FEBRUARY 2015 路 VOL.9 NO.2
(Wagon Limit-So Ritzy, Darn That Alarm)
TWO TIME GRADE 1 WINNER! With earnings over $1.1 MILLION! Won or Placed in 15 Graded Stakes Races from age 2 to 6! Leading NY Freshman Sire 2011 Leading Second Crop Sire 2012 Leading Third Crop Sire in 2013 Standing in New Mexico
2015 Fee: $2,500 • LFG Eligibilities: The Lineage and New Mexico Bred Program
SILVER WAGON competed with and BEAT the best of his generation with a strong career, winning G1 races as a 2YO and in his final year as a 6YO, winning back to back G1 & G2 races.
Multiple Stakes Sire of Money Earners of Nearly $2 Million! SILVER WAGON’s Top Earners Include... 2-Time Stakes Winner EYES SUPER FREAKY 2014, $123,581 Stakes Placed Winner SILVER MENACE 2014, $149,947 Multiple Winner THE BIG DELUXE 2014, $234,931 Multiple Winner ALARMED NDANGEROUS 2014, $203,038 Just To Name A Few!
654 Riata Rd. - Tularosa, NM 88352 • 575-585-3150 • www.mccallumview.com 2
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SureBet RacingNews.com • January 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 1
New Mexico Horse Breeder
reBet uRACING NEWS NE EWS N EWS
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PUBLISHED BY:
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2015
•
VOL. 9 NO. 2
Cover Story: Three of Sunland Park’s 2015 horse trainers featured: Jackie Riddle, Fred Danley and Clay Sparks By Michael Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Feature Stories: PO Box 7261 • Ruidoso, NM 88355 www.surebetracingnews.com
Record Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown nominations defy logic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
PUBLISHER: eugene HeatHman Cell: 575.937.9330 publisher@surebetracingnews.com
It’s in the blood by Ty Wyant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Weekend Race Insider: Championship run by Ty Wyant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 News
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‘EquiLottery Bill’ passes Kentucky Senate by wide margin; Longtime horsewoman Mary Kubota passes away; ess Significant sells for $250,000, tops Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale; Heritage Place announces new date and addition of a yearling session for fourth annual Thoroughbred Sale; Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) unveils new website; Arapahoe Park will connect purses to field sizes in 2015; Gary Stevens gets 5,000th North American win aboard Mandella-conditioned Catch A Flight in $58,000 allowance feature;Evangeline Downs releases 2015 Thoroughbred stakes schedule; Family Day: Princesses, Ponies and Superheros at Fair Grounds, March 8; Taste Of Cuba Festival at Hialeah Park Feb. 28 and March 1; Portland Meadows 2014-15 live race meet sees average daily handle increases over 2013-14 meet; First ever 13-sec. training race at Remington Park sets new record; Remington Park lowers minimums on a trio of wagers; Master Performance gets first official workout of Remington Park pre-season; Ruidoso Downs horses shine in annual championship honors; Dollar Day and $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint at Sam Houston Race Park
Race Recaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Quarter Horse & Thoroughbred results from Golden Gate Fields; Los Alamitos Race Course; Santa Anita Race Park; Hialeah Park, Delta Downs; Fair Grounds Race Course; Sunland Park; Sam Houston Race Park
SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 3
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SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
COVER STORY
Jackie Riddle: She holds her own
This horse trainer gets a sense of worth through perseverance and hard work By Michael Curran
five races. Riddle, who races at espectful, humble and a worrier, Sunland, Ruidoso and this horsewoman maintains an Hobbs, came up through unwavering philosophy that works the ranks step by step. She for her. The honesty and “hard work” started as a groom for Ike things appear to have worked for horse and Fred Danley for $66 a trainer Jackie Riddle. And when you talk week. Then she moved up to to her you can see it all etched upon her assistant trainer. Thus far she face for any observant person to see. has a total of 20 years in this The old adage “What you see is what you get” comes to mind as does “Good things profession. “A lot of effort and time goes into happen to those who work hard.” training a horse,” Riddle said. “You have Her latest effort at Sunland Park to be determined in this business. “This is Racetrack and Casino is another typiwhat I like to do. ” cal Jackie Riddle campaign. The winter This year, two of the things Riddle months at this track – just across the would like to accomplish, among other border from El Paso in New Mexico – goals, would be to qualify for the New provide decent weather and some great Mexican Spring Futurity. She has now horse racing. Like most, Riddle bears the won that race two times. occasional hardships of her profession “Winning that race is a great feeljust to get to tomorrow and a new day, ing, ” Riddle said. “I would love to qualify which may be filled with success and fulfillment. “This track has always been horseman friendly and the purses are good,” Riddle said. “After all, I was born and raised in El Paso.” For this Sunland meet Riddle has a split barn of 20 Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. She looks forward to measured success – and why not? Last year Riddle’s horse, Winning Merlot, won the $212,250 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG2) at Sunland Park April 6. The New Mexico-bred filly was originally purchased for $7,500. This year’s Futurity will be run on Sunday, March 22. On Jan. 3, Riddle’s Hit With Force came in second in the $201,609 (total) 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes for three year olds. The gelding was originally purchased for $2,700. This year she has won
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Trainer Jackie Riddle won last year’s New Mexico Spring Futurity at Sunland Park. Below, Riddle standing with GBH Steppin Johnny at Ruidoso Downs. Photos courtesy of Michael Curran
for the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Just getting into that race is the hard part.” Riddle’s story, perseverance and integrity make her someone you can easily root for.
SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 5
WINNING IS THIS CLOSE
LIVE RACING
NOW FRIDAY – MONDAY Now – February 16 Post Time 12:15PM Starting February 20 Post Time 12:55PM FRIDAY – MONDAY Turf Club Seating Available. www.sunland-park.com Turf Club access during Saturday and Sunday races is for season seat owners or by seat purchase only. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing. Must be 21 or older to enter casino. PLAY RESPONSIBLY. HELPLINE 1-800-572-1142.
6 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
I-10 to Sunland Park Exit
COVER STORY
Fred Danley:
Racing has been good to me
Through the loss of his wife, Rita, and his good friend, horse owner Bob Haynsworth, this veteran trainer troops on By Michael Curran
made me. She took care of the books red Danley is a respected name in the and breeding and the farm when I wasn’t here.” horse training profession. Every year Part of his long career includes he looks forward to every meet and winning the Copper Top Filly Futurity at this year at Sunland Park Racetrack is no Sunland last year with Miss BRH and a different. second place in the All American Futurity Danley currently has a split barn of at Ruidoso Downs Race Track as well as 38 Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at a couple the third place finishes over the Sunland and 30 more at his farm 13 miles years. away and looks forward to the meet with When asked how long it takes to dethe usual optimism. He’s been coming termine whether a trainer knows if he or to Sunland since it opened its doors in she has some competitive stock Danley 1959. A word of warning though, if you don’t want to hear the answer, then don’t ask the question. This disciplined professional doesn’t have the time or inclination for prevarications. An everpresent smile seems to be fixed upon his face whenever you see him. He may know something others don’t. “On the plus side, the money’s good here and I like the weather,” Danley said. “But as for the profession (training) itself, you never get a chance for a normal vacation or time for yourself. And keeping good help is the hardest thing in the world. I love the ranching part of it, however. All in all, racing has been good to me. “My wife (deceased last year) is the one who
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Trainer Fred Danley expects another good meet at Sunland Park Racetrack. Below, Danley believes you have to go 90-100 days before you know if you’ve got competitive stock. Photos courtesy of Michael Curran
replied, “You have to go 90 or 100 days before you know for sure what they can do and how fast they are.”
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8 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
COVER STORY
Clay Sparks
comes back to fulltime training
This personable horseman returns to prepping horses at Sunland Park for the Rogers Farm
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By Michael Curran
f you ever happen to have a conversation with J. Clay Sparks you might come away saying, “This man has above-average intelligence.” And you would be right in saying that. After all, Sparks holds a degree in Animal Science from the University of Arizona. He also attended the Racetrack Industry Program. And besides that, he’s fun to talk to and can converse about a myriad of subjects. This year Sparks returns to training fulltime and preps for the Rogers Farm et al. “I’m getting to know all their horses,” Sparks said. “This is the first year I’ve trained for them after spending four years with Blane and Trey Wood as an assistant running their barn in Ruidoso. “I like racing at Sunland Park Racetrack and have been coming here since the beginning of The Championship race (2001). The purses are good and it’s a great facility to run at. They try to accommodate horsemen and the winters are good here so the weather’s not too
bad. It’s a good place to stay.” Sparks is running a split barn of Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds and has run a lot of seconds and third place finishes. “There are a good many competitive horses here at Sunland,” Sparks said. “So it’s a tough place to compete. It’s a good place to be though, because it’s kind of a meeting place as fewer tracks run in the winter and, as I said, the purses are substantial. Sparks said most in the industry scatter to places like Albuquerque, Farmington, Ruidoso, Iowa and Denver after the strong stakes program at Sunland. It’s a program that runs through April,
Trainer J. Clay Sparks has returned to training full-time and now preps horses for the Rogers Farm at Sunland Park Racetrack. Below, Sparks stands with his pony on the backside of Sunland Park. Photos courtesy of Michael Curran
