Sure Bet August 2014 by SureBet Racing News

AUGUST 2014 路 VOL.8 NO.8

Trendi upset in $ 900,000 Rainbow Futurity pg. 5

SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

reBet uRACING NEWS NE EWS N EWS

CONTENTS AUGUST 2014

PUBLISHER: EUGENE HEATHMAN Cell: 575.937.9330 publisher@surebetracingnews.com BILLING/ACCOUNTING: ANNA FUQUA Cell: 575.937.6849 billing@surebetracingnews.com AD SALES: MANDA TOMISON Cell: 806.777.2075 manda@surebetracingnews.com KENNA RAUSCH Cell: 903.815.0602 kenna@surebetracingnews.com E D I T O R I A L S TA F F : TODD FUQUA editor@surebetracingnews.com MICHAEL CUSORTELLI oaktown_c@hotmail.com MARTHA CLAUSSEN mclaussen50@yahoo.com TOM DAWSON tvtom@aol.com TY WYANT ty_wyant@yahoo.com DESIGN DIREC TOR: KATHERINE KIEFER production@surebetracingnews.com

VOL. 8 NO. 8

Cover photo courtesy of Mike Curran Jockey Larry Gamez celebrates after leading Trendi to an upset over Kiss My Hocks in the Rainbow Futurity July 20 at Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

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Cover Story: A Trendi upset in the $900,000 Rainbow Futurity; plus results from Rainbow weekend at Ruidoso Downs . . . . . .

Feature Stories: Supplementing champions by Todd Fuqua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Racehorse farms imperative part of racetracks by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Excellence in racehorse breeding, New Mexico style by Eugene Heathman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Johnny Trotter: Winning keeps him in the game by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Jockey Profile: Ruby Gonzalez by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 LQHBA Yearling Sale: More racing, more money, more opportunities by Martha Claussen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 It’s in the blood by Ty Wyant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 News

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New Mexico Racing Commission approves 2014-15 race dates; Grade 1 winner Heir Kitty sells for $750,000 to top Del Mar Paddock Sale; Apprentice wins festival title; Arapahoe Park incentive paying dividends; Hamilton, Roberts and Rood claim Delta titles; Substantial purse increase awaits horsemen at Albuquerque; Dozen stakes performers nominated to AA Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs; R.D. Hubbard speaks to the state of the horseracing industry

Race Recaps: Quarter Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Results from Los Alamitos Race Course; Arapahoe Park; Delta Downs; Canterbury Park; Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Thoroughbred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Results from Los Alamitos Race Course; Arapahoe Park; Canterbury Park; Ruidoso Downs; Emerald Downs

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COVER STORY

Trendi upset

in the $900,000 Rainbow Futurity

onsider his hocks kissed. July 20 • Ruidoso Downs William Smith’s Trendi pulled Race Track, NM off the upset of the year at 44-1 odds by handing number-one-ranked Kiss My Hocks his first defeat in the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Trendi defeated Kiss My Hocks by a neck and it was another neck back to third-place finisher Eagle On The Fly. The Larry Gamez-ridden Trendi covered the 400 yards in 19.525 seconds. Trendi got off to a quick start. “Then she hit a slick spot and I had to pick her up,” said jockey Larry Gamez. “She came a running at the end. I knew that I had it won. “That was a big win, now it’s on to the All American (Futurity).” Trials to the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity will be Aug. 14-15 at Ruidoso Downs. This could be turning into a sister-brother act. Trendi’s full brother, Stolis Winner, won the 2008 Rainbow Futurity and then went on to win the All American Futurity and was named At top, Trendi, far right, pulls oﬀ a victory world champion as a two-year-old. With in the Rainbow Futurity, July 20, at Ruidoso that breeding, breeder Jerry Windham Downs. Trendi was just fast enough to beat a sold Trendi to Smith for $210,000 at the determined Kiss My Hocks, far left, to deny the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Trendi and gelding a shot at the All American Triple Crown. Stolis Winner are each by Stoli and out Above, Trendi trainer Wes Giles flashes a smile of Veva Jean. while riding back from the starting gate. Trendi won her first two starts, Top photo courtesy of Roberta Harris, including her Ruidoso Futurity trial, and Ruidoso Downs Race Track; above photo courtesy of Mike Curran then was second to Logans Zoomin in

their Rainbow Futurity trial as the 17-10 favorite. She was the second-fastest qualifier on the second day of Rainbow Futurity trials. That was the day when the three fastest qualifiers, including Trendi, came out of the first trial. “When I got her, she had already won (a maiden race at Delta Downs),” said trainer Wes Giles, who won the 2007 Rainbow Futurity with Wild Six. “If she would have run in the topthree I would have been happy. But, of course, you always want to win,” said Giles. “She can’t read, so she wasn’t worried (about Kiss My Hocks).” Conda Maze and Tyler Graham’s Kiss My Hocks, the dominating 3-10 favorite, sustained his first setback after reeling off five-straight wins on his way to being ranked as the numberone two-year-old in the weekly AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com national poll. The son of Tempting Dash won the Grade 2, $564,000 Sam Houston Futurity and the Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity during his winning streak. It also ended his chances of taking the $4 million All American Triple Crown Bonus, which has never been paid. It goes to the connections of any horse who can win the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities at Ruidoso Downs. The Toby Keeton-trained Kiss My Hocks did not have the cleanest of trips SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 5

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COVER STORY from the outside post position. “He lost his footing (at the start) and stumbled into (Jm Miracle). Trendi was gone and we just couldn’t run her down,” said jockey Cody Jensen. He was attempting to become the second jockey to take the Rainbow Derby and the Rainbow Futurity during the same year. He won the Rainbow Derby with Houdini a day earlier. Martin Ibarra’s third-place finisher Eagle On The Fly, a daughter of One Famous Eagle, was trying for her thirdstraight win. She was a non-qualifying winner of her Ruidoso Futurity trial in her career debut and then won her Rainbow Futurity trial by one length.

Tf Cajun Cartel wins Juvenile

In the $50,000 Rainbow Juvenile, Ascencion Fernandez Jr.’s Tf Cajun Cartel was able to hold off a furious closing charge from You N Me to score his second win in his third career start. Tf Cajun Cartel got a clean break from the gate under Tanner Thedford and surged to the lead in the 400-yard test for horses who did not qualify for the Rainbow Futurity. The Corona Cartel son held on to win by head with a 19.773 time. The Fernando Carrete-trained colt was fourth in a maiden race at Remington Park and then won his Rainbow Futurity trial by a neck in a non-qualifying 19.732 for 400 yards. You N Me, ridden by Joe Badilla Jr., is still a maiden after three starts, however the Teller Cartel daughter has a promising future after making her eye-catching late run to nearly win. She was third in her previous start. Valeriano Racing Stables’ Chasin Mojo was one-half length back for third. The Keeton-trained gelding won his maiden at Ruidoso Downs on June 8 and then was second in his Rainbow Futurity trial.

Cody Jensen and Houdini head out to run the 2014 Ruidoso Derby. The pair won the million-dollar race from the outside. Photo courtesy of Mike Curran

Tf Cajun Cartel, Tanner Thedford up, wins the Rainbow Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs July 20. Photo courtesy of Roberta Harris, Ruidoso Downs Trace Track

Houdini breaks through

Ellen Kennedy Living Trust’s homebred Houdini broke through with his first stakes win when he rallied on the outside to take the Grade 1, $1,048,682 Rainbow Derby July 19 at Ruidoso Downs. Houdini had been second in the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity, second in the $720,000 Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Futurity, second in the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes,

third in the Grade 1, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship and had a very troubled trip in the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity. But, that’s all in the past now after scoring the Rainbow Derby victory. “He’s not a bridesmaid anymore. He always ran good races, but never quite got the job done,” said winning rider Cody Jensen, who has now won five of the last nine Rainbow derbies. “This has been a very nice race for me.” Houdini started from the outside post position and “he had a very clean trip,” said Jensen. “He had a little stumble that actually pushed him forward.” He took control of the race in the final 50 yards. A gelded son of Valiant Hero, Houdini crossed the finish line one-half length ahead of Her O Don Won while Hes Relentless was another head back in third. A Ruidoso summer campaign was always the year’s plan for Houdini. He came back bouncing fastest qualifier at 21.376 seconds for 440 yards after winning his trial by a head over champion Kates Dynasty. Richard Scott’s runner-up Her O Don Won set the fastestqualifying time of 21.323 for trainer Russell Harris. Another gelded son of Valiant Hero, Her O Don Won was second by a SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 7

COVER STORY neck in last year’s Grade 1, $409,000 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park. Third-place finisher Hes Relentless, trained by Jason Olmstead, had a clean trip from the inside post position and was in contention until Houdini unleashed his final kick. The One Famous Eagle son was a close second in last year’s Heritage Place Futurity, was fourth in the Texas Classic Futurity and qualified for the All American Futurity. He is owned by R. D. Hubbard, Tom Maher, William Maher and Johnny Cope.

Rock Princess rocks Corona Cartel

Supporting the Rainbow Derby was the first running of the $100,000 Corona Cartel, won by Tammy Johnson and Jack Manning’s homebred Rock Princess. In the 440-yard Corona Cartel, Rock Princess pulled off a stunning 35-1 upset win while prevailing over 10-1 outsider Winter Is Coming by a nose. Cr Tuckernuck was neck back for third in a very tight finish. Rock Princess, a Rock Solid Jess filly trained by Johnson, covered the 440 yards in 21.458 after winning her maiden just two starts ago in her ninth career out. She was third in her Rainbow Derby trial. “She has a huge heart. We and Rock Solid Jess (her father) we bred and raced that filly,” Johnson said. “We’re very proud of her.” Down Side Magician overcame a troubled start to grab the lead and held his advantage until about 100 yards from the wire. The top-three finishers then rallied while Down Side Magician finished fourth, just a nose behind CR Tuckernuck.

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Rock Princess (6) sticks her nose out ahead of the field in the Corona Cartel Stakes, July 19, at Ruidoso Downs. Photo courtesy of Ty Wyant

Runner-up Winter Is Coming was second in the 2013 $85,000 All American Juvenile and was second behind J Bar in their Rainbow Derby trial. Next up for Rock Princess is the All American Derby Trials Aug. 16. “She’ll be up against the toughest in the country, but that’s Ruidoso. That’s what you expect,” Johnson said. “We’ll still come into these trials as a dark horse. To me, the All American is one of the toughest races in the country.”

Supplementing champions

By Todd Fuqua

ike any athlete, a healthy diet is as important to racehorses as it is to humans. Just like their human counterparts, horses have access to dietary supplements that can propel them to super-equine achievements. CalDensity is one of the more trusted products providing supplements for the racehorse industry, and they prove that not all supplements are created the same. “Blended from the best quality ingredients, 17 in all, CalDensity stands alone in quality and results from breeding and conditioning, to race,” said Jim Criggall, President and CEO of Process Managers, primary contributor to the development of CalDensity. “Improving your horses’ health and saving money, CalDensity formulas can eliminate dramatic operating costs.” Success of trainers and horses using CalDensity products testifies to their effectiveness. Among the winning racers using CalDensity this year are Kiss My Hocks – winner of the Sam Houston and Ruidoso futurities – Ruidoso Derby winner Rock You and Heritage Place Futurity champion Lovethewayyoulie. Also included is Trendi, the horse that became the first to ever beat Kiss My Hocks in a race while winning the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. “CalDensity Black Label is one of the single most important products I feed, “ said Kiss My Hocks co-owner Tyler Graham. “It helps me raise and maintain horses to the peak of their performance and holds them together from the inside out, building a strong foundation that can handle the stress of this sport. There is no substitute.” “I have no doubt that Rock You is performing at the top of his game because CalDensity allows him to use the great training from Eddie Willis,” said owner Micah Tyler Graham, McKinny. “Rock You has been fed CalDensity co-owner of Kiss Black Label since September 2012 and has My Hocks. remained sound and feeling great. Reliance Courtesy photo Ranches is a firm believer that a great horse

A look at the ingredients and process it takes to create CalDensity nutrition supplemental products. At right, CalDensity Black Label is one of the most popular products on the market today. The horses think it tastes pretty good, too. Photos courtesy of CalDensity

starts with a great foundation that only CalDensity can provide.” From gestation, to yearling preparation and race training, CalDensity is a supplement aimed to ultimately reduce injuries. That endurance is what has given these horses their success. “Studies show the addition of digestible organic calcium found in CalDensity is absorbed more readily when fed in smaller amounts on a daily basis. Large amounts of calcium carbonate are just washed out,” Criggall said. “CalDensity’s aim is to increase bone density and possibly reduce injuries, especially during the heavy training they undergo while their skeleton is still maturing. Mares fed CalDensity White Label pass along to the foals many of the benefits horses fed directly, giving the foal a head start.” Tommy Hays, DVM, reports “After using CalDensity for over six years now, in that time, I have seen superior results using this product in conjunction with my medical and surgical treatments. CalDensity is the primary product I recommend to our surgical patients to ensure a rapid return to training and racing as well as its continued use to maintain soundness post surgically.” For more information on CalDensity products, a complete list of ingredients or to order visit www.caldensity.com. Kiss My Hocks, seen here winning the Ruidoso Futurity, is one of the most successful horses whose trainer uses CalDensity. He lost the Rainbow Futurity by a nose to fellow CalDensity user Trendi. Photo by Todd Fuqua SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 9

Racehorse farms

imperative part of racetracks

By Mike Curran

ULAROSA, N.M. — Many crucial aspects and parts of the puzzle go into the viability and success of any preeminent racetrack, but certainly, none are more important than racehorse-breeding farms scattered about the U.S. Take Crystal Springs Farm for instance. Originally started in Kentucky in 1985, and since relocated, it is now in its seventh prosperous year in Tularosa and employs 15 people. Owned and operated by R.D. Hubbard, this imposing horse farm consists of 320 well-watered acres, which increased the medium-sized Blue Grass operation by 85 acres. And for 28 of those 29 years, Tom Goncharoff has been Hubbard’s highly responsible farm manager. The stress of that position – answerable for tens-of-thousands of dollars in valuable horseflesh – is hard to imagine.

All about safety

The Crystal Springs operation is replete with three state-ofthe-art modern barns, which include 100 stalls. Black-painted wood fences partition different sections of the grazing acreage. If you think most horse farm wood fences are white in color you would be wrong. “Black is the preferred color of wood fences because it is durable,” Goncharoff explained. “White has to be painted every year.” Why is wood the material of choice rather than metal you might ask? Above, Shown are just a few of the valued equine athletes grazing on plentiful water-fed grass beneath the wide-open New Mexican sky. At right, the Crystal Springs Farm in Tularosa has been in full operation now for seven years and includes 325 acres. Photos courtesy of Mike Curran 10 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

“If a horse hits a wood fence it will usually break,” Goncharoff disclosed. “That can reduce the chance of a horse being injured. It’s cheaper to fix the fence. All the designs at Crystal Springs are done with the safety of the horse in mind and to provide the best environment for equine athletes. Everything that is done here is done with the horse’s welfare in mind.” The farm itself sits on top of the Tularosa Basin aquifer. “This location was primarily selected for its plentiful water supply and close proximity to Ruidoso Downs Race Track,” Goncharoff said. “The water is hard and that’s OK to irrigate the grazing pastures and alfalfa growth but drinking water has to be treated for human and horse consumption. The alfalfa endeavor is used on the farm and also sold to the public.

Future racers

There are 30 stalls in the foaling barn and this year Hubbard’s operation foaled 16 potential future stars. “First you have to plan the mating,” Goncharoff clarified. “You breed the best to the best and hope for the best. It is a collaborative affair between all involved parties.” When ultra-sound proves a given horse to be pregnant one person is dedicated to watch the mare. The gestation period

“

You breed the best to the best and hope for the best.

”

Home breds

Quarter Horses bred in New Mexico run all over the U.S. but New Mexico Thoroughbreds race primarily in their birth state and there’s a substantial reason for that. A portion of the gaming — Tom Goncharoff, Crystal Springs Farm manager proceeds at Racino racetracks are given to the breeders and owners of these horses and is a major inducement to buy New Mexico Thoroughbreds. It is a lucrative incentive. Last year 450 breeders (length of pregnancy) were given $1.9 million, 1,141 owners were issued $1.7 million usually lasts for about and 199 stallion owners were given more than $300,000. 340 days. When the birth As of this writing there are 60 equine athletes on the farm is imminent, Gonchagrounds and another 25 are in training at Ruidoso Downs Race roff ’s wife, Leslie, comes Track. to the barn and personAs you can now clearly see, Goncharoff ’s job is acute and ally delivers the foal. nearly 24/7. In addition, for six years he has sat on the board of “Labor is fast and the Gluck Center for Equine Research at the University of Kenintense and usually tucky. lasts approximately 30 Crystal Springs Farm is but one example of the crucial efforts minutes to one hour,” horse farms across the U.S. and how they all contribute to the Crystal Springs Farm manager Tom Goncharoff pointed out. sport of horseracing. They are a major piece of the puzzle that Goncharoﬀ oversees tens of thousands of Once matured sedollars of valuable horseﬂesh and future goes into the success of given racetracks. lected horses are put up racing stars. for auction at the New Mike Curran has spent the past seven Photo courtesy of Mike Curran years as sports editor for the Ruidoso Mexico-Bred Sale for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds in mid-August and the Select News. A Pittsburgh native, Curran moved to Ruidoso having never seen a horse race, Quarter Horse Sale on Labor Day. People come from all over the yet has become an enthusiastic supporter world to attend the Ruidoso Quarter Horse Sale. and writer about the Sport of Kings. The “In Kentucky these sales are a major source of income for sometime political writer likes nothing particular farms,” Goncharoff said. “In New Mexico they are less more than spending time on the backside so but they are still important. The emphasis in New Mexico is on of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by. Email: se7en@beyondbb.com. racing. Horses are a large part of the New Mexico culture.”

