brooks)—so many people with stories about racing that happened here even before I was born.”

Buchanan passed away August 28, just a few days after qualifying Ratification for the Oaks and Jettz for the All American Futurity. Calderon qualified them both and will ride them back this weekend.

Ratification has an opportunity to put a stamp on the first running of the All American Oaks that should live long in the history books. The filly won her trial race by a whopping five-lengths covering 440-yards in a time of 21.269 seconds. It was a dominating win and makes the filly the 9/5 morning line favorite in the Oaks final as number-eight.

“When she got away she cleared and then veered out some,” Calderon recalled about the trial race. “I never asked her once—I just hand-rode her to the finish line. I really had no idea how far out in front we were at the finish.”

A victory in the All American Oaks would mean a sweep of the new filly division in its first edition having already won the Rainbow Oaks. The filly has been unstoppable all summer and Calderon remembers how special the filly was in John’s eyes and for his longtime friend and owner Bobby Cox.

“It would be an honor to win the first running of the Oaks for John and Mr. Bobby,” Calderon said. “They are an instrumental part in the history of quarter horse racing, and I am thankful for the opportunity to ride their horses in the All American.”