with the New Mexico Spring Futurity usually a good preview to the trial for the Ruidoso Futurity, which opens the season at Ruidoso Downs a little more than a month later. For Thoroughbreds, the big race is the Sunland Derby, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. “After Sunland I’ll go to Albuquerque for a while and then move on to Ruidoso Downs. We have some nice twoyear-olds and hopefully we can qualify for some of the futurities in Ruidoso.” Sparks is but one more trainer you can’t help but root for. Michael Curran has spent the past seven years as the 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. SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 9
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Record Ruidoso downs triple crown nominations defy logic February 13, 2015 • Ruidoso downs Race track, nm
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uidoso Downs Race Track general manager Shaun Hubbard walked into nominations secretary Annelle Reynolds’ office and said: “Annelle, are you sure these nomination numbers are correct.” “Yes, sir, they sure are,” Reynolds said. “All the 2015 Triple Crown races are up double digits and the 2016 Triple Crown payments are at a record level, the highest they’ve ever been.” “But the foal crops are at record low levels and oil prices have fallen,” Hubbard said. “What are the horsemen telling you?” “Naturally, they are all excited over the increase in this year’s All American, bringing it to $3 million,” Reynolds continued, “but they love the fact that Ruidoso Downs has such large purses for their Derby horses. They can keep their horses eligible and still run at large purses when they are 3 (years-old). “Also they really like the $100,000 Mr. Jess Perry, Corona Cartel and First Down Dash Stakes for the horses that don’t qualify for the Derby finals. It gives them lots of opportunities to run for big money and black type. They keep telling me that Ruidoso is the place to be in the summer.” The figures Hubbard was reviewing are very impressive: • Nominations for the 2015 Ruidoso Futurity are up an astonishing 23 percent from 2014 and since the futurity is capped at $750,000 the Derby is now estimated to be worth $1.2 million in 2016. • Nominations for the 2015 Rainbow Futurity are up over 16 percent from the 2014 version and since the Rainbow is capped at $1 million it means the 2016 Derby will likely be approximately $1.3 million. • Nominations for the 2015 All American Futurity are up nearly 13 percent over the 2014 race and since the All American Futurity is capped at a record $3 million, the richest 2-year-old race in the world, the 2016 Derby is estimated to worth nearly $2.7 million. • Nominations to the 2016 Triple Crown Series that closed in January, 2015 are at an all-time high of 1,434
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horses which is nearly 10 percent higher than last year’s version. The $4 million All American Triple Crown bonus continues in 2015. That means any horse that sweeps the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American Futurities would walk away with $6.375 million for their connections from just one summer’s of work. “Of course, one thing we all know is that we couldn’t see these increases without the support of the breeders, owners and trainers,” said Hubbard. “They make it happen and it’s apparent that our changes and improvements since last summer have been well received. We are truly appreciative.” The changes in house rules at Ruidoso Downs and New Mexico Racing Commission policies for the 2015 season include: • All horses must be on the grounds in the barn area 48 hours before entering the trials of each of the futurities and derbies run during the Ruidoso race season; • All horses that qualify for the finals of one of the futurities or derbies will be required to stay on the grounds through the running of the finals; • All horses will be subject to a “roll call” at any time during these periods; • All horses will be subject to additional, random testing by both the New Mexico Racing Commission and the race track; • No less than the top-three finishers in every trial race will be tested; • All testing will be the so-called “super testing;” • The New Mexico Racing Commission will work in conjunction with the New Mexico State Police to ensure that all off-site testing throughout the year will be done cooperatively. All in all, it promises to be a record-breaking year at Ruidoso Downs Race Track for the Triple Crown Series. For information contact Annelle Reynolds at 575-378-7224.
uqua Tax and Financial Management Anna Fuqua Enrolled Agent
anna.fuqua@hotmail.com Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 • 575-937-6849 Tax Preparation • Bookkeeping Business Startup • Payroll Services SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 11
It’s in the blood
By Ty Wyant
Who is that horse?