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Excellence in racehorse breeding, New Mexico style

By Eugene Heathman

NTHONY, N.M. – Nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande is one of the region’s premier breeding facilities, the AA Horse Ranch. Owned and operated by more than two generations of experience in all aspects of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse breeding and racing. Fred and Linda Alexander emphasize quality over quantity when it comes to the foals presented annually to the New Mexico Bred Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Sale, Aug. 15-16 and the distinguished Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Aug. 29-31 in Ruidoso Downs. The AA Horse Ranch will be presenting approximately 20 top-quality foals in the August sales. Standing at stud under the Alexander regime at the AA Horse Ranch include the likes of Diabolical. Currently the second leading active sire in the state, Diabolical has nearly a $90,000 lead in New Mexico by 2-year-olds to date. His progeny has won or placed in 22 of 32 races and earned more than $1.4 million. He finished in the top three in 19 stakes in four different countries. Diabolical leads all of the nation’s sires by juvenile stakes winners in 2014 (2), juvenile stakes horses (4) and winners (5). Fred Alexander takes great care in selecting the sires that stand at the AA and matching broodmares to develop the strongest, most fit and intelligent foals. “My reputation as a responsible breeder rides on the success of the crop from our sires and in doing so politely decline some offerings as we constantly strive to produce the finest New Mexico-bred race horses,” Alexander said. Ranked the number four leading active sire in the state is Roll Hennesy Roll. Co-Leading General Sire in New Mexico by 2013 Stakes Winners Sire of: Back Seat Roll ($276,114) five time winner, four stakes wins; Roll Out The Band ($148,758 at 2, 2013, 1st Rio Grande Senor Thoroughbred Futurity, Totah S.); Hennesey Smash ($252,006, 1st Peppers Pride H., etc.); Kiss My Hennesey ($219,238) multiple stakes winner, 1, 2 or 3 in 7 stakes and Sire of a $25,000 yearling in 2013. The system at the AA Horse ranch is much more than the breeding of more than 100 mares per season. Alexander and his staff take a disciplined hands-on approach to preparing the best foals for the track. From the weaning process to halter breaking an arena workouts, Alexander closely monitors the progress of each foal and only sends the best of the crop to Ruidoso. “Although we are presenting about one-half of the foals to the August sales, I am rather impressed with the quality of these yearlings which will likely bring in a higher average sale price,” Alexander said. Above, preparing a crop of yearlings for the August sales are just as important as breeding at the AA Horse Ranch in Anthony, N.M. At right, daily workouts and a nutrition regimen develop the very best healthy horses. Photos courtesy of Eugene Heathman

Attilla’s Storm rounds out the top five in the state as 2012’s leading juvenile sire, a son of Forest Wildcat who led the NM state-bred list with earnings of $696,528 boasting 13 winners and 17 starters. Atillas Storm’s crop of 2-year-olds include four stakes winners racking up at least six stakes wins on the New Mexico bred circuit. The standing sires at the AA Horse Ranch continue to produce winners at all levels and Gonna Ro Sham Bo, Sire of Gonna Cha Cha, was an exceptional 2-year-old who won 4 times in 6 starts, including the $205,000 Grade 2 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Sale Futurity, All-American Futurity trial and a Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity trial. Gonna Ro Sham Bo is also the leading stakes money winner at stud by the sire of Grade 1 All-American Derby winner A Real Strait Heart, Out of First By Far, finalist in the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity and Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, and full or half sister to four stakes horses. Premeditation is a top-10 leading sire at the AA – spawning 2-year-old Uncle Fudge, runner-up in 2014 Copper Top Futurity; sire of Mr. Wizard ($392,283, New Mexico State University H., Rocky Gulch NM Classic Cup Championship), Double Smart ($347,698, Rocky Gulch NM Classic Cup Championship S.), first crop champion 2 year old. Run Like Fire ($276,342, NM Cup Classic Juvenile, NM Breeder’s Derby), Beau Wizer ($269,266, Pepsi Cola S.), Devons Spirit ($213,681, Russell and Hellen Foutz Distaff) with 40 percent 2-yearold winners from starters lifetime. Southwestern Heat is yet another fine sire for the AA team. Zuellas Heat won her career debut in a maiden special weight at Sunland Park in 21.22 seconds, nearly matching the track record. By Speightstown, 2nd Leading Sire in 2013 and his 23 stakes winners recorded the most stakes wins, 36. Out of champion 3-year-old filly Xtra Heat, Grade 1 winner of 26 of 35 starts and $2,389,635, a 2014 Hall of Fame nominee and a Broodmare sire by Dixieland Band,which was a top 10 broodmare sire last year. Alexander offers a complete nutrition and exercise programs with year-round boarding in addition to artificial insemination, cool semen, sales preparation and race horse rehabilitation services. They are located at 1713 W. Washington in Anthony, N.M. 88021; www.aaranch.org. Eugene Heathman is a native of New Mexico, and in 2002 embarked on a real estate career in West Texas and New Mexico. Heathman developed a startup newspaper and website into Lincoln County’s No. 1 award winner as managing editor for the Ruidoso Free Press. He maintains a strong broadcast and online news and entertainment territory for MTD Radio, encompassing all of southcentral and southeastern New Mexico as well as reaching into parts of West Texas. SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 13

Johnny Trotter:

Winning keeps him in the game R By Mike Curran

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. – When you first meet Johnny Trotter you get an initial impression that he’s a typical laid-back, successful Texan. But that’s not really the case. While it’s true he’s always respectful, and appears to be relaxed most of the time, there’s far more going on within him than meets the eye. He thinks things out to the end, acts out his dreams with open eyes and makes them a reality. That is what portends his achievements.

Marriage

Take this case in point: Sixteen years ago, while on a date in Ruidoso (to see the All American Futurity) with his girlfriend and neighbor, Jana, he thought he would impress her by buying a racehorse. “I had a horse owner friend who used Blane Wood as a trainer and so I gave Blane a call,” Trotter recounted. “I told him to buy me a horse, and according to some sources (depending on who you talk to), I supposedly said that I would be the best thing that ever happened to him.” True or not, in 1998, Trotter did buy a racehorse and promptly named it Savage Affair. Once Johnny and Jana decided to get married, the soon-to-be bride requested her future husband to go to her dad and ask for his blessing. “Jana, her father and I talked about it and I asked him if it was OK if I gave her a ring,” Trotter said. “ ‘Sure,’ her father said with a straight face, ‘you can call her anytime you want.’ ” Nevertheless, the two were married in Dallas at the Crescent Court hotel. The Bellamy Brothers entertained the wedding party. To date, the couple has been married for 15 years.

Beginnings

Earlier achievements included having horses since he was in second grade, being an accomplished roper – Trotter has won two trailers and 20 saddles and has qualified for the World Series of Team Roping finals for the last three years – and opening a preconditioning feedyard in the 70s in Hereford, Texas with partner Shirley Garrison. Today, the Bar G Feedyard – bought in 1983 with Trotter as president and general manager – comprises two feedyards a mile apart with a total feeding capacity for 120,000

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cattle. It is the biggest such operation in the U.S. There is also a 5,000-head preconditioning feedyard for freshly weaned calves before they are turned out on grass. Currently, Trotter supervises the marketing of 200,000 to 250,000 fed cattle a year. Additionally, he oversees a farming operation that comprises 10,000 acres of wheat and 1,500 acres of corn. Not bad at all for a Methodist minister’s son.

Horseracing

After Savage Affair, Trotter bought a few more racehorses, which proved unsuccessful until he bought Royal N Ready who turned out to be his first stakes winner. In that same year Trotter bought One Famous Lady, Romance Will Return and Royal Ready Too Wear – all mares. “We qualified Romance Will Return and One Famous Lady (the dam of One Famous Eagle) for the Rainbow Futurity and Royal Ready Too Wear for the Ruidoso Futurity,” Trotter said. This year, the Blane Wood-trained, Trotter-owned Bodacious Eagle qualified for the Rainbow Quarter Horse Futurity, finishing fourth. “It was a huge deal to qualify for the Rainbow Futurity again,” Trotter said. “But it’s a bigger deal to have won four races with three horses I’d bred and raced or horses out of families I’d bred. “I like accomplishing a horseman’s dream and that is connecting with Blane Wood and have him purchase a filly to race that winds up being a champion’s mother – like One Famous Lady. Winning keeps me in the game.”

AQHA president

In March, Trotter was elected AQHA president after serving on the board of directors since 2003 and being elected to the executive committee in 2010. His tenure as president lasts one year. “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for your craft,” Trotter said. “The Executive Committee itself is a heavy burden and is time consuming. There are so many issues that the Committee has to determine and that the general public has no idea of.” The AQHA is comprised of 285,000-plus people. “It’s a complex organization with so many disciplines it’s hard to get your arms around – so many walks of life,” Trotter said. “A

Johnny and Jana Trotter Photo courtesy of Mike Curran

session of the Executive Committee can last for three days and can cover the entire membership disciplines – like reining, halter, cutting, timed events, not to mention racing. There are many rules to deal with. “I still believe I was led to the racehorse industry – to improve it – and be a supporter of the Ruidoso Race Track Chapel. Racing industry “We usually start out the horse racing season and go to track with 20-25 head,” Trotter said. “Additionally, we sell 20-30 head of yearlings at sales. It’s an honor to be associated with good people in any business. To me, that’s what it’s all about. “For me, the horseracing business is orchestrated by my relationship with people such as Blane Wood, Glen Blodgett, DDM, of Four Sixes Ranch (6666) and Lowell Neumayer of the Ruidoso New Mexico-bred Sale and the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. I’ve known Lowell for many years from the cattle business in Hereford. “In this business, like many others, you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.” But this gentleman cowboy takes it all in stride and his faithdriven attitude, seemingly, gives him peace of mind. Mike Curran has spent the past seven years as sports editor for the Ruidoso News. A Pittsburgh native, Curran moved to Ruidoso having never seen a horse race, yet has become an enthusiastic supporter and writer about the Sport of Kings. The sometime political writer likes nothing more than spending time on the backside of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by. Email: se7en@beyondbb.com. SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 15

Be Sure To Check Out What Sierra Blanca Has To Offer at the Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Sale August 15-16! IMPRESSIvE YEARlINGS! Hip #4 • 1/26/13 • Br. F. WINWIN SITUATION

(Winners Version-Win Some Tuition, Southern Corona) From the family of 3-Time Champion SEPARATIST si 101 ($889,044), Champion WAY MAKER si 103 ($617,444), etc.

Hip #7 • 3/8/13 • S. C. MIGHTYS FIRST CORONA

(Southern Corona-Mightys First Call, Calligrapher) Half-brother to Grade 1 Winner DYNASTYS FIRST CALL si 104 (2014, $170,971), etc.

Hip #31 • 3/14/13 • S. C. WINNERS VISION

Hip #105 • 3/4/13 • B. F. LIL CORONA AMSTERDAM

(Southern Corona-Amsterdam, Tres Seis) First foal out of Amsterdam si 104 ($37,595), half-sister to the dam of A LIL TRES SEIS si 103 ($103,143), etc.

Hip #106 • 3/14/13 • S. F. LOUISIANAS DASH

(Gonamakeyoureyesblue-Take First Quick, First Down Dash) Half-sister to First Quick Cartel si 109 (2014, $17,358), etc. Out of a half-sister to RK Quick Version si 95 ($28,052), etc.

Hip #108 • 3/2/13 • Br. F. WINNERDUCKIEDINNER

(Winners Version-Queenofreigndeers, Rare King) From the family of New Track Record Setter A SWEET GAMBLE si 103 ($151,934), ROYAL DITTO DASH si 98 ($23,714), etc.

(Winners Version-Aces N Ducks, Lucky Aces N Eights) Out of a full sister to ACES LUCKY DUCK si 104 ($113,935), etc.

Hip #53 • 1/22/13 • S. C. THUNDERBOLDANDLIGHTN

Hip #121 • 3/28/13 • S. F. A SNOW AVALANCHE

(Chicks A Blazin-Run N Pie, Pie In The Sky) Half-brother to Bridgestone si 86 ($26,418), etc.

Hip #72 • 1/26/13 • Br. F. UNNAMED YEARLING FILLY (Jesse James Jr-Jewel Of The Night, Azoom) First foal out of a half-sister to Wranglers Fortune si 104 ($82,826), etc.

(Jesse James Jr-Jessies Snow Angel, Feature Mr Jess) First foal out of a half-sister to Heza Motor Cruiser si 94 ($69,817), etc. 2nd dam is A SPECIAL SNO FLO si 96 ($117,171). 3rd dam is Champion SPECIAL PHOEBE si 104 ($139,963).

Hip #126 • 3/2/13 • B. F. SIDEWINDER SALLY

(Jess A Chicks-On The Rare Side, The Down Side) Out of a half-sister to On The Up Side si 101 ($88,681), etc. 2nd dam is a full sister to 2-Time Champion RARE FORM si 120 ($278,191, Ntr), etc.

Hip #177 • 5/4/13 • Dk. B./Br. F. UNNAMED YEARLING FILLY TB (Fusaichi Zenon-Mercedes Band, Chimes Band) 2nd dam is a half-sister to SANDIA SLEW ($145,229), to the dam of OUTSIDE NASHVILLE (2014, $139,430), etc.

Hip #200 • 5/8/13 • Ch. F. UNNAMED YEARLING FILLY TB (Fusaichi Zenon-Calypso Jane, Cuvee) 2nd dam is a half-sister to SAVANNAH’S HONOR ($331,154), to the grandam of MAGNA GRADUATE ($2,582,816), etc.

Hip #206 • 1/11/13 Dk. B./Br. G. SUDDEN HALO TB

(Iron Halo-Olympic Crisis, Olympio) Half-brother to DASHKOVA ($170,516), etc. From the family of MISS ENCHANTED ($121,311), etc.

TOP QuAlITY BROOdMARES! Hip #240 • 2000 • S. M. BECAUSE SHES ROYAL si 94 (Royal Quick Dash-Moon Jet Janee, Moon Lark) Dam of Grade 3 Stakes Placed Winner Tombstone si 107 (2014, $109,569), etc. Bred to DASHING VIKE for 2015.

Hip #241 • 1994 • B. M. BRANDY RULES TB, $70,235 (Ruhlmann-Brandy O’Brien, Desert Wine) Multiple Winner Producer. Half-sister to BARBARA O’BRIEN TB ($220,695), etc. Bred to MONTEREY JAZZ TB for 2015.

Hip #254 • 2002 • S. M. RIME N RASPBERRIES

(Brigadier Rime-Special Volley, Special Effort) Dam of Grade 2 Finalist CB SPECIAL VERSION si 94 ($34,355), etc. Bred to DASHING VIKE for 2015.

Hip #272 • 1994 • Dk. B./Br. M. MS. APPROPRIATE TB (Sky Command-Tracey’s Secret, Riverman) Multiple Winner Producer. 2nd dam is LUCKY SPELL ($253,655). Bred to MONEREY JAZZ TB for 2015.

Hip #274 • 2004 • Br. M. MS MISTY BROWN si 103, $91,690

(Genuine Strawfly-Glitzin, Coup De Kas TB) Stakes Winner. 100% Money Earner Producer. Out of a 1/2-sister to THE WIDGEON si 110 ($179,055, Ntr), etc. Bred to OSBALDO for 2015.

Sierra Blanca Equine, Agent

Kim Saunders • PO Box 602 • Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico 88346 Attending Veterinarian: Warren Franklin, DVM Farm: 575-378-0043 • Cell: 575-430-7084 • Email: ksaunders2009@gmail.com 14

New Mexico Horse Breeder

16 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

6 Impeccably bred yearlIngs Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale • August 29-31, 2014

4/20/13 • FIRST EAGLE FAMOUS • Sorrel Colt

(One Famous Eagle-Might Be A First, First Down Dash) Half-brother to A FIRST CALLER si 105 ($467,753), Mightys First Call si 104 ($322,797, dam of DYNASTYS FIRST CALL si 103, 2014, $170,971), Fast First Call si 106 ($149,312), Call Me First Fast si 101 ($139,770), to the dam of FIRST CORONA CALL si 106 ($498,818), etc.

3/23/13 • FOOSELAGE • Bay Filly

(Foose-Jess Brenda, Mr Jess Perry) Half-sister to Grade 2 Stakes Placed Winner Booyah Bay si 95 (2014, $77,430), etc. Out of a 100% Money Earning Producing full sister to FEATURE MR JESS si 101 ($539,327), half-sister to DISCIPLE si 94 ($51,863), Louisianafeature One si 105 ($135,898), to the dam of With Jess Blue si 95 ($103,986), etc.

2/3/13 • JP PENDLETON • Bay Colt

(Carters Cartel-Jess Perried, Mr Jess Perry) Out of a 100% Winner Producing half-sister to New World Record Setter ROCK N STRAWFLY si 113 ($123,842), BAC IN THE SADDLE si 94 ($111,550), LET IT FLY si 107 ($78,042), etc. 3rd dam is New Track Record Setter SOLID GLASS si 107 ($29,549).

Sierra Blanca Equine

Agent

2/21/13 • MY BODACIOUS DREAM • Sorrel Filly

(Bodacious Dash-Call My Dream, Calligrapher) Half-sister to CORONA DREAM si 99 ($151,473), Corona Southerndream si 87 (2014, $24,122), CALLMY SOUTHERNDREAM si 93 (2014, $46,913), etc. Out of Grade 1 Finalist CALL MY DREAM si 97 ($34,099), full sister to New Track Record Setter PERFECT CALL si 104 ($96,265), Recall Dreams si 101 ($234,154), etc.

3/24/13 • WHITE HOUSE WHOPPER • Bay Filly

(Louisiana Senator-Fishers Fib, Fishers Dash) Out of a full sister to FISHERS TALE si 99 ($363,312), FISHIN FOR DOUGH si 94 ($108,884), half-sister to Kat Quick si 103 ($63,073), Follow Her Down si 90 ($27,492), etc. 2nd dam is a Stakes Winning half-sister to SPECIAL TASK si 107 ($260,289), etc.

2/8/13 • A SPECIAL BEAUTY (Pending) Bay Filly

(Tres Seis-A Special Sno Flo, This Snow Is Royal) Half-sister to Grade 2 Stakes Placed Winner Heza Motor Cruiser si 94 ($69,817), etc. Out of A SPECIAL SNO FLO si 96 ($117,171), half-sister to the dam of DUELING JUAN si 120 ($475,594), etc. 2nd dam is Champion SPECIAL PHOEBE si 104 ($139,963), half-sister to the dam of CORONA EASE si 129 ($209,820, NWR), etc. 3rd dam is 2-Time Champion DASHING PHOEBE si 104 ($609,553).

Kim Saunders • PO Box 602 • Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico 88346 Attending Veterinarian: Warren Franklin, DVM Farm: 575-378-0043 • Cell: 575-430-7084 • Email: ksaunders2009@gmail.com

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P.O. Box 36869 Albuquerque, NM 87176-6869 (505) 262-0224 • Fax (505) 265-8009 · Rainmaker Patio Home JUST REDUCED $69,900 · www.nmhorsebreeders.com SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 17

JULY 2014

JOCKEY PROFILE

Underestimate this jockey at your own peril

Those who think Ruby Gonzalez is just another pretty face can’t see the obvious talent-laden race rider who is making a mark in her chosen sport

By Mike Curran

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. – Twenty-two-year-old Ruby Gonzalez is fun to be with – as a jockey or just as a person. Respectful and humorous, with an infectious smile and Bette Davis eyes, she’s a welcome addition to any setting. It’s been a long hard haul for her as a jockey but now she’s getting her just deserts. In 2013 Gonzalez had seven wins. So far in 2014, she’s won 11 races, has 18 seconds, 11 third place finishes with 74 starts and has netted almost $200,000 in purses. And lest you say 11 wins is no big deal, consider this. On June 17 she picked up her first stakes win at Sunray Park and Casino aboard You’ve Been Duped for trainer Todd Fincher in the $45,000 Totah Stakes. Not only was it Ruby’s initial stakes win it was the first stakes win for You’ve Been Duped, son of Premeditation. Gonzalez was just getting a stakes roll started. Four days later she won the $155,995 Mountain Top NM Bred TB Futurity aboard Lux, another Fincher-trained Thoroughbred. On July 27, she rode Lux again in the Rio Grande Senor Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, winning against a riderless Born A Ruler, who had thrown jockey Aldo Arboleda shortly after the race’s start. Not bad for a petite, 115-pound race rider who once quit as a jockey. Her recent exploits have garnered interest and have been well publicized – and rightfully so. But if you knew her backstory you might say it is significant, too. “The jockey profession just happened to me,” Gonzalez said. “I never dreamed about becoming one. Trainer Sal Gonzalez went to my father who is a music instructor in El Paso to learn to sing. During that relationship they became good friends and Sal, later on, asked my family to a party at his ranch about 40 miles away. I was 15-years-old at the time. “There was a pony there – a former racehorse – nobody wanted to ride. My brother dared me to ride it,”she added. “I did and I was scared but I liked it. There was no way I was going to fall off that horse. I remember that day like it was yesterday.” At that point Sal Gonzalez asked Ruby if she would like to learn to gallop. “Yes, of course,” the future jockey replied. “A few days later, 18 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

on a Monday I think, I went to his ranch Jockey Ruby Gonzalez ﬂashes a smile in the winners and learned circle at Ruidoso Downs after winning the Mountain to saddle a Top Thoroughbred Futurity aboard Lux on June 21. horse. For the next two years, Photo courtesy of Roberta Harris, Ruidoso Downs Race Track while galloping and breezing horses, I fell off a lot. But I learned to ride and to this day I’m still learning.” At 18-years-old, the budding race rider applied for her jockey’s license and received it when her mentor Sal Gonzalez and jockey Casey Lambert signed off on it. She won her first race at Sunland for Sal Gonzalez aboard Amoroso. “That horse owed me that,” Ruby Gonzalez said. “Earlier on, at a practice starting gate, Amoroso broke out of the gate and started bucking. My saddle was loose and I fell hard on my head and had to go to the hospital.”

