The Inside Track by Tim Keithley: Road to All American Weekend - Mister Illusion

Taylor, Windham Hope Second All American Futurity Is No “Illusion”

There’s a gleam once again in trainer Health Taylor’s eyes these days around Ruidoso Downs that maybe he’ll return to the winner’s circle on Labor Day in the All American Futurity.

“When you win the All American, it’s like throwing gas on a fire…you want to win it again,” Taylor said while standing outside the barn recently holding the bridle of Mister Illusion, his young star 2-year-old for owner Jerry Windham of College Station, Texas.

Taylor and Windham teamed up to win the 2008 All American Futurity with Stolis Winner. That gelding became one of Quarter Horse racing’s all-time greatest with 13 career wins and $2.2 million in earnings which puts him at second all-time.

Now the focus is on the young Mister Illusion. Being late to the training track due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, the gelding made his career debut in the Rainbow Futurity trials with an impressive two-length win. A quick two weeks later, Mister Illusion finished second in the final to the undefeated Whistle Stop Café.

“I thought he ran great considering the short turn-around to the final and that being only his second career start,” Taylor said. “Now he’s had a month and two races under his belt. I think he sets up to run big in the trials.”

It’s been a long road back for Taylor, who served a suspension for a racing drug violation that dates back to 2012. He has since been cleared to resume his career training horses and has put all those issues behind him.

“I’ve never lost faith in Heath’s honesty and ability to train horses,” Windham said. “Whatever those issues were, they are behind him. I know how excited he is to be back in the spotlight with some talented horses.” Windham said he contacted Taylor this past spring and asked him to come to his ranch in College Station. That’s where the latest chapter in their owner-trainer partnership began. “I had about seven horses that I had kept from selling at auction, and I asked Heath to pick out two to take to his barn and train for Ruidoso,” Windham said. “The first horse he picked was Mister Illusion, and that told me a lot.”

“Mister Illusion has tremendous confirmation,” Taylor said. “He’s the type of young runner that has tons of potential. Now it’s just a matter of the elements and whether he happens to be in the right trial to qualify. His talent is proven in only two races.”

Windham admits that he shares that same feeling of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming trials that he did 12 years ago with Stolis Winner. “It’s a thrill,” Windham said while looking out his ranch window at Stolis Winner who enjoys retirement in a pen next to his house. “You get that same excitement. Exactly like the first time we won it,” he said.

Interestingly enough, Mister Illusion and Whistle Stop Café drew into the same trial heat in Friday’s 12 th race. Whistle Stop Café will be breaking from the 5-hole and Mister Illusion will break from the 10-hole on the far outside in a trial race that could be mistaken for the final.