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By Ty Wyant
n the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) has a recurring line. “Who are those guys?” he asks Sundance (Robert Redford) while they’re chased by an all-pro posse after robberies. Once, after they blow up a safe on a train with too-much dynamite, Sundance says, “They’re very good.” Throughout last fall in Quarter Horse racing, there was another recurring question: “Who is that horse?” He’s the world champion, that’s who. Jrc Callas First is the 2014 world champion, champion-aged horse and champion-aged stallion. And he’s very good. Owned by Dana Stroud along with trainer Brian Stroud, Jrc Callas First won eight of 10 starts in 2014. Jrc Callas First winning The Quicksilver Starter Handicap at Retama Park, Selma, Texas, on August 9, 2014, Damian I. Martinez up. He won six stakes, including a pair of Grade 1 races, the $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap and the $150,480 Photo courtesy of Coady Photography Zia Park Championship. He wrapped up his season with a fourth-place run as the favorite in the Grade 1, $350,000 Calla Missy Jane, who was unraced. Dirty Coup is by Coup De The Championship at Sunland Park. Kas (tb), a son of Kaskaskia who crossed well on Quarter Horse With his 17-10 odds in The Sunland Park Championship, mares. The Coup De Kas (tb) daughter Fleur De Coup produced which may have had the year’s deepest field of older runners, Champion of Champions winner Cash For Kas, the 2004 chamthe question was answered. Folks knew he was good and the pion three-year-old filly. championship voters decided he was the best Quarter Horse The second dam of Jrc Callas First, Missy Joyce, was a wincompeting in 2014. ner at two and produced seven winners from eight starters. She Another question: Is he well bred? You can be assured he was sired by the Bold Ruler (tb) son Master Hand (tb). is. Any horse who is a world champion is well bred. He may Jrc Callas First is bred 5S x 4D to Bolder Ruler. The male-side not have been a fashionably bred yearling who would have cross comes through Winners Award’s second dam Lucks Fame. brought six figures, but any horse who wins championships is She is by the Bold Ruler (tb) son What Luck (tb). well bred. We just need to learn by inspecting his pedigree. The third dam of Jrc Callas First is the stakes winner SavanJrc Callas First is sired by the minor stakes winner and nah Joyce by Randis Joy (tb). She won the Thayer Lassie Futurity Grade 1-placed Winners Award. He is a son of Runaway Winner, and Missy Joyce was her only foal. by Beduino (tb). Winners Award earned $80,148. So, what is the take-away from Jrc Callas First’s pedigree? Winners Award has sired six crops of racing age, 109 foals, First, Jrc Callas First is sired by a well-bred horse from a 59 starters, 28 winners and three stakes winners. Jrc Callas First leading breeder. The genes are there. is his only champion and his $227,914 in earnings is three times Second, each of Jrc Callas First’s Grade 1 wins came at 440 the earnings of Winners Award’s second-leading money earner. yards. In 2014, he also had two minor stakes wins at 550 yards Winners Award is out of the Special Leader mare Sweet and easily won a minor stakes at 870 yards. Distance is no probMiranda and was bred by Jerry Windham. You can be assured lem for this horse. While his first two generations are all quarter with Windham making the breeding decision that it was a horses, if we go back to the third, fourth and fifth generations thoughtful decision and now Winners Award is a well-known we find Thoroughbred stallions who all stallion. The strapping bay stallion stands at Norse Ridge Farm had a positive influence in Quarter Horse in Ontario, Canada. racing. Sweet Miranda won the Great Lakes Earl Clark Memorial Futurity and is also the dam of minor stakes winner Winning Ty Wyant has been covering racing since Awards. 1976. He is currently the media relations The female side of Jrc Callas First pedigree came alive with director for Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park, the gelding’s 2014 success. and the curator of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame. Jrc Callas First is the only foal out of the Dirty Coup mare 12 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
Frankfort, KY February 13 ‘equiLottery bill’ passes kentucky senate by wide margin
Auburn, WA February 6 Longtime horsewoman mary kubota passes away
exclusively at Longacres from 1985-92. Elliot Bay Bomber, full brother to Big Bad Bomber, won 22 races in an 89-race career that began in 1989 with The Kentucky Senate Mary Kubota, a longtime Kubota, and She’s a Trooper passed SB74 on Friday, a bill trainer and popular racing of(Trooper Seven-She’s a Bomber) that would enable a lottery ficial, died Wednesday of lung won 11 races in 1990 and was game based on the results of cancer at her home in Renton. Northern California’s Claimer of live horse racing, by a margin Kubota spent nearly three the Year. of 22 – 9 today in a morning decades as a trainer, learning Her husband of 44 years, session at the State Capitol in the profession under Washing- Allan, and daughters Chrissi Frankfort. ton Hall of Fame Trainer Wayne Reeves of Bellingham and AnThe bill creates a new Branch before taking out her li- gie Kubota-Wolbert of Renton designation called a shared cense in the late 1970s. She also survives Ms. Kubota. lottery game that builds off of had stints as a veterinarian’s A memorial service was KRS 154A.065 titled “Contests assistant with Dr. John Traber held Thursday, Feb. 12, at