Losing focus Gonzalez raced for two months, won four races and quit in June. It was decided she would begin her apprenticeship in January at the beginning of the year. “Now, I feel that was a big mistake because I lost focus,” Gonzalez explained. “I gained weight and ballooned up to 135 pounds. I have consistently battled with my weight but since then I have learned how my body works. I work more now galloping horses, racing in the afternoons and I run a lot.” During her apprenticeship, starting in 2011, Gonzalez rode off and on for the next two years. “In 2013 I decided I was going to give up racing,” she said. “I called Sal and told him of my decision and he said I should be an assistant trainer. About that time I got an offer from trainer Tony Sedillo to work horses. I told him I would work horses but I wouldn’t race anymore. Tony said I looked good on a horse. I told him again I was done with race riding. He wouldn’t take no for an

Lux, with jockey Ruby Gonzalez aboard, outduels riderless Born A Ruler during the Rio Grande Senor Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Born A Ruler lost jockey Aldo Arboleda shortly after leaving the gate in the 5 1/2 furlong race, but stayed with the group the entire length of the track to the finish line. Photo by Todd Fuqua

answer, and unbeknownst to me he entered me as a rider on a horse named Your Lucky Time. I came in third. I felt that rush again and I knew it was meant to be.”

Future plans So what does this talented jockey want to accomplish in the near and distant future? “I want to be the leader of the pack – No. 1,” she quickly answers. In horseracing there are always so many goals to achieve. I want to be a leader. I would do it all again. I love it and I look forward to every day. Even when I’m at home I’m thinking about the horses. I’m thankful to the people that gave me my dream back. I thought it would never happen again. I am grateful.” Gonzalez is fast gaining respect among personnel on the backside of racetracks. “She’s a trier,” trainer Fred Danley said. “She tries every step of the way in a race and uses her head. Ruby is a good jockey.” She’s got a great attitude about race riding and how jockeys

play such an important part of the puzzle of a successful racetrack. She also is well aware of the importance of all the jobs at a given racecourse. “It’s a team effort to make a racetrack work,” she concluded. Mike Curran has spent the past seven years as sports editor for the Ruidoso News. A Pittsburgh native, Curran moved to Ruidoso having never seen a horse race, yet has become an enthusiastic supporter and writer about the Sport of Kings. The sometime political writer likes nothing more than spending time on the backside of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by. Email: se7en@ beyondbb.com.

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SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 19

2014 LQHBA Yearling Sale: More racing, more money, more opportunities By Martha Claussen

with a record-breaking $150,000 transaction on the first day of Heza Secret he Louisiana Quarter Horse Dash, to Flying G Racing. The colt was Breeders’ Association (LQHBA) consigned by Robicheaux Ranch Inc. is proudly promoting its 38th JCM Catchacorona, a full brother to annual Louisiana Bred Yearling Sale 2012 LQHBA Futurity (RG1) winner citing the benefits of buying a future Open Me A Corona sold for $115,000 racehorse in Louisiana. And why not? with Mike and Mary Ellen Hickman Each of the sale grads is eligible to signing the ticket. He was consigned compete in a seven-figure futurity, and by Tate Farms, agent for Montgomery with overnight purses fueled by slot Equine Center. revenue, there is upside even at the Heza Fast Dash led all sale sires, by maiden and allowance levels. 2014 LQHBA Yearling Sale average with two or more sold, with This year’s sale will take place on 45 yearlings for an average of $23,262. Friday, Aug. 8 Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9 at Game Patriot had 31 yearlings at a and Saturday, Aug. 9 the Coushatta Casino Resort Pavilion in $21,042 average, and Coronas Leaving Kinder, Louisiana. The catalog lists 534 10 a.m. You saw 17 head average $18,388. yearlings and horsemen all over the Since 2010, over 500 yearlings Coushatta Casino country are marking their prospects. have been cataloged annually in the Resort Pavilion LQHBA Yearling Sale with gross sales Kinder, Louisiana Patterson named director between $2.4 and $2.9 million. There was growth in 2012 with total sales of Tony Patterson is the current execFree and open to the public $2,962,200 with the sale topper, a Jess utive director of the Louisiana Quarter Sale catalog available at Louisiana Blue colt sold for $56,000. Horse Breeders Association, (LQHBA) lqhba.com or The average price paid was $8,844 with long time director, Leverne Perry, versus $8,241 in 2011. by calling (318) 487-9506 named as executive director emeritus. Robicheaux Ranch, LLC has been “The interest in our sale has been one of the biggest consignors for the very encouraging,” said Patterson. “We sent over 3,500 catalogs LQHBA Yearling Sale. Their impressive stallion roster includes to prospective buyers in many regions of the United States as Heza Fast Dash, Game Patriot, Jet Black Patriot, Toast to Dash, well as Canada and Mexico.” First Down Illusion and One Handsome Man. The LQHBA is the official registry of accredited LouisianaRyan Robicheaux serves as sale coordinator for the farm, bred Quarter Horses. They run two sales each year, the LQHBA which is owned by his parents, Jude and Regina. Yearling Sale and a Fall Mixed Sale. Robicheaux, 34, reports that 99 Robicheaux Ranch yearLouisiana is the leading state-bred program in the counlings will be shipped to Kinder, the second-highest number in try with more than $4.65 million dollars in mare and stallion the family’s 14-year association with the LQHBA Yearling Sale. awards paid in 2013. Patterson projects that the total will “We have been fortunate over the years with loyal cusincrease in 2015. tomers and a great association with the LQHBA,” said Robi“In addition to our breeders’ incentives, horsemen have a cheaux. “Some people think that racing is the ‘Sport of Kings’, lot of money to run for in Louisiana, added Patterson. “This year but there are great horses in the yearling sale that don’t cost there are 148 guaranteed Quarter Horse race dates at Delta, a fortune. ” Evangeline, Louisiana Downs and Fair Grounds with approximately $23 million in purses.”

Increases across the board Last year, 523 yearlings were cataloged and organizers noted a 29 percent increase in gross receipts from 2012. LQHBA reported 367 yearlings sold for $3,810,450, compared to 335 yearlings sold in 2012 for $2,962,600. The average rose 17 percent to $10,383 in 2013 as compared to $8,844 in 2012. The median of $6,200 was up nine percent above the $5,700 figure in 2012. Several yearlings topped the $100,000 mark beginning 20 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity and beyond

Larry Findley, DVM is president of LQHBA and has been involved in the Yearling Sale since 1983. “We are very proud of the growth of our sale,” said Findley. “There is so much money to run at in Louisiana with our flagship million dollar futurity. Our future plans include more incentives for older horses as well.” Native Louisiana horseman Chris Blanchet operates a fullservice farm in Ville Platte and will prepare 50 yearlings for the 2014 Louisiana Bred Yearling Sale.

LQHBA Breeders Futurity Champion Ol time Preacher Man, Nov. 16, 2013. Photo courtesy of Glen Thibodeaux, Evangeline Downs

“This sale has really improved in the last five years,” said Blanchet. “It’s not just about the numbers; the overall credential of the horses reflects really good stock. I believe that the quality of our sale is as good as any. We’ve shown it in the All American with Jls Mr Bigtime and Jet Black Patriot” History has proven that stakes winners have come from a modest investment, and with overnight purses fueled by slot revenue, owners can reap profits even if they do not have a stakes-caliber horse. “As a trainer, some of my 2-year-olds are too immature to run early,” adds Blanchet. “Purses in Louisiana are still very good for older horses.” Findley, as a well-respected veterinarian and equine surgeon, is a proponent of opportunities for older horses. LQHBA board members agreed, so beginning in 2015, the LQHBA will add a key racing event for 3-year-olds. The $150,000-added LQHBA Breeders Derby will take place at Evangeline Downs in conjunction with the $1,000,000 Breeders Futurity. “I’m a big advocate of running horses later,” Findley states. “I would love to see horses run until they are 6-8 years old. That to me, is important for our sport.”

Success stories abound One of the out of state buyers in 2012 was Florida businessman and

rancher, Steve Holland. He and Bill McIntosh purchased Ol Time Preacher Man for $20,000. The son of Heza Fast Dash out of the Streakin La Jolla mare Jj Streakin Illusion was bred in Louisiana by Jo Baya Foreman. “We were interested in him because of his daddy and mama,” said Holland. “Plus, I also liked his name.” The sorrel gelding was sent to top Quarter Horse conditioner Kenneth Roberts, Sr. With veteran rider Danny Lavergne in the irons, he proved his mettle last November in the $1 million LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity, picking up a check for $445,000. There was more praying than preaching when racing officials were closely scrutinizing a photo finish between Ol Time Preacher Man and long shot First Prize Jet. “It seemed like an eternity,” stated Holland. “When I got back home and watched the replay, I timed it and it was five minutes and 20 seconds!” Holland and his team were elated with the victory in the biggest state-bred futurity in North America. “It was a real thrill and a long time coming,” said Holland. “I usually spend $45,000 and make $20!” Graduates from the LQHBA Yearling Sale continue to make their mark, not just in Louisiana, but on the national racing scene. The 2009 LQHBA Sale had one of its biggest stars in Jls Mr Bigtime, who quiSureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 21

etly passed through the sale ring as hip number #91 and was re-purchased by JLS Speedhorse for $19,000. The gelding son of Bigtime Favorite is approaching the $1 million mark in career earnings with a second-place finish in the 2010 All American Futurity (Grade 1), which had a purse of $1.9 million. Jet Black Patriot was another outstanding sale graduate, re-purchased by Janelle and Richard Simon for $20,000 at the 2007 LQHBA Yearling Sale. The stunning black colt quickly garnered attention as a 2-year-old, winning the $545,649 LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity in 2008 and finishing second to Stolis Winner in the $2 million All American Futurity (Grade 1). He retired with earnings of $876,921 and has followed his success on the racetrack with a highly promising stud career. Jet Black Patriot was the secondranked AQHA second-crop sire in 2013. His progeny have already topped the million dollar mark this year.

Yearling Sale grads shine On July 12, Delta Downs closed its meet with Louisiana Showcase Night featuring eight stakes including the $645,645 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). The 350-yard Lee Berwick Futurity victory went to the aptly named Game, who closed tenaciously under jockey Orlando Baldillez. Owner Joseph Landreneau purchased the son of Game Patriot out of the Hotdoggin mare Hot Charge in the 2013 LQHBA Sale for just $12,000. The Kelli Smith trainee won the $265,285 Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) on May 24, and with his Lee Berwick earnings of $322,822, Game is on the brink of a half a million dollars in career earnings. Perhaps one of the most astute purchases in recent sale history came in 2012 when Jaime Torres purchased Fjr Bread N Butter for just $8,500 from breeder Ricky John Broussard. One year later, the gelded son of Heza Fast Dash won the $564,895 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) in a track record setting performance. It’s not just the juvenile stars that make a great case for purchasing a future star at the LQHBA Yearling Sale. Oscar Rohne signed a $8,200 ticket on Kool Design in the 2012 LQHBA Yearling Sale. The striking chestnut son of First N Kool made only two starts as 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

a 2-year-old, with both his owner and trainer, Kenneth Roberts, Sr. feeling that he needed time to mature and develop. Their patience was rewarded on July 12 when Kool Design, at odds of 40-1, pulled the upset in the $217,545 Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby (RG2). It’s safe to say that he will continue to add to his career bankroll of $144,736. Fast Talkin Henry captured the $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2) for older horses. The 4-year-old son of Heza Fast Dash is trained by Heath Taylor. Owner Eric P. Johnson purchased Fast Talkin Henry from breeder Russell Moward at the 2011 LQHBA Yearling Sale for $16,500. He has won seven of his 14 starts with $313,824 earned to date.

Bigger and better plans The sale has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in 1977. The first sale, held at Delta Downs offered 39 yearlings; and on Aug. 8-9, 534 accredited Louisiana-bred yearlings will pass through the sale ring. Officials have been extremely pleased with the Coushatta Casino Resort Pavilion venue, which offers firstrate lodging, dining and gaming. The sale will include online coverage, and for the first time, an interpreter for Spanish-speaking attendees. “We work hard each year to improve our sale and do the best job of accommodating the owners,” adds Findley. With the continued success and depth of the breeding program in Louisiana, future stars of racing are just one bid away. “You just have to do your homework and have a little luck,” acknowledges Robicheaux. “There are good stories behind every yearling.” The breeders have done their job; prospective buyers will have over 500 chances to purchase the next great Louisiana champion! Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.

It’s in the blood

Fdd Dynasty has good year

uly was a good month for Fdd Dynasty in Grade 1 races. Moreover, it’s been a good 2014 for Fdd Dynasty. He is number one in stakes wins with his offspring winning 11 stakes (as of this writing). Fdd Dynasty was a champion at two and three with career earnings of $1,173,001. He raced to Grade 1 wins in the $1,102,000 Ed Burke Futurity (over Blues Girl Too and No Secrets Here) and the $110,350 Go Man Go Handicap. He won eight of 11 starts with six wins or placings in graded stakes. A son of all-time leading everything sire First Down Dash, Fdd Dynasty is out of the Grade 1 winner Dinastia Toll, who was imported from Brazil. She won the Grade 1 Charger Car Handicap, her Z. Wayne Griffin Director’s Trial and was a two-time winner of the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap. She has also produced two minor stakes winners. At Los Alamitos on July 6, the FDD Dynasty son Far Niente earned a starting spot in the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of Champions with a three-quarterFar Niente on his way to victory in the Vessels length win in the Maturity at Los Alamitos. $163,000 Vessels Photo courtesy of Los Alamitos Race Course Maturity at 400 yards. The gray gelding was timed in 19.517 seconds for the 400 yards and it looks like the Champion of Champions’ distance of 440 yards will not be an issue. Nellie Delaney, another offspring of Fdd Dynasty, is in this year’s Champion of Champions after winning the Grade 1, $156,250 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Far Niente is trained by Jose Hernandez, a longtime assistant to veteran Los Alamitos trainer John Wells, who won his first race at Los Alamitos 50 years ago. Wells said after the Vessels Maturity that he talks to Hernandez about. “three or four times a day about this horse.” The strategy is working. In addition to the Vessels Maturity, Far Niente won last year’s Grade 1, $232,900 Golden State Derby for the ownership of Atwood Ranches and Vessels Stallion Farm. He was also third in the 2012 Grade 2, $382,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. Far Niente’s female family has the black-type in the first dam, Shahayla. Shahayla, a daughter of Chicks Beduino, won nine races and showed her class by taking the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap and the Grade 3 QHBC Distaff Classic. She was also second in her Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trial. In addition to Far Niente, Shahayla is the dam of multiple

By Ty Wyant

stakes winner Finding Nemo and West Texas Juvenile winner Deepwater B. She has also produced California Breeders’ Matron Stakes runnerup Sheza Shy Shahayla and California Breeders’ Freshman Kates Dynasty in trials to the Rainbow Derby at Stakes third-place finisher Los Al Fly. Ruidoso Downs. Finding Photo by Ty Wyant Nemo, sired by the First Down Dash son Fishers Dash, earned $719,544 and was among the best of his generation. At two, the gutty colt won the Grade 1, $406,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity and the Grade 1, $377,000 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity. He also placed in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Million and the Grade 1 Ed Burke Futurity. He returned at three to finish third in the Golden State Derby. “He was as willing and as tough as a horse can be,” said his trainer Denny Ekins. “He ran hard and fast. He was just 15 hands, but strong.” At Ruidoso Downs, Kates Dynasty is focusing on the All American Derby. In the Rainbow Derby, she found herself in tight quarters and finished sixth. Next up is the All American Derby trials. Last year, the Fdd Dynasty daughter was named champion two-year-old filly after her dominating one-and-three-length win in the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity. Owned by Billy Smith and Pat Guthrie with breeder Jerry Windham, Kates Dynasty is out of Grade 1 Retama Futurity runner-up Jennifer Kate. Jennifer Kate, a daughter of Vital Sign, is also the dam of stakes winners Texas Icon, who was also second in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby, and Ruidoso Juvenile winner Texas Sixes. This is the family of the Kiptydoo (tb) daughter Kipty Kate, Kates Dynasty’s second dam. Kipty Kate produced 2002 broodmare of the year Illusive Princess and Texas Juvenile Challenge winner Runaway Kate. The Illusivo daughter Illusive Princess won the Alamo QHBA Futurity and then reached the highest level as a broodmare. She produced Grade 1, $1,285,700 Los Alamitos Million and Grade 1, $689,914 Golden State Futurity winner First Place Queen, the dam of Grade 1, $1,154,802 Texas Classic Futurity winner Mr Queens Mystery. Illusive Princess is also the dam of graded stakes winner First Place Princess. Ty Wyant has been covering racing since 1976. He is currently the media relations director for Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park, and the curator of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame. SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 23

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New Mexico Racing Commission approves 2014-15 race dates

that Barretts plans to hold a similar-type sale during the inaugural Del Mar fall meet, which runs Nov. 7-30. For more information on the Del Mar Paddock Sale, including complete results, visit www.barretts.com, and click on the “Sales Results” link at the top of the homepage.

From nmhorsebreeders.com

The New Mexico Racing Commission has set 2014-15 race dates for the state’s five tracks. A total of 288 race days will be offered, starting with Sunland Park, which will kick off the season with a 76-day meet from Dec. 5 - April 13. The track will offer live racing on a Fridaythrough-Monday schedule, with Monday racing replacing the track’s traditional Tuesday dates. The Sunland Park meet will be followed by a 39-day season at The Downs at Albuquerque, which will run April 17 - June 21. The Albuquerque track will also conduct a 17-day meet during the New Mexico State Fair, Sept. 11-27. New Mexico’s other race meets will be at SunRay Park in Farmington, July 3 - Sept. 1 (36 days); Ruidoso Downs, May 22 - Sept. 7 (64 days); and Zia Park in Hobbs, Sept. 12 - Dec. 15 (56 days).

Del Mar paddock sale-topper Heir Kitty, winning the La Brea Stakes.

who was consigned by Steven Venosa’s SGV Thoroughbreds as agent for David A. Bernsen and Paul Makin. Racing in California and Kentucky, the filly has earned $421,272 from 18 starts, and her four wins include a 1 1/4-length victory in last year’s 7-furlong, $300,250 La Brea Stakes (Grade 1) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park. Sushi Empire, a 3-yearold filly by Empire Maker, was acquired for $275,000 by trainer Tevis McCauley of Lexington, Kentucky, on behalf of his father, Ron, and his brother Nathan. Consigned by Sweezey and Partners, Sushi Empire won the 1-mile, $79,000 Blue Norther Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 1. McCauley indicated that Sushi Empire’s new owners will Del Mar, CA likely race her for the rest of the Grade 1 winner year, then breed her in 2015. On Heir Kitty sells for July 19, the day before the sale, $750,000 to top the filly ran fifth, 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Istanford, in the Del Mar Paddock Sale $201,750 San Clemente HandiHeir Kitty, a Grade 1-winning 4-year-old daughter of the cap (Grade 2) at Del Mar. Venosa also consigned Forest Wildcat stallion Wildcat Ciao Bella Luna, a 4-year-old Heir, sold for $750,000 to top Kentucky-bred filly by the the third-annual Del Mar PadStorm Cat stallion Tribal Rule dock Sale, held July 20 at the who was acquired for $250,000 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. by SF Bloodstock. Ciao Bella Emmanuel de Seroux’s Luna is a two-time stakes winNarvick International Inc. ner whose race record includes signed the ticket for Heir Kitty,

Photo courtesy of ©Benoit Photo

a 2 1/2-length victory in last year’s 7-furlong, $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (Grade 2) at Keeneland. Please Hold, an unraced 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Unbridled’s Song, sold for $220,000 to James M. Cassidy. Please Hold is out of the Grade 3-winning Meadowlake mare Collect Call, and she is a full sister to Old Fashioned, the winner of the 2008 Remsen Stakes (Grade 2) at Aqueduct and ’09 Southwest Stakes (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. Cassidy bought a total of four horses at the sale, including Shh She’s Ours for $145,000. A 2-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of the Tiznow stallion Tiz Wonderful consigned by agent Havens Bloodstock Agency of Altadena, California, Shh She’s Ours won her career debut on July 4, a 5-furlong maiden special weight race at Los Alamitos. In summary, 19 horses of racing age sold for a total of $2,147,000, an average of $113,000 per head. The 2014 average represents a 52 percent increase over the $73,941 for the ’13 sale, when 17 horses sold for a total of $1,257,000. Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts Sale Company, which manages the sale, said

Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA Apprentice wins festival title

Apprentice jockey Drayden VanDyke wrapped up the riding title at the inaugural Summer Thoroughbred Festival with a pair of victories July 13 at Los Alamitos. The Kentucky-born and Arkansas-raised VanDyke, who will turn 20 in September, finished with 12 victories, four more than runner-up Joe Talamo. It was the first riding title for an apprentice in Southern California since the late J.C. Gonzalez led at Fairplex Park in 1998. “It means a lot,’’ said VanDyke, who rode only seven of the eight days of the

Drayden VanDyke Courtesy photo SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 25

meet, missing July 12 when he was at Arlington Park where he was aboard a winner for trainer Tom Proctor. “It’s really cool to get the first riding title at Los Alamitos in its first Thoroughbred meet (since the last Orange County Fair season in 1991). It’s pretty cool to go down in history. “It was a long two meets tying together at Santa Anita, so it was kind of dragging along the last couple of weeks and I got a couple of suspensions, so it kind of ruined my momentum. I got here, a new place, new horses and it just took off.’’ Peter Miller topped the trainer standings with three wins. He is three victories shy of 500 for his career.

and owner respectively. Hamilton is a veteran jockey who has now won three consecutive Delta Downs riding titles dating back to 2012. This year he was near the lead in the standings all season long but came into the final week of racing one win behind David Alvarez. He then proceeded to reel off nine tallies to close out the meeting with a total of 49 from 262 mounts. Alvarez could only muster three trips to the winner’s circle during the final four days of action and wound up second with 44. Rounding out the top 10 jockeys following Hamilton and Alvarez were Alfonso Lujan (31), Danny Lavergne (28), Donell Blake (24), Jorge Linares (22), Gilbert Ortiz (22), Garrett Medina (20), Martin Rubalcava (19), and Eddi Martinez (18). The 50-year-old Hamilton, who resides in Newton, Texas, also led all jockeys in terms of mount earnings during the seaArapahoe Park, son with a total of $890,566. His At top, Sudies Storm wins a race July 11 at Arapahoe Park, a benefiAurora, CO richest and only stakes victory of ciary of the track’s Race-Day Medication-Free Incentive program. the meet came with Fast Talkin Arapahoe Park incentive Above, Belle Lorena wins July 18. Henry in the $100,000 Louisiana paying dividends Photos courtesy of Coady Photography Classic (RG2) on closing night. One month into Arapahoe Kenneth Roberts, Sr. was out at the end of the season Wadleigh, trained by Temple Park’s pioneering Race-Day unstoppable at Delta Downs in that concludes Aug. 17. Rushton, and ridden by Travis Medication-Free Incentive 2014 as he saddled 50 winners Wales, broke her maiden July program has produced three to Heath Taylor’s 33. Roberts, 11 and then won an allowance bonuses that will be paid to who makes his home near the race July 19. Belle Lorena, a trainers who have won with racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, 4-year-old Arabian filly owned horses that did not compete sent out a total of 210 starters by Caraway Teutsch, trained with race-day medication. The during the season. His richest winners have represented two by Kenny Massey, and ridden score came in the $217,545 by Daniel Aguilar, broke her of the three racing breeds at the Aurora, Colorado racetrack maiden in her debut July 18. Delta Downs, The Race-Day Medication– Thoroughbreds and Arabians. Vinton, LA “We’ve made the program Free Incentive program, which was launched June 27, rewards Hamilton, Roberts and available, and we’re happy Rood claim Delta titles trainers who win at Arapahoe to have some horsemen take Delta Downs wrapped Park with a horse void of any advantage of it,” said Bruce up its 2014 American Quarter Seymore, Executive Director of race-day medication with a Mile High Racing and Entertain- $1,000 bonus per victory to be Horse season on Saturday night with another edition of paid from a special fund crement, the parent company of Louisiana Showcase Night. The Arapahoe Park. “We hope more ated by Mile High Racing and 10-race program featured eight people get on board with what Entertainment. The program stakes races for Louisiana-bred encourages trainers to go bewe believe is the future of rachorses and it capped off a great ing, and we’re going to expand yond the letter of the law that season for John Hamilton, permits only Lasix, phenylbuit next year, too.” Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and Joan Sudies Storm, a 4-year-old tazone (“bute”), flunixin, and ketoprofen on race day in Colo- Rood, who finished the meetColorado-bred Thoroughbred John Hamilton ing as leading jockey, trainer filly owned by breeder Susanne rado. The bonuses will be paid 26 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

the meet will come on Nov. 22 when the track hosts the 12th running of the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.

$333,000 offered during last year’s Lineage races. Also, all of this year’s Lineage races will be official black-type stakes. In 2013, only the Quarter Horse stakes were black-type. Several of The Downs’ stakes races have undergone name changes, including four of the Lineage races: the 6-furlong Don Juan de Onate The Downs at Stakes (R) for 3-year-olds has Albuquerque, NM been changed to the Albuquerque Journal Stakes (R), Substantial purse the 6-furlong Chief Narbona increase awaits horseStakes (R) for 3-year-old fillies men at Albuquerque has been changed to the Bank By Michael Cusortelli of Albuquerque Stakes (R), Leading jockey John Hamilton aboard Fast Talkin Henry, far left, in A substantial boost in the 870-yard John Augustine the $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2) at Delta Downs on July 12. purses, fueled in part by revStakes (R) has been changed Photo courtesy of Coady Photography enues from a larger casino that to the Lobo Championship (R), opened last summer, greets and the 400-yard Hard Twist Delta Downs Louisiana-bred first leading owner title at Delta horsemen when they arrive for Stakes (RG3) has been changed The Downs at Albuquerque’s to the First Moonflash, honorDown this year as she saw 10 Derby on closing night with ing the New Mexico-bred son of her 31 starters make it to the 54-day meet Aug. 2. Kool Design. Overall Robert’s Downs’ director of racof First To Flash who was the trainees earned $956,442 which winner’s circle. Rood, who hails ing operations Don Cook said AQHA champion aged stallion from Saskatchewan, Canada was the most of any trainer that, by the time the season in 2009 and last year’s leading Roberts has now won three is the mother-in-law of trainer ends on Oct. 26, he expects the freshman Quarter Horse sire. Randy Hebert who conditions consecutive training titles at track’s purse payout to average One of the Downs’ 2014 all of her horses. Delta Downs and six overall in $180,000 per day, compared to stakes, the 400-yard, $50,000 Following Rood in the final the Boyd Gaming era. His other about $60,000 a day in 2013. Balloon City Handicap for fillies owner standings were Tony crowns came in 2002, 2003, At the start of the Albuand mares Oct. 19, will be run Doughtie (8), Ana Lilia Alvidrez 2010, 2012 and 2013. one week after the conclusion of querque meet, open maiden (8), Joseph Landreneau (7), Eric Following Roberts and the world-renowned AlbuquerP. Johnson (7), Geral Dewitt (6), special weight races for ThorTaylor in the trainer standings oughbreds and Quarter Horses que International Balloon Fiesta. were Randy Hebert (20), Carolos Mary G. Lynne Thompson (6) “One of our Lineage races will be worth $15,000, up 83 Saldivar (15), Trey Ellis (15), Mar- and Alejandro Sanchez (6). percent from last year’s $8,200 was named after Hard Twist, The leading owner in tin Trejo (14), Justin Haug (14), who was a great horse years offered in the first condition Bobby Martinez (14), Vann Hay- terms of earnings was Joseph ago,” Cook said. “First Moonflash book, and first-level allowLandreneau, whose runners wood (12), Miguel Rodriguez sired last year’s All American Fuance races will offer purses of amassed $531,229. The vast (12) and Robert Meche (12). $18,500, an increase of 71 per- turity winner (Handsome Jack majority of Landreneau’s Joan Rood captured her cent over last season’s $10,800 Flash), and we felt that renamtotal came from one horse, ing that race after him would in the first book. Game, who won the $265,285 It’s a far cry from two years honor how much he has meant Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) to this state and to our track. He ago, when several stakes were and the $645,645 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity (RG1) during cut due to purse fund shortfalls. won all three of his starts here, including two stakes races. This year’s Downs purse structhe season. The Lee Berwick “And Albuquerque is ture includes a track-record marked the richest American known all over as the balloon stakes schedule worth more Quarter Horse racing in track capital of the world,” he added. than $1.8 million. Once again, history dating back to 1973. the highlight of the meet will be “Until now, we didn’t have a Delta Downs now looks stakes race name to reflect that.” Lineage weekend, Aug. 23-24. forward to its 2014-15 ThorThe Downs at AlbuquerLineage weekend will feature oughbred season, which kicks que meet will also include a off on Oct. 15 and runs through nine official New Mexico-bred stakes – five for Thoroughbreds 17-day New Mexico State Fair March 14. Live racing will take place each Wednesday through and four for Quarter Horses – meet from September 5-26. The Saturday night beginning at worth $540,000 in purses, an feature race of the State Fair Kenneth Roberts, Sr. 5:45 p.m. CT. The highlight of increase of 62 percent over the portion of the meet, the 1 1/8SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 27

Photo courtesy of Coady Photography

mile, $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap – the meet’s richest race for any breed – will be run on Sunday, Sept. 21. Other stakes scheduled for the final weekend of the State Fair meet will be restricted to New Mexico-breds: the 400yard, $50,000-added New Mexico State Fair Senor Futurity (RG3) for 2-year-old colts and geldings, the 400-yard, $50,000-added New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) for 2-year-old fillies, and the 1 1/16-mile, $60,000 New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Stakes (R) for 3-year-olds, all to be run on Sept. 20; and the 6-furlong, $50,000-added Dessie & Fern Sawyer Futurity (R) for 2-year-old fillies, the 6-furlong, $50,000-added George Maloof Futurity (R) for 2-year-old colts and geldings, and the 400-yard, $50,000-added New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby (RG3) for 3-year-olds, scheduled for Sept. 21. Started in 1946, the New Mexico State Fair Futurity is one of Quarter Horse racing’s most historically significant races. The stakes were split into separate divisions for fillies and colts/geldings in ’91. Past winners of these races include AQHA champions Pelican (1946), Maddon’s Bright Eyes (’48), Black Easter Bunny (’51), and First Moonflash (2007). Cook said that he and Downs’ racing secretary Jim 28 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

Collins, who also serves in the same post at SunRay Park in Farmington, received 3,000 stall applications for the track’s 1,440 stalls. He added that 64 trainers applied for stalls who hadn’t previously submitted applications. “Getting that many applications was bittersweet,” Cook said. “It was bitter because it meant that 1,600 horses didn’t get stall space, and we had to turn down some horsemen who’ve supported our meet for many years. On the other hand, our increased purses are enabling us to attract new stables that will bring better horses here. “Our job is to put the best 1,440 horses in those stalls that we can,” he added. “It’s really no different than building the roster of a major league baseball or pro football team. We’re trying to build the best roster of horses for our meet that we can.” According to Cook, some of the new trainers who received stalls include Justin Evans, Todd Fincher, Jonathan Nance, J. Eric Kruljac, Brent Elston, Bart Hone, Chris Gandarilla, and Donna McArthur. Cook also said he expects about one-third of the Downs’ 2014 jockey colony to consist of new riders. “A lot of these new trainers, when they called to ask about stall space, told us that they’d heard that our racing surface was one of the best in the west,”

Cook said. “Not only in state, but out of state our track has a reputation of being one of the safest around. “And we haven’t become complacent about that,” he stressed. “It just makes us want to work to make it even better. When you do that, it pays dividends in the long run.” Cook added that, in addition to increased casino revenues, increased simulcast handle is also fueling the Downs’ purse increase. “Our new simulcast area in the casino (the First Turn Lounge) has given us a big boost,” he said. “Our main grandstand area is what it is – it’s 78 years old – but our new simulcast area seems to be drawing a new and younger customer base. Where most other tracks are seeing decreases in their live and simulcast handle, ours has been up about 18 percent the last two years.” For the most part, The Downs’ will present live racing on a Friday-through-Sunday and Wednesday schedule. There will also be a special live racing card presented on Labor Day, Sept. 1. The State Fair racing schedule will be slightly different, as the live race cards will take place Sept. 5-7, 10-21, and 24 and 26. For more information on The Downs at Albuquerque meet, visit the track’s website at www.abqdowns.com, and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage, or call the track at (505) 266-5555.

Ruidoso Downs, NM Dozen stakes performers nominated to AA Gold Cup

Now it is certain that the $200,000-guaranteed All

American Gold Cup is the most important enhancement to quarter horse stakes races in recent memory. It promises to have a field worthy of its recently awarded Grade 1 status and Champion Of Champions invitation to the winner after 12 exceptional proven stakes horses made the early nomination payment by July 1. The All American Gold Cup field will be comprised of the eligible leading money earners in 2013-14. The hottest older horse at Ruidoso Downs, Higheasterjet Handicap winner Jody Pops Zoomer, is nominated to the Gold Cup. He pulled away from the Higheasterjet field on June 28 to win by an expanding three quarter quarters of a length over 350 yards. The gelding has proven credentials at 440 yards with a win in last fall’s Grade 1, $394,306 Texas Classic Derby. The other nominees are Dash For Cash Derby winner Captain Strawfly, Zia Park Championship winner Streakn Thru Fire, champion and All American Derby winner Feature Hero, West Texas Derby winner I Azoomed You Knew, The Championship at Sunland Park runner-up Jesscizican, Refrigerator Handicap winner Joker On Jack, Leo Stakes winner Llano Cartel, Los Alamitos Super Derby thirdplace finisher Otoole Hero, All American Derby qualifier The Magic Dash, Sunland Winter Futurity winner Wasting No Corona and All American Derby qualifier Wonderboy. The field will only get stronger with two more opportunities for horses to become eligible to compete. The next opportunity for a horse to gain eligibility is for the connections to pay a late nomination fee of $3,500 by Aug. 1 The final chance for a horse to compete is for the connections to pay the time-of-entry

supplemental fee of $10,000, which includes all fees. The All American Gold Cup winner receives $100,000. The race pays through 10 places with seventh through 10th places paying $5,000.

R. D. Hubbard speaks to the state of the horseracing industry By Michael Curran

When it comes to horseracing and racetracks, the ideas and thoughts of horseman, consummate businessman and track owner R. D. Hubbard need to be heard. He is specific, to the point and articulates his positions with clarity. Why own a racetrack? “We got involved in Ruidoso Downs Race Track, at the time (1988), because the facility was going down hill,” Hubbard said. “We had been coming to Ruidoso since 1961 and this area has always been a special place for us. In 1988 we had sold our glass company and I thought I could do some good in the racetrack business. After making renovations to the Ruidoso track we realized a 30 percent increase in business in 1989.” Hubbard once owned seven tracks but now owns but one – Ruidoso Downs Race Track. “I love the Quarter Horse business and the people involved in the horseracing industry as a whole,” he continued.

Greatest horses Which are the greatest – not necessarily the fastest – racehorses Hubbard has ever seen? “My picks would be Zenyatta (winner of 19 consecutive races in a 20-race career), Cigar and Gentlemen (owned by Hubbard),” Hubbard answered. All three of these great horses are Thoroughbreds.

Ruidoso track employment It can reasonably be argued that Ruidoso Downs Race Track is the largest employer in Lincoln County and has a huge economic impact in its given region. During the racing season the track employs 450 people on average. In July, the total work force can top 500. It is obviously an important driving force in the county.

Ruidoso Downs Race Track owner R. D. Hubbard sits in his private office atop the track’s grandstand. Hubbard has said he won’t pursue a continuance of the local Business Retention Tax, but has also said it would be difficult to keep the track open in Lincoln County if legislation lowering taxes on race tracks in relation to Native American casinos isn’t passed.

field between Indian casinos and racinos? Would he do it all over again today? Racinos pay large taxes – Native casinos “We had some success with 46.25 percent – compared to the track early on but the busi- Indian casinos who normally ness has changed – the Native pay five to six percent,” HubAmerican casino developments bard explained. “That’s tough to compete against. have transformed the playing “If I were thinking about field,” Hubbard said succinctly. “Race tracks have suffered and just coming into this business today I wouldn’t do it.” will continue to do so. Some success comes from gaming (racetrack racinos) but improve- Current responsibilities ments and advancements in “We at Ruidoso Downs the racing end of the business try to put on the best racing is not being realized. This is possible,” Hubbard said. “We enespecially a large factor in New deavor to make betting as fair Mexico, which employs many as it can be and give the public workers. That’s why states sup- as much information as we port gaming racinos at tracks.” can. The better informed our But is there a level playing patrons are the more successful

Photo courtesy of Mike Curran

they will be. “Few horseracing tracks alone make money – tracks with racinos are the only ones who can. Except for one or two years we have lost money.”

Business Retention Tax

What does Hubbard plan to do when the Business Retention Tax (BRT, which is part of the Gross Receipts Tax) expires next year? “It is not our intention to renew the BRT,” Hubbard revealed. “We plan to go to the state legislature and attempt to get tax relief. It’s the only way we can survive the Native American casinos. If we are not successful in that effort, then I cannot commit to how long we will stay in Ruidoso.”