New involving horses may be basis and Dr. Gary Bergsma. Life Church in Renton, WA. of a lottery.” Kubota, 62, worked the The bill spells out the last 12 years for the WashingOkahoma City integration between lottery ton Horse Racing Commission, February 8 terminals and racing pools first as a clerk/identifier in the Jess significant sells for that is the basis for a game receiving barn and later as an $250,000, tops Heritage like EquiLottery. This leverages association clocker. Place Winter mixed sale existing prize pools already As a trainer, Kubota Jess Significant, a Grade populated with horseplayer enjoyed great success with 1-winning 9-year-old daughter money, which creates dynamic offspring of her broodmare payouts to lottery players and She’s a Bomber, a 1974 daugh- of champions Mr Jess Perry and Significant Speed, sold for removes jackpot risk associter of Army Bomber-Dolorous $250,000 to top the Heritage ated with other lottery games. who produced a string of top Place Winter Mixed Sale, held The bill ensures a shared runners led by towering 17lottery game will only be ofhand gelding Big Bad Bomber. Jan. 22-24 in Oklahoma City. Bobby D. Cox signed the fered through lottery terminals Bred and trained by Kubota, the ticket for Jess Significant (Hip and that all contests will be son of Meritable won 13 races No. 232), who was consigned based on “live or future horse and $134,876 while racing by Burns Ranch, agent. An earnraces.” Additionally, it guarer of $419,635 from 15 races antees regulatory oversight and winner of the $500,000 by the Kentucky Lottery and Ruidoso Futurity (Grade 1) Kentucky Horse Racing Comin 2008, Jess Significant has mission. produced six starters, includEarlier in the week, SB74 ing Significant Heart, a mare passed through the Senate by Corona Cartel who won last Licensing, Occupations and year’s $150,000 Mildred N. VesAdministrative Regulations sels Memorial Handicap (Grade Committee by a unanimous 1) at Los Alamitos, and Catch vote. SB74 was sponsored by Billy The Kid, an FDD Dynasty Sen. Julie Raque Adams (R gelding who won last season’s Louisville) and co-sponsored Mary Kubota in the 1970s with $100,000 First Down Dash by Sen. Damon Thayer (R Georgetown) and Sen. Morgan She’s a Bomber a WashingtonHandicap at the California track. bred daughter of Army Bomber McGarvey (D - Louisville). Jess Significant’s sire, who produced Big Bad Bomber The bill will move on to Mr Jess Perry, was the AQHA and several other top runners. the Kentucky House next champion 2-year-old in 1994. week. Courtesy photo Her dam, Significant Speed, is
a two-time AQHA champion whose four graded stakes wins including the 2000 Dash For Cash (Grade 1) and Rainbow (Grade 1) derbies. Jess Significant was not bred to carry a 2015 foal. Crystal Sola (Hip No. 526) and her embryo by champion One Famous Eagle were acquired for $208,000 by Simmons Racing from the consignment of 6666 Ranch of Guthrie, Texas, agent. An 8-year-old graded stakes winning daughter of Walk Thru Fire and the stakes-winning and Grade 1-placed Corona Cartel mare Corona Crystal, Crystal Sola has produced six foals, the first two of which are 2-year-olds for the 2015 racing season. A total of four head sold for $100,000 or more. Cox acquired the third-highest seller, Shesa First Ratify, for $115,000. Consigned by Lazy E Ranch of Guthrie, Oklahoma, as agent for Sandy Erwin of Dallas, Texas, the 8-year-old mare by all-time leading sire and 1987 world champion First Down Dash won the 2010 Lubbock Stakes (Grade 3) at Zia Park and was runner-up to champion Runnning Brook Gal in the ’09 All American Futurity (Grade 1) at Ruidoso Downs. Bee Silva paid $105,000 for Joy Roses Eagle SA (Hip No. 684) from consignor Lazy E Ranch, agent for Vince Genco. A 5-year-old daughter of champion One Famous Eagle and 2008 La Primera del Ano Derby (Grade 1) finalist Gather The Roses, Joy Roses Eagle SA ran third in the ’12 Ed Burke Million Futurity (Grade 1) at Los Alamitos. During the three-day sale, a total of 679 of the 833 horses cataloged sold for an aggregate sum of $8,755,550. SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 13
Undefeated 2YO TWIXY ROLL 4 FOR 4 $205,328 Rio Grande Senorita Thoroughbred Futurity New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile Fillies
BACK SEAT ROLL by Roll Hennessy Roll
SIRE OF NEW MEXICO’S LEADING 2YO IN 2014
Co-Second Active Sire in New Mexico by 2014 Stakes Wins
2014 STAKES WINNERS INCLUDE: LAKEHOUSE FUN, back-to-back stakes winner at 4, 2014, $258,717; ROLL OUT THE BAND, stakes winner at 2 and 3, 2014, $231,258; Perfect 4 for 4 2yo TWIXY ROLL, $205,328; etc.
Sire of $87,000 yearling in 2014
ROLL HENNESSY ROLL HENNESSY - ROLL OVER BABY, BY ROLLIN ON OVER
2015 Fee: $3,500
Inquires to Fred Alexander (915) 539-2176 Office: (915) 539-0040 Fax: (575) 882-1235 • Email: aahorseranch1@aol.com 14 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 1713 W. Washington, Anthony, NM 88021 • www.aaranch.org
W I C K E D L Y
F A S T
REWRITING THE HISTORY BOOKS 2013-FIRST NM SIRE TO FINISH AMONG NORTH AMERICA’S TOP 4 FIRST CROP SIRES
2014-FIRST NM SIRE TO RANK 1ST BY TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES WINNERS & STAKES HORSES From just two crops to race, sire of 13 stakes horses-20% from starters, 7 stakes winners 11% from starters, led by: THAT’S THE IDEA ($291,275, multiple stakes winner) MAYS OR MANTLE ($151,310, stakes winner, multiple stakes placed) LIBERTY LOVER ($223,361, multiple stakes winner at 2, 2014) DIABOLICAL DAME ($98,460, multiple stakes placed at 2, 2014) CATAFLYING ($88,340, stakes placed at 2), etc.
DIABOLICAL artax - bonnie byerly, by dayjur
Adam Coglianese
2015 Fee: $6,000
Inquires to Fred Alexander (915) 539-2176 Office: (915) 539-0040 Fax: (575) 882-1235 • Email: aahorseranch1@aol.com SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 1713 W. Washington, Anthony, NM 88021 • www.aaranch.org
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O N E O U T O F T H R E E R U N N E R S I S A S TA K E S H O R S E
32% STAKES HORSES & 16% STAKES WINNERS / STARTERS
OVER $3.3-MILLION IN EARNINGS / 13 2YO STAKES HORSES
LEADING STAKES WINNERS INCLUDE: THERMAL ($331,765, 7 wins, 2 to 4, 2014, 8 stakes wins/placings); LITTLE VIDALIA ($288,164, 6 wins 3 to 5, 2014, multiple stakes winner including New Mexico Classic Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Championship 10/26/14); REAPER ($254,760, 4 wins, 2 to 3, 2014, multiple stakes winner); HUSH’S STORM ($227,565, 4 wins 2 to 4, multiple stakes winner), etc.
ATTILA’S STORM FOREST WILDCAT-SWEET SYMMETRY, BY MAGESTERIAL
2015 Fee: $3,000
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 16 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
BURNING UP NEW MEXICO’S TRACKS
SOUTHWESTERN HEAT GONE WEST - XTRA HEAT, BY DIXIELAND HEAT
2015 Fee: $2,500
Sired North America’s first 2YO Winner of 2014 – ZUELLAS HEAT won debut in :21.22
#1 First Crop Sire in New Mexico, 6 winners, 2 stakes horses
Ranks among the top 28 first crop sires in North America
Sire of more stakes horses than first crop sires Eskendereya ($17,500 fee), Blame ($30,000 fee), etc. Leading money winner BABY VAMP ($55,770, 2nd NM Classic Cup Juvenile Fillies S., 1 win, twice 2nd in 3 starts)
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 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 17
The average-per-head figure of $12,894 marked a 7-percent increase over last year’s average of $12,168. This year’s $7,000 median was nearly 8 percent higher than last year’s median of $6,500. Cox, the AQHA champion owner in 2004, was the sale’s leading buyer with three head for $415,000. Lazy E Ranch, agent, was the leading consignor at $727,200 for 50 head. “We had a tremendous sale,” said Heritage Place general manager Spence Kidney.
“We finished with a 7 percent increase in the average sale price, and for the entire weekend we sold 90 percent of the horses; repurchases were very minimal. “I believe we had one of the largest crowds on hand that we’ve seen for the Winter Sale, and we are very excited about kicking the year off in this fashion,” he added. For complete sale results, visit www.heritageplace.com, and click on the “Catalog/Results” link at the top of the homepage.
February 5 Heritage Place announces new date and addition of a yearling session for fourth annual Thoroughbred Sale Earlier date set to accommodate buyers and consignors
Heritage Place will hold its annual Thoroughbred sale earlier than in years past. The 2015 edition of Heritage Place’s Thoroughbred sale will
be Oct. 4. The sale will feature a yearling session followed by a mixed age session. The catalog fee for the 2015 Thoroughbred sale will be $500, and commission for the sale is 5 percent with a $150 minimum. The fees compared to industry averages allow consignors to maximize profits. The deadline for consigning to the fourth annual Heritage Place Thoroughbred Sale will be announced soon along with the guidelines for
Weekend Race Insider: surebetracingnews.com
Championship run
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By Ty Wyant
onald and Jeryl Hartley’s Moonist was not named the 2014 world champion. The prestigious honor went to Brian and Dana Stroud’s Jrc Callas First, winner of the Grade 1 Zia Park Championship and the Grade 1 Refrigerator Handicap. Moonist was honored as the champion three-year-old and the champion three-year-old gelding. Moonist was the first horse to win four derbies at Los Alamitos, including the Grade 1 Golden State Derby. Moonist closed out his 2014 campaign with eight straight wins, capped by his win in the $156,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby. Moonist was named the 2014 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse racing Association Horse of the Year. In the final 2014 weekly AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com poll, Moonist was ranked number one while Jrc Callas First held down the numberfour spot. (Full disclosure: I do not vote for the champions; I did for more than 15 years I vote in the weekly poll. In the final 2014 poll, I had Moonist number one and Jrc Callas First number seven.) The world champion is the horse who wins a mythical race over 440 yards between the champion 2-yearold, champion 3-year-old and aged
horse. Jrc Callas First was three-forthree at 440 yards with two Grade 1 wins, while Moonist did not race at 440 yards. The weekly poll has no distance requirements. However, 2015 is another year and another opportunity. Moonist has already started his 2015 campaign as the fastest qualifier to the Grade 1, $169,800 Los Alamitos Winter Championship to be held on Feb. 15. The Separatist gelding won his trial by three quarters of a length over second-fastest qualifier and Grade 1 winner Far Niente. Moonist was the 3-5 favorite and timed in :19.745 for the 400 yards. Owner Hartley and trainer John Cooper have been around this game for a long time and are class acts. “He’s a champion,” Ron Hartley said after the trial win. “We didn’t get the world champion, but we’re going to go for it this year. Moonist is an awesome horse. He provided us with an unbelievable experience last year. He’s now won 14 races here and not many horses can win that many races at Los Alamitos. It’s been quite a ride. Tonight, he got in the gate and he just stood there and looked down the track.” Cooper will not run Moonist unless he is at 100 percent. The gelding was entered in the trials to the Grade 1 Southern California Derby in December,