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE Photo credits:

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA: Turf Paradise: Coady Photography ARKANSAS: Oaklawn Park: Coady Photography CALIFORNIA: Del Mar: © Benoit Photo Golden Gate Fields: Vassar Photography Los Alamitos Race Course: Scott Martinez Santa Anita Race Park: © Benoit Photo COLORADO: Arapahoe Park: Coady Photography FLORIDA: Hialeah Park: Coady Photography IOWA: Prairie Meadows Racetrack: Jack Coady/ Coady Photography LOUISIANA: Delta Downs: Nicole Walker/Coady Photography Evangeline Downs Racetrack: Courtesy of Evangeline Downs Fair Grounds: Hodges Photography Louisiana Downs: Natalie Glyshaw/ Hodges Photography MINNESOTA: Canterbury Park: Coady Photography NEW MEXICO: Ruidoso Downs Race Track: Ty Wyant/ Roberta Harris/Todd Fuqua Sunland Park: Coady Photography SunRay Park: Coady Photography The Downs at Albuquerque: Coady Photography Zia Park: Coady Photography OKLAHOMA: Remington Park: Dustin Orona Photography Will Rogers Downs: Courtesy of Will Rogers Downs OREGON: Portland Meadows: Courtesy of Portland Meadows TEXAS: Lone Star Park: Dustin Orona Photography Retama Park: Courtesy of Retama Park Sam Houston Race Park: Coady Photography WASHINGTON: Emerald Downs: Courtesy of Emerald Downs

Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA July 26 Allred wins five races during Champions Night

Owner and breeder Ed Allred enjoyed a banner evening during the 15th edition of California Breeders Champions Night for state-bred Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos. The AQHA Hall of Fame horseman had five wins as an owner during the all-stakes 14-race card, headed by Discontent’s impressive victory in the night’s richest race, the $352,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity, and by Once Over’s win in the card’s highest graded stakes race – the Restricted Grade 1 $100,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap. Allred also won the $25,000 Debutante Stakes with Quirky; the $25,000 Freshman Fillies Stakes with Take A Look; and the $20,000 550-Yard Sophomore Stakes with Sadie Sis. All five stakes wins came with horses that Allred bred. Separatist sired Discontent and Take A Look, while Walk Thru Fire sired Once Over, Stel Corona sired Quirky, and Kiddy Up sired Sadie Sis. Allred bred half of the winners on the 14-race card. Allred bred $25,000 Jens List Jr. Memorial Stakes winner Conquer All and Allred and Tom Seibly bred $25,000 Freshman Stakes winner Bouncer. Trained by Scott Willoughby and ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, Discontent’s performance in the Governor’s Cup Futurity would have been an impressive effort on any night. The gray gelding broke right alongside Steve Burn’s No Arizona and the dueled for the first part of the race. Discontent began to pull away 130 yards into the race, and from there he went on to post a ½ length victory as the 2-1 favorite. No Arizona, the longest shot on the board at 45-1 odds, held on to finish second for trainer Mike Casselman and jockey Cesar De Alba. Discontent earned $148,050 while posting his third victory in five career starts. Bred by Foose out of the multiple stakes finalist Miss Kittys Bar Bet, No Arizona earned $59,925 for finishing in second place. Allred’s He Looks Hot, a full brother to Spencer Childers winner Once Over, broke out from post number 10 at the start, but was flying late while maintaining third place.

Discontent Allred’s Chicanery finished fourth with Fiery Kimbo, Mystery Man, Kickin Your Can, Hot Shot, Dash Of Red, and Hrh Walkonfire completing the field. Allred bred seven of the 10 horses in this race.

Childers Handicap

Once Over ran second in the Spencer Childers Handicap last year to Allred’s Check My Thoughts, but this year’s 400-yard dash was all his thanks to a flying start and a solid finish to hold off Dean Frey’s Snowboundbeast. Like He Looks Hot, Once Over is the son of Walk Thru Fire and out of Look Her Over, who won the 550-yard Sophomore Stakes in the 2007 edition of Champions Night. Once Over has now won three stakes races this season with all them coming with Aceves aboard. None of them, however, were as nerve wracking for his connections as this one. Waiting for the race to begin, Once Over broke through the gate and had to be walked back into the gate. “I thought we were done,” Willoughby said. “He had to be loaded back in the gate and I didn’t know if he would have anything left. I thought that maybe he had run his race right there.” Once Over had plenty left, as he flew SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 31

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Once Over

Moonist

Jones’ Foose Is Loose, who came in after posting the fastest qualifying time, ran gamely to earn $32,287 for finishing second. Ramon Sanchez piloted the son of Foose. Jones also saddled third place finisher Another Storm, a Foose gelding he co-owns with Manuel Guerrero. Well And Good, Dynasty of Habits, Dare To Flair, Flying Top Fueler, Nefertity, and First Rodeo completed the field. Up For It was scratched out of the race. The winner of last year’s Governor’s Cup Futurity has also been Governor’s Cup Derby Ron Hartley’s Moonist is now retired from racing according to her trainer, Scott Willoughby. a two-time derby winner at Los “She’s had foot issues and Alamitos following his flawless effort in the $189,238 Governor’s we don’t want them to become major issues,” Willoughby said. Cup Derby at 400 yards. Bred “We’re retiring her.” by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, The Kiddy Up filly won three Moonist was second early on, but of six career starts and earned he was too much at the end on $164,280. the way pulling away to a halflength victory in a time of 19.573 seconds. His winning time was Freshman Stakes John Cooper saddled the the fastest 400-yard clocking of talented 2-year-old Bouncer to the night. a head victory in the $25,000 Sired by Separatist and out of Los Alamitos Million Futurity Freshman Stakes for Rod and winner Your First Moon, MoonAnna MacPherson. ist earned $81,102 for the win “I couldn’t ask for better to take his lifetime earnings to owners than the ones that I $292,206. He’s also won nine of have,” Cooper said. “Ron is a joy 16 career starts. The brown geld- to train for and Rod is a great ing won the El Primero Del Ano owner as well. Ron has a photoDerby earlier this season and is graphic memory and knows a currently riding the wave of a lot about racing. He cut his teeth four-race winning streak with with Thoroughbreds back East, jockey Cesar De Alba aboard. but he has outstanding knowlThompson Racing and Paul edge of Quarter Horses.

“We’ve always like Bouncer a lot,” Cooper said. “Jockey Alejandro Luna helped me with this horse and it paid off with a win.” A veteran rider with over 600 Quarter Horse victories, Luna noted that he has ridden only a handful of horses for Cooper over the years. “He gave me an opportunity and I was glad that it worked out,” Luna said. Sent off at odds of 23-1, Bouncer covered the 350 yards in 17.669. Old Six Six, Flying Foose, Off Beat, Cold Cartel, Roaster, Ways To Go, and Vacheron completed the field.

from post number six on the way to a ½ length victory. He earned $51,440 for his fifth win in 19 starts to take his lifetime earnings to $144,254. Bred by Anita Bramlette, Snowboundbeast earned $17,615 for running third. He has finished second or better in eight of 10 career starts. Martha Wells’ New Look finished third. Mister Michael, Stel Heights, Henoshersecret, Last To Check Him, and High School Secrets completed the field.

Debutante

Trainer Jimmy Glenn Jr. saddled a pair of winners for Ed Allred. Quirky became a stakes

winner thanks to superb finish at even money in the Debutante. With Cruz Mendez aboard, she covered the distance in a time of 17.519 at 350 yards. Quirky had previously finished second in the La Primera Del Ano Derby. She was also fifth in the Ed Burke Million Futurity last year. “This is the first time I’ve ridden for Jimmy Glenn and he gave me a great one to ride,” Mendez said. “She broke a little slow, but she closed great.” Quirky has won two of seven starts and her earnings of $13,750 pushed her lifetime total to $114,036. Jaime Gomez’s Diamonds N Dynasty was second, while Susan Lucas’ Hannahs Double Love finished third. Ridden by Carlos Huerta, Take A Look gave Glenn his

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Quirky

Native Tea Rose

win to take her lifetime earnings to $258,655. She covered the distance in 19.705. The winner of the Mildred Vessels earns an automatic starting berth to the Champion of Champions. Jones also saddled Mimi Wells’ 7-year-old gelding Forrest Fire to win the $20,000 Sprint Stakes. In one of the most exciting races of the night, Forrest Fire rallied from fifth place to catch Separate Card and Thrifty in the final strides to win by a nose. The son of Walk Thru Fire was picking Matron Stakes up his ninth win in 46 career Abigail Kawananakoa’s Nastarts. He earned $11,000 for his tive Tea Rose won the $37,000 Matron Stakes by a neck over the effort to lift her career bankroll to $326,958. This is the third stakes gutsy Beautiful Fire to post the fourth stakes victory of her racing win of his career. He previously career at Los Alamitos. In addition won the Katella Handicap and Whosleavingwho Handicap. He to the Matron Stakes, Native Tea also has a slew of Grade 1 stakes Rose had previously won the racing experience, particularly Grade 2 $100,000 Charger Bar during his freshman and sophoHandicap on Jan. 5, the $35,000 more campaigns. Las Damas Handicap on Dec. 8, Asuncion Madrid’s Separate and the Stel Corona Overnight Card earned $4,500 for running Handicap in August of last year. “What a great race from this second, while Fabian Griego’s filly,” said Paul Jones, who saddled Thrifty earned $2,500 for running Native Tea Rose. “I had two horses third. earlier on the card that got beat at the end so when I saw BeautiJens List Memorial Stakes ful Fire coming on strong I was Champions Night has been starting to get worried that she good to Alberto Duenas. The was going to get by Native Tea owner won his first trophy ever Rose. Native Tea Rose stayed with Flying Kyle in the Senior strong and didn’t let her go by.” Claiming Stakes for $10,000 Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, claimers last year, and now he’s the Bob and Jerry Gaston-bred got two trophies after Conquer mare earned $20,000 for the All outdueled Front And Center

to win the Jens L. List Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds. Duenas owns Conquer All in partnership with Raul Moreno. Santiago Mendez piloted the Foose gelding for trainer Jose Antonio Moreno. Conquer All has won three of five starts since being claimed for $16,000 in September of last year. Conquer All covered the 400 yards in 19.792. He earned $13,750 for first place to take his career earnings to $32,132. Ronald Skeen and Fawna Knight’s Front And Center earned $5,625 for finishing second. Martha Wells’ Inpursuit ran third.

other winner of the night in the Freshman Fillies Stakes. Sent off at 4-1 odds, Take A Look crossed the wire a half-length ahead of Helen Beamer’s Tavarua while covering the distance in :17.716. This was her second win from three career starts. She came into this race after a third place finish in a tough allowance race that included Kindergarten Futurity fastest qualifier Zoomilicious and Governor’s Cup Futurity sixth place finisher Mystery Man.

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Sophomore Stakes

Ed Allred’s most dominant performance on the Champions Night card came in the $20,000

Conquer All

550-Yard Sophomore Stakes, as the owner was represented by the top four finishers in the race. Allred was also the breeder of the top five finishers in this event. The win went to the Kiddy Up filly Sadie Sis. She was the only female sprinter in this event. “She’s always wanted more distance,” Willoughby said. “We had (8-5 favorite) Look Of A Dasher in this race, but I thought Sadie Sis would do well. She’s always looked for more ground. She’s by Kiddy Up and we just think he’s going to be an outstanding sire.” Ridden by Antonio Alberto, Sadie Sis earned $11,000 for the win. This was her fourth win in 13 career starts. Sadie Sis was also one of only three wire-to-wire winners on Champions Night.

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE “My dad worked with Kash Vessels’ great grandfather, Frank Vessels Sr., in the oil fields before this became a racetrack,” said retired horse trainer John Long shots win Wells. “Once they Champions Night kicked built the track off with a pair of longshot here, my dad, who winners in the form of Martha eventually became Wells’ Hez Stellar and Madison the state racing Rae Baber’s Almost Always True. commissioner in The two homebreds were both Nevada, would were sent off at 18-1 odds in bring horses from their respective races, and they Nevada to race in both came through for their these 4-day meets supporters. Ridden by Ramon that Vessels Sr. had Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, in the early days of Hez Stellar posted a neck victory Los Alamitos.” in the $15,000 Senior Claiming More than 60 Stakes for $5,000 claimers, while years later and it’s the Jose Flores-trained Almost now Wells who is Always True won the $17,500 teaming up with Sophomore Claiming Stakes for Vessels Stallion $10,000 claimers. Cruz Mendez Farm thanks to a Far Niente rode the Tac It Like A Man geldtremendous sophoing out of True Mistral. more named Far Meanwhile, Hez Stellar is out Niente. The gray gelding demof Chicks Tell, a proud mother of onstrated his power on July 6, three stakes winners during this as he held off Jess Being Valiant Champions Night. Chicks Tell is by ¾ lengths to win the Grade 1 also the mother of the 7-year-old $163,300 Vessels Maturity at Los multiple stakes winner Forrest Alamitos. The Vessels Maturity is Fire and of Dash To Tell, who won named after the founding family the Sophomore Claiming Stakes of Los Alamitos Race Course and for $5,000 claimers. Owned by it provides the winner a berth to Francisco Diaz and trained by his the Champion of Champions. Far son, Lindolfo, Dash to Tell rallied Niente punched his ticket to the to win as the even money favor- Champion of Champions after ite. Bred by Marthat Wells, the covering the 400-yard dash in a son of TR Dasher was also ridden rapid time of 19.517 seconds. by leading pilot Cruz Mendez. Ridden by Saul Ramirez Owned by Jose Camacho for trainer Jose Hernandez, Far and trained by Herbert Ho, Tac In Niente’s comfortable win means My Shoe posted her fourth win that he joins Nellie Delaney and from her last five starts to win the Bon Accord as the first three $17,500 Senior Claiming Stakes runners with automatic berths for $10,000 claimers. With Cruz to the Champion of Champions. Mendez aboard, the daughter of The stallion FDD Dynasty, who Tac It Like A Man earned $9,625 ran in the Champion of Champifor the win. ons 2007, is the sire of both Far Niente and also Nellie Delaney. July 6 Far Niente improved his Far Niente in Champion record to nine wins in 13 starts of Champions and his career earnings are now Good things seem to hap$331,125. pen whenever the Wells family Jockey Saul Ramirez had and Vessels family work together. things under control during the

Last To Fire was bumped on both sides and had to settle for finishing eighth. Far Niente earned $68,586 for the win to take his career bankroll to $330,725, while improving to nine wins in 13 outings. The complete order of finish is as follows: Far Niente, Jess Being Valiant, Once Over, Separate Interest, Jess Featureme Quick, Significant Heart, Creole Williams, Last To Fire, Tres Coronas Mas, Time For A Royal Dip.

Once Over and Tac In My Shoe were the other two. Sadie Sis was followed by Allred’s Look Of A Dasher, China Wall, and Mesa Marvel. Allred also bred fifth place finisher Miner Sam, who races for Anna MacPherson.

July 5 Mr Its Country Time on a roll

running of the race. “He came out of the gate okay and got bumped a little bit. That didn’t hurt him. He opened up at the end and that was the race. When he left the gate the way he did tonight, I knew I had a chance to win the race,” the jockey said. Ramirez is often referred by trainers around Los Alamitos as a “big race” and “big money” rider. Ramirez smiles at the thought, but he once again proved it as true with ride aboard Far Niente. “I am thankful that people see me in that way,” he said. “I guess it comes down to experience. I’ve been doing it for a long time. I’m very thankful that the owners of this horse gave me the opportunity.” Ridden by Raul Valenzuela for owner Howard Nichols, Jess Being Valiant earned $27.761 for running second. Ed Allred’s Once Over finished third and earned $19,596. Rodrigo Aceves piloted the Scott Willoughby-trained multiple stakes winner. World Champion

Mr Its Country Time enjoyed his third stakes win in a row, while jockey Cesar De Alba got his fourth winner of the night when the two joined forces in the $25,000 Independence Day Handicap July 5 at Los Alamitos. Trained by Juan Aleman for owner Jesus Garera Garcia, Mr Its Country Time added the Independence Day Handicap to his wins in the $20,000 James Smith Handicap on April 13 and the $25,000 Dillingham Handicap on May 17. Bred by Grant Farms, Mr Its Country Time won the Dillingham by 1 ¼ length and he was just as impressive in the Independence Day. The son of Country Chicks Man recorded a 1 ¼ length victory here while also earning $13,750 for the win. He covered the 300 yards in 15.180 seconds. This was his fourth win in 10 starts. “He is one extremely fast horse,” De Alba said. “All I did was hang on. I was glad to pick up the mount and enjoy this victory with a top horse.” De Alba rode Mr Its Country because his regular pilot, Raul Valenzuela, was riding in the trials to the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Down. Mr Its Country Time has now earned $61,966 in his career. Steve Burns and Cesar Edgardo Muniz Gomez’s Easyist finished second for trainer Jose Flores. The Separatist gelding earned $5,625 while hitting the board for the 10th time in 16 starts. Easyist won two previous races at Los Alamitos before this SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 35

Mr Its Country Time runner-up effort. Eye On Corona, the runner-up in last year’s Los Alamitos Winter Championship, was third for trainer Cody Joiner and owner Moonshine Racing. Valiant Valor, Shake Wide Open, Fols Jesse, Barrel Babe and A Royal Jess completed the field.

COLORADO

Arapahoe Park, Aurora, CO July 13 Kissing them goodbye in Rocky Mountain Futurity

Whos Kissin Carter Aurora, Colorado racetrack in her two races coming into Sunday. “I thought it might come later. We’ll take it whenever it comes. She ran a big race, and that’s what it takes to win the big stakes.” Fastest qualifier Stormy Red Morning finished second for jockey Jaciel Soto and trainer Tim Weeder. Duck Commander, the 5-2 favorite trained by Hammes, was third. Hammes’ Now Margaret finished fifth. Whos Kissin Carter was bred in Colorado by her owners and is sired by Carters Cartel out of the dam Whos Kissin Who.

July 12 Former claimer upsets Rocky Mountain Derby Ncc Firefly, a $5,000 claim in March in Oklahoma, won the

Of the three horses trainer John Hammes saddled in the field of nine for the 350-yard, $121,115 Rocky Mountain Futurity, Whos Kissin Carter appeared to be the outsider as a maiden and a 13-1 longshot. However the 2-year-old brown filly ridden by Raul Gutierrez for owners Thomas Bradbury and Lisa Beauprez came through for a neck victory in 17.819 seconds July 13 at Arapahoe Park. “She was a little behind everyone else, but she kept improving,” Hammes said about Whos Kissin Carter, who was third in a maiden race and then second in the Rocky Mountain trials at the Ncc Firefly 36 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

$67,155 Rocky Mountain Derby at Arapahoe Park as a 32-1 longshot on July 12. Francisco Giles rode the 3-year-old bay filly sired by Furyofthewind out of the dam Jaded Lady to a 3/4-length victory in 17.343 seconds for 350 yards. Jose Aguilera trained the winner, who is owned by Socorro Lopez-Aquilera, and the secondplace finisher, Pyc First Prize Joe. The $26,862 Ncc Firefly earned for the Rocky Mountain Derby nearly doubled her career winnings to $55,503. The victory in her stakes debut was her third in 13 career races. Pyc First Prize Joe was claimed for $7,500 in April in Oklahoma. Design Tobe a Winner finished third. Midori N Smoke, bidding for her third stakes win at Arapahoe Park after capturing the 2013 Cherry Creek Futurity

and 2014 Lucille Rowe Derby, was sixth as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 10.

LOUISIANA

Delta Downs, Vinton, LA July 12 Game outfinishes field in Lee Berwick

Delta Downs hosted the richest American Quarter Horse racing in its 41-year history July 12 as the track presented another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night. The evening featured eight stakes races for Louisianabred horses highlighted by the $645,645 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity (RG1), named after the track’s founder. The 350-yard Lee Berwick came down to a dramatic finished between the aptly named Game and Hemps Jumpn Lajolla, who dueled throughout the race before Game got the upper hand by just a head at the finish line. Embrujo Star was not far out of it as she would up only a neck behind the top pair in third. Rounding out the finishing order was Louisiana Blue Bell, Weetzy, Mudbug, Zihuatanejo and I Am

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Game Intriguing. Game, who was ridden to victory by Orlando Baldillez, covered the distance over a fast track in 17.594 seconds. The time equaled a speed index of 88. The victory by game capped off a tremendous season for the Kelli Smith trainee as he also won the $265,285 Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) back on May 24. Overall the property of Joseph Landreneau has now four of six starts and finished second once during his career. The first-place check of $322,822 he earned on Saturday raised his bankroll to a lofty sum of $485,224. Game is a 2-year-old gelding by Game Patriot out of the Hotdoggin mare Hot Charge. He was bred in Louisiana by Joe F. Gutierrez. Sent to the post as the 2-1 wagering favorite, Game returned $6.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $3.20 to show. Hemps Jumpn Lajolla was worth $5.40 to place and $4 to show. Embrujo Star paid $4 to show. In other stakes activity on Louisiana Showcase Night it was Kool Design winning the $217,545 Delta Downs Louisianabred Derby (RG2) under jockey Jose Vega. Kool Design is owned by Oscar Rhone and is conditioned by Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr., who won three races on the program while also capping off his third straight leading trainer title and sixth overall at Delta Downs.