however was scratched because of a hoof bruise.” “I knew the horse was right because he would not have raced (in the trial) if he wasn’t right, but I was still nervous,” said Cooper after the trial win. “You never know if (the bruise) would flare up or something like that. We got the foot healed up and then we started tracking him every day. We didn’t put any weight on him. We ponied him until we started working with him in the gate and gave him a qualifying work (on Jan. 7). He’s a tough horse.” Moonist is back to race another day. If he wins the Winter Championship – and he’ll be the strong favorite – he earns the first berth in this year’s Champion of Champions. That gives him an edge in the hunt for the 2015 world champion title because he can pick his spots between the Winter Championship and the Champion of Champions. It could be a very interesting 2015. 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.
Alexandria, LA February 5 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) unveils new website State’s Quarter Horse Member Services Organization is now on Facebook
supplemental entries after the catalog deadline. “By moving up the date of the sale, we want to accommodate buyers and sellers by attracting more top quality yearlings,” said Spence Kidney, Heritage Place’s general manager. “Our central location makes it very convenient for horsemen traveling from anywhere throughout the United States. I am very pleased with the interest shown from breeders and agents we have spoken to. I believe this will be a great regional event that consignors and buyers can look forward to each year.” Built in 1978, Heritage Place is centrally located in southwest Oklahoma City, just five minutes from Will Rogers World Airport and close to Remington Park Racetrack. The facility’s central location in the United States makes it easily accessible for buyers and consignors throughout the country, and its close proximity to the airport is convenient for international buyers. Heritage Place was built in 1978 by horsemen for horsemen with attention to details that focused on showcasing horses. The company is owned by Dr. Charles Graham of Elgin, Texas; the Robert W. Moore family of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; the Bruce Gentry family of Lubbock, Texas; and the Robert Gentry family of Lubbock, Texas. Situated on 40 acres, Heritage Place boasts a unique sale facility unmatched in the country, consisting of four and one half acres under one roof which includes a 1,000 seat air conditioned auditorium, club, restaurant, 640 stalls and arena. In addition, there are 15 acres of lighted parking, RV spots and a spacious outdoor arena with bleacher seating for day and night events. For more information on Heritage Place’s upcoming sales, visit http://heritageplace.com.
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. In an agreement with LQHBA the site, which went live on Thursday, Feb. 5, was designed by StallioneSearch and is hosted by The Jockey Club Information Systems (TJCIS). TJCIS programmer Christy Horton worked closely with StallioneSearch and the LQHBA staff to create a clean, easy to navigate site. StallioneSearch will be responsible for content. With a click, visitors to the website will be able to get the latest updates on LQHBA membership, racing, including futurity and derby payments, qualifiers and previews and recaps of all the major stakes. On the breeding side, the latest information on mare and stallion incentives will be easily accessible.. Special features include Stallions Spotlight offering a preview of Louisiana-based sires, stud fees and breeding farm contact information. The website will also feature the LQHBA Insider, shining the spotlight on a Louisiana breeder, owner, trainer or jockey each month. Rider John Hamilton is profiled in this month. Additionally, the website will include the “Google” translate button at the bottom of the page, allowing any visitor to click and view information on the site in Spanish. LQHBA is the official registry of accredited Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses. Louisiana is the leading state-bred program in the country with over $4.65 million dollars in mare and stallion awards and purses paid at the four Louisiana racetracks exceeded $23 million in 2014. “Updating our website was a very strong priority for our association,” said Tony Patterson, executive director of the LQHBA “Serving our members is our main focus. Now they will be able to easily find important information on accreditation for Louisiana-breds, breed programs, Youth Scholarships and our other programs.” LQHBA conducts two sales each year: the Yearling Sale in August and a Fall Mixed Sale. Last year, LQHBA sent over 3,500 sale catalogs to interested parties, not only in SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 19
the United States, but Mexico and Canada. “The new website will allow horsemen from all regions to get the most upto-date information on our sales,” added Patterson. “Plus, with one click, anyone interested can access sale results dating back to 2007.” Also, LQHBA is proud to announce they are now on Facebook. Log onto www. facebook.com/LouisianaQuarterHorseBreedersAssociation to “like” the page and view up-to-date news and information about the Louisiana Quarter Horse industry, racing highlights, photos and much more. Become a “friend” by Feb. 28 for a chance to win a $100 gift card, courtesy of LQHBA. For more information on the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, visit their website at lqhba.com, or contact them at (318) 487-6033 (visit on Facebook or become a Twitter follower @LQHBA.