Separatist Firstdown This year’s $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG2) for older horses was won by Fast Talkin Henry, who is trained by Heath Taylor and is owned by Eric P. Johnson. John Hamilton rode Fast Talkin Henry to the win and in the process secured his third straight riding title at Delta Downs this season. The $60,000 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes was won by Vann Haywood’s trainee Tm Dees Prize. The property of Two The Max Investments LLC was ridden to victory by Dennis Means. McM Fast Dashin Blue was victorious in the $60,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes with jockey Patrick Watson in the saddle for trainer Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Donald Lane Sargent. In the only distance race on the program it was Downtown Forrest snatching the win in the $60,000 Live Oak Stakes with Jake Pierce in the irons. Downtown Forrest is owned by Walter E. Alford and is trained by Carl Crawford. The $50,000 Flying Breed Stakes was annexed by Lets Jess Do It, who had jockey David Alvarez along for the ride. Lets Jess Do It is trained by Bobby Martinez and is owned by Noe E. Pena. And finally it was Jf Patriot Games winning the $40,000 Louisiana Starter under jockey David Alvarez as well. Jf Patriot Games is trained by Martin Trejo and is

owned by Ana L. Alvidrez. Delta Downs will now be dark until its 2014-15 Thoroughbred Season gets underway Oct. 15. The track will be simulcasting exciting racing from coast to coast in its OTB seven days a week throughout the year.

July 5 Separatist Firstdown makes it look easy Separatist Firstdown won Saturday night’s featured $138,000 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs under jockey Jorge Linares. The victory marked Separatist Firstdown’s second stakes tally of the season. He also won the Old South Derby on May 16. In the Firecracker Derby Separatist Firstdown bobbled a bit at the start before surging to the lead in mid-stretch. At the finish line the Isidro Flores trainee was 1-1/4 lengths clear of The Eagle Express who finished second while Daytona B was nosed out for the place and finished third. Separatist Firstdown covered 400 yards over a fast track in 19.434, which earned him a speed index of 98. Separatist Firstdown has now won 11 of 16 career starts and three of six outs at Delta Downs. His exploits on Saturday placed another $69,000 into his bankroll which now stands at $426,541. Separatist Firstdown is a 3-year-old colt by Separatist,

out of the First Down Dash mare Shesa Firstdown Jess. Separatist Firstdown is owned by Oscar Canales Ramirez and Isidro Flores. He was bred in Texas by Narciso Flores. Sent to the gate at odds of 3-5 on the tote board, Separatist Firstdown rewarded his backers with payoffs of $3.40 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.20 to show. The Eagle Express was worth $4.40 to place and $3.40 to show. Daytona B paid $5.40 to show.

July 4 Hezadashinbye digs in for Firecracker victory

Delta Downs hosted its richest open-bred stakes race of the season July 4 during a special Independence Day program. The $278,125 Firecracker Futurity (Grade 2) was won by Hezadashinbye with jockey Tami Purcell in the saddle. Hezadashinbye broke well before dueling with Cosmo Traffic throughout the 350-yard affair. The pair hit the finish line together but it was Hezadashinbye who got the decision by just a head. Quic Carter, the fastest qualifier for the race, finished another half-length behind in third position. Hezadashinbye covered the distance over a fast track in 17.373 seconds, which equaled a speed index of 94. The victory by Purcell marked the second stakes tally of the season for American Quarter SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 37

Hezadashinbye Horse racing’s all- time winningest female rider. Purcell also won the Mother’s Day Stakes aboard Louisana Corona on May 10. Hezadashinbye, who is owned by Narciso Flores and trained by Heath Taylor, has now won two of three lifetime starts and has earned a total of $142,362. Friday’s score was worth $139,062. Hezadashinbye is a 2-yearold brown colt by Tempting Dash, out of the Dashin Bye mare Goinbye. He was bred in Texas by his owner. Sent to the gate at odds of 16-1, Hezadashinbye paid $34.80 to win, $9.20 to place and $5 to show. Cosmo Traffic was worth $11.60 to place and $8.20 to show. Quic Carter paid $3.20 to show.

July 3 Scream N Eagle soars to win in Par-A-Dice Stakes

Scream N Eagle a true affinity for Delta Downs during his career as the victory on Thursday marked his fifth win from six overall starts in Vinton, Louisiana. The sorrel gelding earned $12,000 for his first stakes tally and has now placed a total of $54,659 into his lifetime bankroll. Bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms LLC, Scream N Eagle is a 4-year-old gelding by One Famous Eagle, out of the Chicks Beduino mare Linda Te Chick. Sent to the gate odds of 7-2, Scream N Eagle returned $9 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Laynes Corona On Ice was worth $9.40 to place and $6.60 to show. Braggin N Dashin paid $3 to show.

June 28 Jetblack Gold Moment wins Miss Polly Classic

19.454 seconds, which established a new stakes record and it equaled a speed index of 97. Mercy Hinklin’s Horse Farm, LLC owns Jetblack Gold Moment, who notched her sixth career victory with the Miss Polly Classic score and she earned $30,000 for the effort. Overall she has earned $275,170 during her 14 overall starts. Jetblack Gold Moment is a 4-year-old sorrel mare by Jet Black Patriot, out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Royally Streak. She was bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklin. In other action on the June 28 program, trainer Kenneth Weeks snared his third Alabama Futurity win in the last five years as his charge Kwik Version broke fast and dominated throughout in the 330-yard showdown. Kwik

Trainer Kenneth L. Roberts, Sr. saw his trainees Fdd Going Grand and Jetblack Gold MoTriumph Stable Inc.’s Scream ment finished first and second reN Eagle won the $20,000 Par-Aspectively in the Develop A Plan Dice Stakes at Delta Downs July 3 Stakes on May 31 and on June 28 under jockey Saul Ramirez, Jr. The he night the same thing hapJesus Garrido trainee defeated pened in the $50,000 Miss Polly Lanes Corona On Ice by a neck Classic, only in reverse order. with Braggin N Dashin finishing Jetblack Gold Moment, who another half-length behind the was ridden by jockey Danny top pair in third. Lavergne, used a determined late Scream N Eagle covered 300 rally to defeat Fdd Going Grand yards over a fast track in 15.141 by a neck while Dashin Brown seconds. The clocking was good Streak was another ¾ of a length enough for a speed index of 97. behind in third. Jetblack Gold Scream N Eagle has shown Jetblack Gold Moment Moment covered 400 yards in 38 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

Version was the fastest qualifier for the $59,535 race and he defeated Hiclass Kisses by two lengths with A Classic Roller wining up third. Kwik Version covered the distance in a time of 16.913, which earned him a speed index of 84. The victory by Kwik Version marked the second of his threerace career. He added $30,065 to his bankroll, which now stands at $35,885. Kwik version was ridden to victory by jockey Rafael Fernandez, who enjoyed a riding double on the program. The 2-year-old brown gelding by Winners Version, out of the Its Royal Time mare Crazy Kwik Chick, was bred in Alabama by Legacy Ranch. He is owned by Donna and Kenneth Weeks.

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Kwik Version

MINNESOTA

Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN July 27 Sooner Country Babe wins Canterbury Distaff

Sooner Country Babe won the $26,759 Canterbury Distaff Bonus Challenge by a head over Cute Ivory Girl July 27 at Canterbury Park. Jockey Jorge Torres was aboard the 4-year-old quarter horse filly for owner David F. Rath of Renfrew, Pa. and trainer Stacy CharetteHill. Sooner Country Babe, the wagering favorite, returned $5 to win. Xoom finished third. Final time for the 400 yards was 19.804 seconds. Charette-Hill, Canterbury’s leading trainer, recorded her fifth stakes win of the season. She also won Canterbury’s two richest quarter horses races, the $122,375 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity and the $52,775 Canterbury Park Derby, as well as the Skip Zimmerman Stakes and the Dash in a Flash Stakes. Sooner Country Babe ran eight days prior to today’s win, finishing second by a head to Kool Wagon in the July 19 Dash in a Flash at 110 yards.

Sooner Country Babe Sooner Country Babe has won five of 17 career starts and $69,556.

won the two richest quarter horse races of the season for the second consecutive year July 6 at Canterbury Park. Send Me This Wagon won the $52,775 July 19 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Kool Wagon wins Dash Derby by a length and Defiant In A Flash Stakes Red Rooster won the $122,375 Kool Wagon and jockey Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity Jorge Torres won the $17,100 by the same margin. Dash In A Flash Stakes July 19 at Defiant Red Rooster was Canterbury Park. The 110-yards, ridden by Jorge Torres and is the shortest distance run at the owned by Randy Hill and Vickie Shakopee, Minn. racetrack, was and Bobby Joe Hammer. Final covered in 17.115 seconds by time for the 350 yards was 17.764 the 5-year-old Oklahoma-bred seconds. Gw Shezaspecialrose, quarter horse. also trained by Charette-Hill, was Kool Wagon is owned by second and Royal Diamond CarMichael Pohl and is trained by tel was placed third after Greyice Stacy Charette-Hill. The wagering was disqualified for interference. favorite returned $4.20 to win. Defiant Red Rooster, the Charette-Hill also trains secondwagering favorite, returned $3 place finisher Sooner Country to win. Babe, who was ridden by Stormy “When we started training Smith. Charette-Hill horses finished first and second in last year’s Dash In A Flash with the same riders. Lika Nightmare, with Larren Delorme aboard, finished third. Canterbury’s eighth annual Extreme Race Day attracted 18,915 fans. The day also featured exhibition races for camels, ostriches and zebras.

he was probably one of our top three,” Charette-Hill said. “We had to stop on him for awhile so I knew going in he was going to be green. When they scratched those two I was hoping he would just stand still. He is very impatient. He’s one of those that wants to just do it.” Torres also rode the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby winner. Send Me This Wagon is owned by Charette-Hill, Randy Hill and Jana Harrison. The 3-year-old filly, who returned $4, covered the 400-yard distance in 19.583 seconds, the fastest time in the 27-year history of the race. “She broke in a bit,” Torres said. “Other than that I had a great trip.” Charette-Hill had eight of the 10 starters in the race including second-place finisher This

July 6 Charette-Hill sweeps richest races at Canterbury Trainer Stacy Charette-Hill

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Send Me This Wagon Wagons Okay. Xoom, trained by Edward Ross Hardy, finished third.

June 29 Bhr Guys Flash Me wins Stallion Breeders’ Futurity

Bhr Guys Flash Me, owned by Chad Pederson’s Broken Heart Ranch of Firesteel, S.D., won the $28,000 Minnesota Stallion Breeders’ Quarter Horse Futurity June 29 at Canterbury Park. The 2-year-old filly, bred in South Dakota by the owner, is trained by Bob Johnson and was ridden by Jake Olesiak. Final time for the 350 yard race was 19.083 seconds over a fast main track. The wagering favorite returned $4 to win. Bhr Guys Flash Me has

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Defiant Red Rooster The Zia Futurity offered the largest purse during the twoday Zia Festival celebrating New Mexico-bred racing. The first day of Zia Festival was on Saturday. Girlonthego finished a head in front of Seeyalateralligator and it was a nose back to third-place finisher Tuscan Redd. The topseven finishers crossed the line within three necks, two noses and a head. The Jaime Parga Leos-ridden Ruidoso Downs, NM Girlonthego was timed in 19.516 July 27 seconds for the 400 yards. Girlonthego wins Zia A daughter of ManontheFuturity move, Girlonthego raced to her third-straight win in the Zia Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez’s Girlonthego prevailed Futurity. She started her Ruidoso Downs’ campaign with a nonin a prototypical quarter horse qualifying win in her Mountain noses-on-the-wire finish to win Top Futurity trial. She then won the restricted Grade 1, $392,253 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity July 27 her Zia Futurity trial by a head at Ruidoso Downs. with the third-fastest qualifying won three of four starts and has earned $19,565.

NEW MEXICO

Girlonthego

time of 19.547 for trainer Juan Gonzalez. Ezra Elton Lee and Jason Giles’ runner-up Seeyalateralligator, trained by Wes Giles, was third in the New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity at SunRay Park and then won his Zia Futurity trial by three quarters of a length. Raymond Gilder’s Tuscan Redd was the second-fastest qualifier to the Zia Futurity for trainer Jackie Riddle with a time of 19.510. The gelding won his trial by one-half length.

July 26 A mighty win in Zia Derby Pierre and Leslie Amestoy’s homebred Mighty Moonflash took control of the restricted Grade 2, $139,493 Zia Quarter

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Miracle Snow

Mighty Moonflash Horse Derby at the halfway point and went on to his third straight win. Mighty Moonflash covered the 400 yards in 19.359 with Tanner Thedford was aboard for trainer Ross Amestoy. A gelding by First Moonflash, Mighty Moonflash won his maiden just two starts ago and then made leaps up the class ladder. He was the fastest qualifier to the Zia Derby with a 19.465 time and now is a stakes winner with his one-half length victory. Bobby Simmons’ Foxy Moonflash finished second by another one-half length over Regal Racing Stables, LLC’s Heza Wild Dragon. Foxy Moonflash, trained by Sleepy Gilbreath, was the third-fastest qualifier with a onelength trial win in 19.584. It was the second career win for the daughter of First Moonflash. Heza Wild Dragon, a gelding by Genuine Strawfly, won last year’s $357,000 Mountain Top Futurity and was third in last year’s $409,000 Zia Futurity.

A miracle in Zia Handicap

Miracle Snow got a clean break from the starting gate and was in contention from the first jump. The West Giles-trained gelding then made a surge in the final few strides to secure his 16th career win. He also has 10 secondplace finishes and 11 third-place runs. He pushed his career earnings to above $680,000 with the Zia Handicap win. The son of Dean Miracle covered the 400 yards in 19.324 seconds. Miracle Snow battled to a nose win in last year’s Zia Handicap and came into this year’s renewal off a victory in the $45,000 Jim Drake Stakes at SunRay Park. Joseph and Debra Meridyth Jr’s Jess Got Issues came into the Zia Handicap off a pair of allowance wins at SunRay Park. Third-place runner Rex Hill

Melvin Neugebauer’s incredible 10-year-old Miracle Snow defended his victory in last year’s Zia Handicap with a gallant late run to win this year’s $50,000 Zia Handicap by a game head over Jess Got Issues. Making his 56th career start, Stone Cold Diamond

was three quarters of a length back and was second to Miracle Snow in the Jim Drake.

By By JJ goes to Stone Cold Diamond

Santos Espinoza and Marc Jungers’ Stone Cold Diamond, a 10-1 outsider, ran away from his rivals in the $20,000 By By JJ for quarter horses who did not qualify for the Zia Futurity, which will highlight Sunday’s program. Joe Badilla Jr. was aboard for the one-and-one-half length win in 19.733 for 400 yards. The gelding by First Moonflash was easily the class of the field. He broke sharply from the starting gate and rolled to the easy win under a strong hand ride from Badilla. A member of the Mike Join-

er stable, Stone Cold Diamond won his maiden in his third start in the By By JJ. The improving gelding was fifth in his Mountain Top Futurity trial and then third in his Zia Futurity trial. Essencia finished second by a neck over Heza Winning Version.

July 18 Apolitical Pac fastest, but might not race

Bobby Cox’s homebred Apolitical Pac set the fastest qualifying time to the $62,370 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge to be run Aug. 2, but she could be among the horses who pass on the 350-yard dash to run in the trials to the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Aug. 14-15. There was a similar situation with the $58,174 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge and the Grade 1, $1,048,682 Rainbow Derby. Jerry Windham’s J Bar raced to the fastest-qualifying time to the Adedquan Ruidoso Derby Challenge, passed on the finals and then qualified for the Rainbow Derby. Six of the 10 qualifiers to the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge are also currently eligible to compete in the All American Futurity. Apolitical Pac, one of those six horses, has shown her Grade 1 class. This spring at Remington SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 41

AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow. com national poll, is not eligible to the All American Futurity and is proven at the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge distance of 350 yards. The Toby Keeton-trained filly won the Heritage Place Futurity at 350 yards and was nearly caught at the finish. The Tempting Dash filly was then second in her John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge trial with the eighth-fastest qualifying time. Lovethewayyoulie’s connections are the same as top-ranked Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso FutuApolitical Pac rity winner Kiss My Hocks, one of the eligible favorites for the All Park she was fourth in the Grade Juvenile Challenge trial. She took American Futurity. the early lead and then cruised to 2, $370,000 Oklahoma FutuLovethewayyoulie drew the one-length win in the first of the fifth post position and Cody rity and then was disqualified seven trials with a time of 17.388 Jensen rides. from sixth to ninth in the Grade seconds. 1, $1,020,980 Heritage Place Jose Azuna’s second-fastest Berkley Packer has been Futurity, her start before her John qualifier Moonstruck Love is an named on Apolitical Pac with the All American Futurity eligible Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Chalninth post position. lenge trial. horse. The New Mexico-bred Conda Maze and Tyler Trainer John Buchanan had gelding by First Moonflash imGraham’s Lovethewayyoulie is the Apolitical Jess filly in prime pressed in his first start against form for her John Deere Ruidoso the fourth-ranked horse in the open company when he won

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his trial by three quarters of a length with the second-fastest time of 17.398. The Paul Jonestrained gelding raced in the Restricted Grade 3, $340,699 Mountain Top Futurity in his previous start. Last year, a New Mexicobred son of First Moonflash, Handsome Jack Flash, won the All American Futurity and was named champion two-year-old. Esgar Ramirez has been named on Moonstruck Love with the second post position. Melvin Neugebauer’s Cc Kachina Doll is the third-fastest qualifier and also eligible to run in the All American Futurity trials. The One Famous Eagle filly ran in the Grade 2, $263,636 West Texas Futurity back in April and did not run again until the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge trials on July 18. The Wes Giles-trained miss drew out to a one-and-onequarter-length trial win with a 17.410 time. Larry Gamez is up with the fourth post position.

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED CALIFORNIA

Heart of Paradise in midstretch and drew clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths as the 4-1 second choice. Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux rode the winner for Los Alamitos Race Course, brother Keith, who Cypress, CA trains the daughter July 13 of Curlin for Big Chief Story To Tell wins Willard Proctor Racing LLC. Out of the AweA $200,000 purchase at the Barretts some Again mare March sale, Story to Tell won for the second Jennie R., La Grange time in three starts, defeating favored Bad completed the six Read Sanchez in the $98,000 Willard L. Procfurlongs in 1:09.92 tor Memorial Stakes July 13 at Los Alamitos. and paid $10.60, The Proctor was the first of two stakes $2.80 and $2.10. She’s for 2-year-olds on the final day of the Sumearned $67,200. Story To Tell mer Thoroughbred Festival. The prohibiOwned by Cecil Peacock and trained by Dan Hendricks – the same combination that tive favorite after an impressive debut win June 5 at Santa Anita, had much success nearly a decade ago with multiple stakes winner Brother Derek – Story Heart of Paradise, who returned $2.10 and to Tell prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:10.28 for $2.10, finished 3 ¾ lengths in front of Slew’s Charm ($2.40). six furlongs. Abets Abet and Global Hart completed A son of Bluegrass Cat and the Silver the order of finish. Shh She’s Ours, the 5-2 Deputy mare Haddie Be Good, Story to Tell second choice on the morning line, was was ridden by Joe Talamo and paid $5.20 and scratched after flipping in the paddock. $2.40. He’s earned $118,600. Favored on the strength of a 10-length July 12 maiden win in his June 20 debut for trainer Doinghardtimeagain rebounds Doug O’Neill and Reddam Racing LLC, Bad Read Sanchez returned $2.40 to place. There in Great Lady M. Stakes was no show wagering after the Proctor Bouncing back from a poor effort in her field was reduced to four with the scratches 2014 debut last month, Doinghardtimeagain of the O’Neill pair of Wake Up Nick and parlayed a pace-pressing trip into a victory in Henry’sHoliday. the Grade 2, $200,500 Great Lady M. Stakes Reserved off the pace set by PeradJuly 12 at Los Alamitos. venture, Story to Tell rallied on the outside, The 1 ¼-length win over pacesetter Amgained the lead early in the stretch and won aranth and five other fillies enabled her Hall with something in reserve. of Fame connections – trainer Jerry HollenJoe Steiner, the rider of Peradventure, dorfer and jockey Mike Smith – to complete who wound up fourth behind first-time a sweep of the graded events offered at the starter Litigation Road, claimed foul against inaugural Summer Thoroughbred Festival. both Talamo and Mario Gutierrez, the rider of One week earlier, Smith and HollendorBad Read Sanchez, for alleged interference, fer collaborated to win the Grade 2, $500,500 but it was dismissed by the stewards. Los Alamitos Derby as Shared Belief, the 2013 Litigation Road, who is also trained champion 2-year-old male, remained undeby O’Neill, finished 3 ½ lengths behind his feated in his fifth lifetime start. stablemate and 5 ½ in front of Peradventure. Owned by breeders Tom and Debi’s Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC, La Grange upsets ‘Paradise Doinghardtimeagain finished last of five in the Desert Stormer June 15 at Santa Anita in in TVG Cinderella her first race in 10 months. Later in the afternoon, La Grange, secThe 4-year-old daughter of Ministers ond in her career debut June 8 at Arlington Park, surprised 1-5 favorite Heart of Paradise Wild Cat and the Conquistador Cielo mare Silver Hawk Lady stalked the pace from her in the $100,000 TVG Cinderella. outside post in the Great Lady M., took the Purchased for $17,000 at the 2013 lead with about an eighth of a mile remainKeeneland September sale, La Grange ing and prevailed as the 7-2 second choice. was reserved off the pace, then overtook

Ridden for the first time by Smith, Doinghardtimeagain earned the second Grade 2 victory of her career, having led throughout to win the 2013 Hollywood Oaks nearly 13 months ago at Hollywood Park. Completing the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.59 in a race most recently called the A Gleam Handicap when run at Hollywood Park, the dark bay returned $9.80, $5 and $4.20. She’s won six of 13 and earned $708,766. Making her first start in nearly a year in Southern California after three consecutive wins at Golden Gate Fields and Oak Tree/

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RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Doinghardtimeagain Pleasanton, Amaranth finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Desert Stormer winner Sagebrush Queen despite having her saddle slip forward early in the race. Amaranth, who had won the Betamerica.com Oaks by seven lengths June 22, paid $7.80 and $5.20 as the 6-1 fourth choice. The show price on Sagebrush Queen was $5.40. Clearly Confused, Heir Kitty, the 3-2 favorite, Concave and Tres Belle completed the order of finish. On the next-to-last day of the Festival, there was one perfect ticket in the Pick Six. It was worth $49,180. Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m. The nine-card is highlighted by a pair of $100,000 stakes for 2-year-olds – the Willard L. Proctor Memorial and the TVG Cinderella for fillies. Both races, which originated at Hollywood Park, are at six furlongs. The Proctor goes as the third while the Cinderella is the eighth. Trainer Doug O’Neill has four of the six entrants in the Proctor Memorial, including Wake Up Nick, who is undefeated after two starts, including a victory in the Santa Anita Juvenile June 22, and Bad Read Sanchez, a 10-length debut winner June 20. Both colts are owned by Reddam Racing LLC. Heart of Paradise, who won her June 5 debut by 2 ½ lengths for Hollendorfer, is the 6-5 morn-

Legacy Radiance completed the order of finish. “It was a disappointing July 6 effort last time (sixth in the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes), but Legacy edges favored it was good today,’’ said Sadler’s Onna Bugeisha assistant trainer Larry Benavidez. Rebounding from a subpar “She improved and matured in effort May 18 at Santa Anita, Legacy took advantage of a good the winter. I think she has to improve a little more to be a graded trip and defeated 13-10 favorite Onna Bugeisha by a nose to win stakes filly, but why can’t she?’’ Talamo, who doubled Sunthe $78,300 Cypress Stakes at Los day and shares the lead in the Alamitos. jockey standings with apprentice Content to sit in third DraydenVan Dyke (five wins behind pacesetter and 2-1 second choice Maker Or Breaker apiece) after the first four days of the Summer Thoroughbred Festiand Onna Bugeisha, Legacy bid outside under jockey Joe Talamo val, was happy with his journey. “We had a perfect trip,’’ he early in the long stretch and was said. “It looked like (Maker Or up in a desperate finish with 11-1 Breaker) and (Onna Bugeisha) shot Irish Presence a half-length were going to be in front and I back in third. just wanted to settle in behind Owned by breeders Drs. them. John Jain, Lawrence Opas and “I had plenty of horse when Frank Sinatra and trained by John I came to (Onna Bugeisha) and it Sadler, Legacy completed the 1 was just a matter of who was go1/16 miles in 1:41.84. ing to get the head down. Both A 4-year-old daughter of of those fillies were very game. Sightseeing and the Smart Strike mare Royal Flush, Legacy won for the third time in 12 starts and July 4 pushed her earnings to $151,050. Sky Kingdom wins The third choice in the field American Flag Stakes of five, Legacy paid $8.20, $3.60 Making his first start since and $3.40. last Aug. 31 at Del Mar, Sky KingOnna Bugeisha, who was dom was ready for his return, trying to win for the third time in taking the $83,850 American Flag five starts since joining the stable Stakes on the 4th of July holiday of trainer Carla Gaines earlier this program at Los Alamitos. Trained by Hall of Famer year, returned $3 and $2.60. The show price on Irish Presence was Bob Baffert for Westrock Stables $3.40. Maker Or Breaker and Miss LLC, the 5-year-old Empire Maker ing line favorite against five opponents in the TVG Cinderella.

horse stalked the pace set by favored Magic Mark for most of the journey before taking over when asked by jockey Victor Espinoza. Out of the Kingmambo mare Sky Beam, Sky Kingdom completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.32 and paid $13.40, $5.40 and $3.60 as the 5-1 fourth choice in a field reduced to six after the scratch of Fly Lexis Fly. The American Flag wasn’t the first time Sky Kingdom, who is 5-for-14 with earnings of $367,872, had run well after an extended layoff. He won an optional claimer Jan. 24, 2013 at Santa Anita after being away nearly a year. “He was very comfortable out there,’’ said Espinoza, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness earlier this year aboard the Los Alamitos-based California Chrome. “Most horses like this track, and this horse loves it. He bounced right out of there and I wanted to let him go. The long stretch really helps, because you don’t have to move as soon on the turn.” Trying to end a losing streak that is nearly 15 months long, Handsome Mike, the 3-1 third choice, made a bid on the outside during the long stretch and wound up three-quarters of a length behind the winner. He paid $4.40 and $3.20. Magic Mark, the 17-10 favorite who was seeking his third consecutive victory and fifth in six starts on dirt, weakened slightly to third, 1 ¼ lengths SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 45

Sky Kingdom behind the runner-up. The show price on Magic Mark was $2.80. Completing the order of finish were Old Time Hockey, Huntsville and 2-1 second choice War Academy, who was eased through the stretch by jockey Martin Garcia, but did walk off the track on his own.

COLORADO

Arapahoe Park, Aurora, CO July 27 Get Happy Mister miles ahead of competition

Get Happy Mister continued to enhance his reputation as the best Colorado-bred of all time by dominating the Mount Elbert Stakes on Sunday at Arapahoe Park. The 5 1/2-length victory in the $43,760 stakes race for Colorado-breds over 1 1/16 miles looked more like a workout. Afterward his connections started looking ahead to the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic on Aug. 16. The Arapahoe Park Classic at 1 1/8 miles for 3-yearolds and upward, along with the Gold Rush Futurity at 6 furlongs for 2-year-olds on Aug. 17, are Arapahoe Park’s richest Thor46 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

Get Happy Mister oughbred races and are expected to attract quality horses from out-of-state. “I’m not scared of anybody until they beat him,” jockey Michael Ziegler said. “They don’t come around too often in a lifetime,” Ziegler said. “He is a magnificent horse.” Annette Bishop owns the 4-year-old bay gelding, who is now eight-for-eight at Arapahoe Park and has won six stakes races at the Aurora, Colorado track. In his first start around two turns at Arapahoe, Get Happy Mister was sent of as the 2-5 favorite in the field of five. The son of sire First Samurai out of the dam Sara Margaret went straight to the lead, pulled away without being asked, and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.84. The 2012 Colorado-bred horse of the year defeated 2013 Colorado-bred horse of the year Magical Twist, who was second for jockey Dennis Collins and trainer Sharlot Martinez. Wally Van, the 2011 Colorado-bred horse of the year who won the Mount Elbert in 2011, was a further 3 1/4 lengths behind in third for jockey Travis Wales and trainer Tyrone Gleason.

in the race, ran down the three Quarter Horses for a one-length victory in 45.325 seconds. Ridden by Dennis Collins for trainer J. Owen Bringhurst, the 4-year-old son of sire Got the Last Laugh out of the dam Naturally Clever made up five lengths in the homestretch. Pacemaker Oh Jess Fly, a Quarter Horse graded stakes winner from New Mexico, was second, and E F Five, a five-time Thoroughbred stakes winner at Arapahoe, took third.

on July 13. Jockey Elvin Gonzalez took the 1-5 favorite in the field of seven to the lead down in the first quarter-mile of the 1 1/16mile, $40,000 race for 3-year-olds and never looked back. The Justin Evans-trainee owned by Tony Pennington stopped the clock in 1:45.21. “He ran a great race,” Evans said. “I was really happy. When this horse figures out what it’s like to win races, he’s going to be a monster. He’ll be a force to be reckoned with.” Ima Happy Strike, who had shipped from New Mexico July 13 Rebranded makes mark to win the Inaugural Stakes at Arapahoe Park on May 25, in Colorado Derby finished second for jockey Rebranded came from New Travis Wales, trainer Dwain Mexico to put his stamp on the Eaton, and owner Donna Eaton. Colorado Derby at Arapahoe Park Lookingoodinatux was a further with a 12 1/2-length domination one length back in third.

Thoroughbred Laugh At Life beats Quarters

In a battle of the breeds in Sunday’s $13,000 Leo Beaudash Stakes at 870 yards, Laugh At Life, one of four Thoroughbreds

Laugh At Life

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Rebranded The Colorado Derby was Rebranded’s second stakes success after capturing the $100,000 Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park in New Mexico in December 2013. His third career win pushed his lifetime earnings over the $200,000 mark to $201,010.

New Colorado-bred talent shines Sky T emerged as the newest Colorado-bred star with a dominant 9 1/4-length victory in the CTBA Futurity July 13 at Arapahoe Park. Coming off a 13-length victory in the trials on June 28, the 2-year-old gelding owned by Richard Lueck, trained by Gary Cross, and ridden by Karlo Lopez led from start to finish in the $48,903 finals as the 1-10 favorite in 1:11.32. The son of sire

Lil Rich Girl

Sky T Mr. Trieste and dam Skyline Gal defeated Rock On Dave, who was also second to Sky T in the trials. Red Carpet Runner took third. Crazy Cora faded to fifth in her trial race to the CTBA Lassie on June 28 as the odds-on 1-2 favorite but rebounded to capture Saturday’s 6-furlong, $47,245 finals by 4 1/2 lengths. Jockey Dennis Collins took the 2-yearold chestnut filly sired by Grand Minstrel out of the dam Celee straight to the front and then steadily pulled away from the competition to win in 1:12.20. The Cole Jackson-trainee owned by Jerry and Bev Slaughter went off as the 6-1 third choice in the field of seven Colorado-bred 2-year-old fillies. Lightning Lady finished second with a further 1 3/4 lengths back to Ms. Battlefield in third.

July 4 Trainer wins memorial race for soldier son

Trainer Ken Danyluk won the Kerry Danyluk Memorial at Arapahoe Park July 4, a race named for his son who died in Afghanistan this year, with Lil Rich Girl. United States Marine Corp Combat Logistics Battalion 453 from Buckley, Colo. joined the Danyluk family in the winner’s circle. The marines also participated in a Fourth of July tribute with Sara Shvartzman, who sang the national anthem and God Bless America. U.S. Army Specialist Kerry Danyluk, who was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, died on April 15. His father trained both the winner and the thirdplace finisher, Tm Maddamee, in

the one-mile race for Arabians.

MINNESOTA

Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN July 20 Appeal to the King wins MTA Stallion Auction Stakes

Jockey Dean Butler waited patiently on Appeal to the King, sitting just off the early pacesetter I Forgot It’s Name, before attacking at the top of the stretch and drawing off to win by 9 1/4 lengths in the $55,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes July 20 at

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Awesome Flower Canterbury Park. The 3-year-old Minnesota-bred thoroughbred has now won three of five lifetime races, including the top prize for 2-year-olds bred in the state, the 2013 Northern Lights Futurity. Appeal to the King, owned by Wayne Simon of Tolstoy, S.D. and trained by Bob Johnson, has now earned $97,028. He returned $14.40 to win. Hansboro closed from last to finish second and Granite Ridge was third. I Forgot It’s Name faded to fifth. Final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.92 over a fast main track. The $75,000 Minnesota Derby at one mile and seventy yards is 20 days away on Aug. 9 and would be the first time Appeal to the King would attempt a twoturn race were the connections to enter. “We haven’t decided on the derby yet,” Johnson said. “But the way he kicked home today you never know.”

July 12 Awesome Flower wins Lady Canterbury again

Awesome Flower won the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes for a second consecutive year July 12 at Canterbury Park. Jockey Francisco Torres and Awesome Flower, owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, closed through the slop from more than seven lengths off the pace to win by three-quarters of a length over favorite Gold Medal Dancer. This was also the second 48 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

Az Ridge consecutive year that heavy rain forced the Lady Canterbury, originally scheduled for the turf, to be run on the main track. Awesome Flower, trained by Michael Maker, paid $8 to win. Pace setter Eden Prairie finished third. Final time for the one mile race was 1:38.51. The $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile, also transferred from turf to dirt, was run as a four-horse race after half the field scratched. Az Ridge and jockey Ry Eikleberry dueled in the stretch with Stachys before taking command inside the sixteenth pole and drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:37.288. Az Ridge, $16.80, is trained by Dan McFarlane and owned by Sawyer Cattle Company. Stachys finished second six lengths in front of favored Jimmy Simms

July 4 Sky And Sea destroys Frances Genter Stakes field

the third consecutive Genter win for trainer Bernell Rhone. Sky and Sea paid $2.20 to win. Sky and Sea has now won three of five career races and earned $87,700. Thunder and Honey finished second and Stellabrini was third.

Victor S. Myers Stakes won by Speed Is Life

The co-featured $60,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes produced a mild upset when Speed Is Life won and paid $12.20. Jockey Ry Eikleberry sat just off the pace and on the rail with Speed Is Life, while front runner Slippery Ice set the fractions and Pennant Fever, A P Is Loose, and Appeal to the King chased to his outside. Speed Is Life passed Slippery Ice on the inside with 100 yards to go and

Sky and Sea, the 1 to 9 favorite in the $60,000 Frances Genter Stakes, was never challenged in a front-running 11 1/2 length victory July 4 at Canterbury Park as 10,245 fans looked on. The 3-year-old filly, bred in Minnesota by her owner Scott Rake of Elko, Minn., was immediately sent to the lead by jockey Dean Butler in the six furlong race. She drew off effortlessly in Sky And Sea a final time of 1:12.08. This was

won by one length in 1:12.49. It had been 14 years since trainer Doug Oliver had last won the Myers. “I knew the colt was training well,” Oliver said. “I don’t like being on the rail because it is so deep but they left Ry no choice.” Three-year-old Minnesota bred Speed Is Life is owned by EZ-AZ Thoroughbreds LLP. Slippery Ice held second and Royal Tramp finished third.

July 3 Dear Fay wins Princess Elaine Stakes

Dear Fay, trained by Mac Robertson, won the $60,000 Princess Elaine Stakes July 3 at Canterbury Park. The 5-year-old mare was bred and is owned by Bo Vujovich of Inver Grove

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Dear Fay

Speed Is Life Heights, Minn. and was ridden by Justin Shepherd. Dear Fay raced well off the pace in the early stages of the one and one-sixteenth mile turf race. Dear Fay closed in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Go Go Jill in 1:42.81. Talkin Bout finished third. Dear Fay returned $20 to win.

by two lengths over Sheer Trick, returned $17.60 to win. A crowd of 17,682 wagered $355,506 on the 12-race program. Total handle was $1,115,662.

NEW MEXICO

Ragged Edge victorious in Blair’s Cove Stakes

The co-featured $60,000 Blair’s Cove Stakes went to Ragged Edge July 3, who is owned and was bred by Cheryl Sprick and Richard Bremer of Lake City, Minn. Ragged Edge is trained by Bernell Rhone and was ridden by Martin Escobar. Final time for the one and onesixteenth mile turf race was 1:41.67. Ragged Edge, who won

On Down The Road

Ruidoso Downs, NM July 27 Marr sweeps Land Of Enchantment Handicap

It was as easy as one-twothree for trainer Joel Marr in the $50,000 Land of Enchantment when horses he trained took the

top-three positions in the sevenand-one-half furlong stakes for older horses. Lisa Rehburg’s On Down The Road took the win over evenmoney choice That’s Who while Attitude E Racer finished third. On Down The Road, ridden by Carlos Madeira, made a fourwide move on the final turn to take the lead and raced through the stretch with his ears pricked to win by three quarters of a length. He was timed in 1:32.22. That’s Who, winner of the 2013 Land of Enchantment, finished one-and-one-quarter lengths ahead of Attitude E Racer. A 6-year-old gelding by Desert God, On Down The Road was making his first start since a second-place finish in the New Mexico State University Handicap back in March at Sunland Park.

He was also third in the Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap during the Sunland Park season.

Tons of fun in Lincoln Handicap

J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Lakehouse Fun lived up to her 2-1 favoritism when she benefitted from her stalking trip to rally and win the $50,000 Lincoln Handicap for fillies and mares over six furlongs. Way To Go Gerda and Little Vidalia went to the front in a speed duel while the majority of the field stayed within striking distance. Way To Go Gerda disposed of Little Vidalia, but could not handle the closing charge of the Ry Eikleberry-ridden Lakehouse Fun. Lakehouse Fun was timed in 1:11.58 for the expanding

Lakehouse Fun SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 49

Mays Or Mantle

Lux one-length win over Way To Go Gerda. Little Vidalia held on for third place, another length behind Way To Go Gerda. Lakehouse Fun, from the Henry Dominguez stable, prepared for the Lincoln Handicap by winning a Ruidoso Downs allowance race in similar fashion. The 4-year-old daughter of Diabolical defeated Way To Go Gerda by one-and-one-half lengths in that five-and-one-half furlong test.

Wild ride in Rio Grande Senor Futurity

Trainer Todd Fincher swept the top-three places in the afternoon’s richest Thoroughbred race, the $154,381 Rio Grande Senor Futurity, with Lux, Roll On Red Raider and Glide Path. The Rio Grande Senor Futurity is for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Roll On Red Raider set the early pace and Lux, with Ruby Gonzalez aboard, made a strong move from third place to get the impressive seven-length win in 1:05.17 for the five-and-one-half furlongs. Glide Path followed Roll On Red Raider for most of the race and finished third. Another Fincher horse, Born A Ruler, lost his rider shortly after clearing the gate, but made it all the way around the track to finish next to Gonzalez and Lux. Owned by Steve and Bessie Prather with E. Dwayne Taylor, Lux scored his second futurity 50 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

win of the summer season at Ruidoso Downs. The Quinton’s Gold son won the $156,000 Mountain Top Futurity by one-and-one-half lengths two starts before the Senor Futurity. Runner-up Roll On Red Raider qualified for the Mountain Top Futurity and the colt division of the Copper Top Futurity at Sunland Park. Third-place finisher Glide Path won his maiden in his second start when he took his Senor Futurity trial by one length. On Saturday, Fincher sent out the top-two finishers, Twixy Roll and Diabolical Dame, in the $198,975 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity.

Mays Or Mantle takes Road Runner Handicap

and-three-quarter lengths over DE Lover. The Henry Domingueztrained Mays Or Mantle gained Zia Festival revenge over Roll Out The Band. During last year’s Zia Festival, Roll Out The Band won the $191,000 Rio Grande Senor Futurity by a neck over Mays Or Mantle. A gelded son of Diabolical, Mays Or Mantle was second to DE Lover in the $45,000 Dine Stakes at SunRay Park in May.

Ching hooked up with Chica’s Minister and Kiss My Hennessy and the trio raced side-by-side until the top of the stretch when Kiss My Hennessy, who was between horses, dropped back. Devons Ca Ching then battled with Chica’s Minister before prevailing by a neck. Thermal rallied from last to finish third, one-half length behind Chica’s Minister. Devons Ca Ching was timed in 1:04.08. A 4-year-old gelding by DevSierra Blanca Handicap on Lane, Devons Ca Ching was Devons Ca Ching won a front- making his first start since winrunning battle with Chica’s Minis- ning the $85,000 Mount Cristo ter for the entire five-and-one-half Handicap for trainer Ray Ashford. furlongs to win the $50,000 Sierra A year ago, he won the $50,000 Road Runner Handicap by threeBlanca Stakes for the best older and-one-quarter lengths during New Mexico-bred sprinters. the Zia Festival. Lester Wright’s Devons Ca

Mays Or Mantle, at 7-1 odds, ran away from favored Roll Out The Band to take the $50,000 Road Runner Handicap for 3-year-olds over five-and-onehalf furlongs. Roll Out The Band sprinted to lead from the outside post position in the eight-horse field. The Todd Fincher-trained gelding repelled several challenges before Mays Or Mantle mounted his closing charge and caught Roll Out The Band in the stretch. J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s homebred Mays Or Mantle, ridden by Ry Eikleberry, won by three lengths in 1:03.64. Roll Out Devons Ca Ching The Band was second by one-

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Beau Wizer

That’s The Idea

July 26 Chasing down a win

saddled six of the 10 finalists in the stakes for two-year-old fillies. The Zia Festival, featuring the top-tier New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses, continues Sunday with a 1 p.m. first post time. Twixy Roll and Diabolical Dame set the pace in the fiveand-one-half-furlong dash with a quick :21.58 first quarter and a fast :44.66 first one-half mile. Twixy Roll won with a 1:04.48 time. The Alfredo Juarez Jr.-ridden Twixy Roll defeated Diabolical Dame by two-and-one-quarter lengths. Muy Rapido, trained by Henry Dominguez, finished third. She was four-and-one-half lengths behind Diabolical Dame. Twixy Roll pushed her record to three-for-three and gained her

Festival. That’s The Idea broke on the lead with Xtra Golden and those The Thoroughbred Beau two raced side-by-side into the Wizer ran down the Quarter turn of the five-and-one-halfHorse Storm Chasor to score furlong sprint. Then Xtra Golden his fourth-straight win in the was pulled back from her inside $50,000 Zia 870 Championship. Joan Dale Hubbard’s home- position and odds-on favorite bred Storm Chasor took the lead That’s The Idea went on to the three-and-three-quarter-length with a sweeping move on turn, win under Ry Eikleberry. The winhowever was unable to hold off ning time was 1:04.70. the late rush of MCM Racing, Xtra Golden faded to fourth LLC’s Beau Wizer. in the stretch with Be My Desert Beau Wizer finished oneAngel and Gold Rush Hush makand-one-half lengths ahead of ing late runs. Storm Chasor while the quarter Be My Desert Angel took horse Lionett finished third, second by one length over Gold another two-and-three-quarter Rush Hush. lengths back. The Henry DominguezRidden by Casey Lambert, trained That’s The Idea, a daughBeau Wizer was timed in :45.471 ter of Diabolical, prepared for the for the 870 yards. Sierra Starlet with a nine-andBeau Wizer started his winone-quarter-length allowance ning streak back in April at Sunwin at Ruidoso Downs. land Park with a dominating win In addition to her Rio in an optional-claiming race at sixGrande Senorita Futurity win last and-one-half furlongs. The Weston year, she took the $140,000 New Martin-trained gelding then won back-to-back 870-yard allowance Mexico Cup Juvenile Filly Stakes at Zia Park. races at Ruidoso Downs.

That’s The Idea takes Sierra Starlet

J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s That’s The Idea won a Zia Festival stakes for the second-straight year when she won the $50,000 Sierra Starlet Stakes for threeyear-old fillies. A year ago, That’s The Idea won the $194,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity during the Zia

first stakes win in the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity. She won her maiden in her debut back in April at Sunland Park before winning her Senorita Futurity trial by twoand-three-quarter lengths. The Saturday card provided a variety of stakes races.

Sugarintheevening finds daylight in Crenshaw Memorial

Jockey Casey Lambert pushed Sugarintheevening through a hole along the rail entering the stretch and then prevailed in a battle with Homerun Berti to win the $20,000 Bobby Dan Crenshaw Memorial at 1,000 yards. The Crenshaw was the only stakes on the program not restricted to New Mexico-breds.

Fincher one-two in Senorita

Twixy Roll pulled away from stablemate Diabolical Dame to win the $198,975 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity, sporting the afternoon’s largest purse, during the first of two days of the Zia Festival July 26 at Ruidoso Downs. The top-two finishers are Twixy Roll trained by Todd Fincher, who SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 51

I Keep Saying

Sugarintheevening MCM Racing LLC’s Sugarintheevening won by a neck in :52.896. Attila’s Hurricane was third in the seven-horse field. The Weston Martin-trained Sugarintheevening was the 9-5 favorite after making a late run in an 870-yard optional claiming race on June 13 at Ruidoso Downs.

WASHINGTON

Baby earned $27,225 to push her bankroll to $37,043. “Well, she was much the best,” Lopez said. “I was a little worried about the first part, but she broke so good. She proved she was much better than the other fillies.” Pippa Bou Peep, a 25-to-1 long shot ridden by Eliska Kubinova at 117 lbs, rallied to finish second and paid $10.20 and $3.60 for place and show. Seeking the Light, ridden by Felipe Valdez at 119 lbs, had an

Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA July 27 Ethan’s Baby powers home

Ethan’s Baby rocketed to the early lead and drew off for a 6 ¼-length victory July 27 in the $50,000 Angie C Stakes for 2-yearold fillies at Emerald Downs. Ridden by David G. Lopez at 119 lbs, Ethan’s Baby ran six furlongs in 1:09.29 and paid $4.20, $3 and $2.20. Howard Belvoir is the trainer for owners/breeders Todd and Shawn Hansen of Tenino, Wash. A Washington-bred by Offlee Wild-Hope and Vow, Ethan’s Baby set fractions of :22.21, :44.92 and :56.75 en route to the dominant victory. Undefeated in two starts, Ethan’s 52 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

Ethan’s Baby

eventful trip and finished third. The 13-to-10 second choice, Seeking the Light paid $2.20 to show. Boss Lori, Dancingwithdebbie and Twelfth Fan completed the order of finish.

en route to the world record. Perfect Night finished second, followed by Country Rules, Polish Dollar, Botch and Fist Full of Green.

I Keep Saying etched his name in the record books Sunday with a world record performance in race five at Emerald Downs. In winning by 6 ¼ lengths, I Keep Saying ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:12.94 to break the track and world record of 1:13.00 held by Sabertooth. Juan Gutierrez rode I Keep Saying for trainer Jim Penney and owner Homestretch Farm Inc. Penney also trained Sabertooth when the 7-yearold gelding set the former track and world mark on May 22, 2005. A 5-year-old Washington-bred gelding, by Yankee Gentleman-Arco Iris, I Keep Saying set fractions of :22.01, :43.89 and 1:06.82

clear-cut local favorite for the Longacres Mile with a stakesrecord performance July 20 in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs. Ridden by Leslie Mawing at high weight of 121 lbs, Stryker Phd rallied from far back to win going away by one length in 1:40.20 for 1 1/16 miles. Larry Ross is the winning trainer for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash. The winning time broke the stakes mark of 1:40.52 set last year by Herbie D, who then became the fifth horse in eight years to sweep the Mt. Rainier Handicap and Longacres Mile (Grade 3). Based on his first two races this year - stakes record performances in both the Budweiser and Mt. Rainier Handicaps Stryker Phd rates an excellent chance to win this year’s Mile. A 5-year-old Washingtonbred gelding by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, Stryker Phd earned $27,500 to increase his lifetime bankroll to $182,751. His overall

July 20 Stryker Phd awesome in I Keep Saying sets world Mt. Rainier record Stryker Phd became the

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Ole’s Miss

Stryker Phd mark is 4-4-4 in 15 starts, which includes a runner-up to Herbie D in last year’s Longacres Mile. Dontmesswithkitten, the pacesetter, held second pace and paid $17.40 and $8.40 for place and show. Rocco Bowen rode the 23-to-1 long shot at 115 lbs. Disruption, a 13-to-1 shot ridden by Eliska Kubinova at 116 lbs, finished third and paid $6 to show. Shooting Jacket, Jebrica, Mr. Bowling, Somewhere With You, Worldventurer and Why Not Be Perfect completed the order of finish. Adding luster to Stryker Phd’s victory is the fact speed was dominant throughout Sunday’s 10-race card. In the Mt. Rainier, Stryker Phd was the only closer to impact the race, as pacesetters Dontmesswithkitten and Disruption held second and third place. Once again, Stryker Phd inhaled his foes on the last turn, rallied to the lead past midstretch and proved clearly best. “He’s been working great leading up to the race, we were confident,” said Mawing, perfect in two rides aboard the gelding. “Once the race started, I was hoping I could just duplicate the trip he had in (the Budweiser Handicap). “It remains to be seen which horses will invade for the Longacres Mile, but Stryker Phd clearly is the best local hope for this year’s race.”

July 19 Ole’s Miss swoops in to win Kent

let her break and she got into position. Once we got to the backside, she was actually dragIn the $50,000 Emerald ging on me. Express for 2-year-old colts and Canadian shipper Ole’s Miss “I didn’t want to move too geldings, the flashy colt Trackat- out finished a resilient Mylast early, so I held her back. Comtacker backed up his considerSweet Pea and scored a neck vicing to the three-eighths pole, able hype with an 11-length tory July 19 in the $50,000 Kent the pace was crawling, so I let romp in a stakes record 1:08.31 Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at out a little bit more and she just for six furlongs. Emerald Downs. grabbed a hold of the bit. Down Ridden by Mawing at 120 Ridden by Leslie Mawing at the stretch, I let her extend her lbs, Trackattacker – an overhigh weight of 120 lbs, Ole’s Miss stride and she did that well. whelming 1-to-20 favorite – paid ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.46 and (Mylast Sweet Pea) ran a big race. $2.10, $2.10 and $2.10. Trackatpaid $3.60, $3 and $2.20. L. Tracy It wasn’t like we were stopping, tacker accounted for $125,848 McCarthy is the winning trainer that horse just kicked it in. I had of the $129,636 wagered in the for owner Ole Nielsen of Richto keep an eye on that horse all show pool. mond, British Columbia. the way to the wire.” Mawing – sweeping all three Mylast Sweet Pea, a 20-to-1 Ole’s Miss earned $27,500 to weekend stakes – rode Trackatlong shot ridden by Gallyn Mitch- push her bankroll to $129,113. tacker for trainer Frank Lucarelli ell at 115 lbs, nearly pulled off An Ontario-bred by Officer, she and owner Roy Schaefer of Port the upset but settled for second, is 4-1-2 in seven lifetime starts, Orchard, Wash. and paid $8.60 and $4.40. including two stakes wins this Unbeaten in two starts, Papa’s Flashy Girl, an even year at Hastings Racecourse. Trackattacker earned $24,750 for bigger price at 31-to-1, finished a Mylast Sweet Pea has a Sunday’s win. A Washington-bred distant third, six lengths behind series of big efforts at the meet, by Harbor the Gold-Eclatante, Mylast Sweet Pea, and paid $4.60 including a third at 50-to-1 in the Trackattacker won his debut to show. Seattle Handicap and a fourth at by nine lengths and set a track Find Your Spot, the 9-to-5 7-to-1 in the Irish Day. record of :49.98 for 4 ½ furlongs. second choice coming off a win The next race for sophomore Breaking from post-position in the Irish Day Handicap, was fillies is the $65,000 Washington No. 4, Trackattacker set fractions a head back in fourth place, folOaks at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, of :21.86 for the quarter-mile and lowed by Belladiva and Chu and Aug. 9. :44.12 for the half. The gelding You. opened a six-length lead into the Last in the early going, Ole’s July 13 lane and increased the advanMiss moved into contention on the last turn, and engaged Mylast Noosito all the way in tage under a hand ride. Sweet Pea into the stretch. Seattle Slew Monster Wave, ridden by “Chris (Loseth) and Tracy Noosito held off stable Anne Sanguinetti, finished mate Del Rio Harbor and scored second, and Private Boss, ridden (McCarthy) told me not to panic because this horse makes a big a hard-fought 1 ¾-length by Felipe Valdez, finished third. giant move at the end,” said victory July 13 in the $50,000 Bolshoi’s Bluff, Moonee Beach Mawing, who never had ridden Seattle Slew Handicap for and My Grandson rounded out Ole’s Miss before Saturday. “I just 3-year-old colts and geldings at the order of finish.

Emerald Express goes to Trackattacker

SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 53

Find Your Spot

Seattle Slew Emerald Downs. Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 120 lbs, Noosito ran 1 1/16 miles in a stakes record 1:40.76 and paid $5.80 and $2.60. Del Rio Harbor, the 3-to-5 betting favorite ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 122 lbs, ran a strong second and paid $2.20 for place. There was no show wagering. Doris Harwood – extending her track record to 64 stakes wins – trains both Noosito and Del Rio Harbor, and the sophomores are now tied 3-3 in head-to-head match ups the last two seasons at Emerald Downs. The rivalry continues Aug. 10, with the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby, a 1 1/8-mile test that figures to decide the 3-year-old divisional championship. A Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, Noosito is living up to the hype that comes from being Noosa Beach’s younger brother. Like his older brother, Noosito is versatile, a trait that came in handy in the short four-horse field. Breaking from the No. 2 post-position, Noosito was able to save ground while maintaining a short lead over Del Rio Harbor, who broke from postposition No. 3. And that’s the way it would remain, Noosito with a short lead, Del Rio Harbor to his outside, clicking off reasonable fractions of :23.19, :46.06 and 1:09.77. Into the stretch, it was 54 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8

still Noosito with a short lead, and then the real race was on. “The plan from the gate was to put him in the race early,” Mawing said of pre-race strategy. “(Gallyn Mitchell and I) slowed the pace down because we didn’t want anyone else to come and surprise us. At the head of the lane, it was mano y mano. I tapped him and he responded. I knew I had a full tank of gas.” Noosito is 4-1-2 in seven lifetime starts, including three stakes wins and earnings of $117,878 for Last Rose Stable. Noosito’s three starts this year have resulted in two stakes wins sandwiched by a runner-up finish to Del Rio Harbor in the Coca-Cola Handicap. His 2014 earnings are $65,000, including $27,500 for this victory. A possible silver lining for Del Rio Harbor is that the last six Emerald Downs Derby winners all were beaten in the Seattle Slew Handicap. Charlie Thomas and Kenai King completed the order of finish.

June 29 Find Your Spot finds a win

Find Your Spot and Where We At are on serious rolls at Emerald Downs. The former, a 3-year-old Washington-bred filly, made it four wins in a row with a hard-

earned 1 ¼ -length victory over Chu and You in the $50,000 Irish Day Handicap June 26 at Emerald Downs. The latter, the ownership syndicate that owns Find Your Spot, capped a weekend sweep that included Jebrica’s victory in the $18,900 feature race and Find Your Spot’s triumph in the Irish Day Handicap. In fact, Where We At – Paul Heist of Auburn and Jack Fabulich of Edgewood – is 6-0-1 with its last seven starts, and apparently has the track’s best sophomore filly to boot. Ridden by Isaias Enriquez at 118 lbs, Find Your Spot ran one mile in 1:35.78 and paid $7.20, $3.40 and $2.60. Jim Penney is the trainer. Claimed for $25,000 from her career debut last September, Find Your Spot has developed nicely, reeling off four straight wins – one apiece at Golden Gate and Santa Anita and two at Emerald Downs. Her overall mark is 5-1-2 in eight starts with earnings of $99,820. The Irish Day victory was worth $27,500, and she earned every penny, engaging Chu and You and Belladiva in mid-stretch and gradually edging clear for the victory. “We had a meeting this morning; the owners, trainers, jockeys, everybody,” Enriquez said. “We discussed a couple plans about how the race would develop, and it developed ex-

actly like we planned. “I just wanted to follow Chu and You. That was the horse I wanted to have a target on. After that, I said ‘If I beat that horse, I’m going to win this race.’” Chu and You, ridden by Juan Gutierrez at high weight of 119 lbs, once again was gallant in defeat. She won a long pace battle with Belladiva, digging in through the lane for her second straight runner-up finish in a stakes. The even-money betting favorite, Chu and You paid $2.60 and $2.40. “She always breaks well, and she relaxed in first part of race,” Gutierrez said. “She had a little pressure on the backside but the pace was comfortable, not too fast. First time at a mile, I was happy with her race. She always tries hard, and I know she’s going to do that.” Chu and You is 4-2-0 in eight starts with earnings of $107,884, including a $10,000 runner-up check for the Irish Day. Belladiva, a 12-to-1 long shot ridden by Ronald Richard at 118 lbs, finished third and paid $4 to show. Belladiva finished a neck behind Chu and You, after those two dueled through fractions of :24.04, :47.34, 1:10.73 and 1:22.95. Mylast Sweet Pea, Papa’s Flashy Girl, Cheeky Stone, Quiet Wisdom and Timeless Pleasure completed the order of finish.

WWW.CALDENSITY.COM 1-877-744-9006 SureBet RacingNews.com • August 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 8 55

Home to FOUR of the Top SEVEN Active Sires in New Mexico ATTILA’S STORM

Sire of 11 Stakes Horses in 2013

DIABOLICAL

Red hot first crop sire, #4 in the U.S., Co-leader by winners (14) and co-second by Stakes Horses (5)

PREMEDITATION

Sire of 52% winners and 53% repeat winners in 2013, led by MR. WIZARD ($212,051)

ROLL HENNESSY ROLL

Co-leader in NM by 2013 stakes winners (4)

Plus—

#1 First crop yearling sire in NM by average price, SOUTHWESTERN HEAT and

accomplished QH Sire GONNA RO SHAM BO

Inquires to Fred Alexander (915) 539-2176 Office: (915) 539-0040 Fax: (575) 882-1235 • Email: aahorseranch1@aol.com 1713 W. Washington, Anthony, NM 88021 • www.aaranch.org