Arapaho Park, Aurora, CO February 18 arapahoe Park will connect purses to field sizes in 2015
Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colo., will pioneer a new program for its 2015 season that offers a bonus for races drawing large field sizes and a penalty for races with small fields. With the goal of featuring full-field races, all claiming races with field sizes of 10 or more will receive a purse increase of 10 percent. However, claiming races with field sizes of seven or less will have a 10-percent purse reduction. For allowance and maiden special weight races, a field of eight or more will trigger a 10-percent bonus. A field of six or less will decrease the purse by 10 percent. “The most important people in horse racing are our fans, and this program is designed to deliver a better product to them,” Arapahoe Park General Manager Bruce Seymore said. “Bigger field sizes mean more competitive races, and we also want to reward the horsemen that participate in these more competitive races.” Stakes races will maintain set purse values. In conjunction with the bonus for field sizes, the track will experiment with 20 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
eliminating eligibility conditions for all $5,000 claiming races, which represent a large part of the racing schedule. Arapahoe Park will also bring back the Race-Day Medication-Free Incentive program it created in 2014 that rewards trainers who win at Arapahoe Park with a horse void of any race-day medication with a $1,000 bonus per victory. The bonus comes from a special fund created by Mile High Racing and Entertainment, Arapahoe Park’s parent company. The program encourages trainers to go beyond the letter of the law that permits only Lasix, phenylbutazone (“bute”), flunixin, and ketoprofen on race day in Colorado. The bonuses will be paid out at the end of the season that concludes on August 16. “Between the bonuses for field sizes and for running without race-day medication, we hope we can send a message about where we think the future of horse racing should head,” Seymore said. Arapahoe Park will host 39 days of live Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Arabian racing from May 22 to August 16. The 2015 season includes a revamped stakes schedule that for the first time will feature two $100,000 Thoroughbred stakes races on the same day – the Arapahoe Park Classic and Gold Rush Futurity on August 16 – as well as two Quarter Horse stakes with estimated six-figure purses and four graded Arabian stakes.
Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA February 13 gary stevens gets 5,000th north american win aboard mandellaconditioned catch a Flight in $58,000 allowance feature Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens got his 5,000 North American win Friday aboard the Richard Mandella-trained Catch a Flight in Santa Anita’s $58,000 allowance feature, as the Argentine-bred horse by Giant’s Causeway motored to a neck victory while covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.09. Stevens, a 51-year-old native of Caldwell, Idaho, who has also ridden full-
his class to hold off longshot Sammy Mandeville close home in a field of seven older horses. Catch a Flight paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.40. Owned by Haras Santa Maria de Araras, Catch a Flight picked up his seventh win from 12 starts and with the winner’s share of $34,800, increased his earnings to $93,749–and quite possibly punched a ticket to the Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Handicap at a mile and a quarter on March 7. Hall of Fame jockey Gary “We’ll keep an eye on it,” Stevens, right, collected his said Mandella in reference 5,000th winner (in North to the Big ‘Cap. “He should America) aboard Catch a improve with this race and with Flight on Friday, Feb. 13, in added distance. I’m not sure the fourth race at Santa Anita we’ve seen his best race yet.” in Arcadia, Calif. As for the margin of vicPhoto courtesy of ©Benoit Photo tory, Stevens explained that Catch a Flight has waited on time in England, France and other horses in the morning Hong Kong, reached the 5,000 and that he wasn’t surprised world-wide plateau in 2005, when he appeared to do it after which he retired from the again today. saddle for seven years prior “In the mornings, any time to returning to active duty at a horse has come up and sort Santa Anita in January, 2013. of challenged him, he’s done A winner of three Kentucky exactly what he did here,” said Derbies, a record nine Santa Stevens. “(Sammy Mandeville) Anita Derbies, four Santa Anita is never going to get by him, Handicaps and 10 Breeders’ even galloping out, he never Cup races, Stevens is considdid get by him. I’m not sure this ered one of Racing’s all-time is even far enough for him…He greats–however his win Friday handled this just fine and it was aboard 4-5 favorite Catch a racehorse time, but he’s going Flight was not an easy one. to enjoy a little bit further, I “It’s very special,” said think. Stevens. “The owners, the “I worked him back in trainers have been nice enough November and I didn’t even to put me on all these good know he had conditions, but I horses through the years. It’s said ‘This might be our Big ‘Cap been a lot of hard work, a lot of horse.’ We’re all kind of thinking fun and obviously, I love it or I along the same lines, but we’ll wouldn’t be out there.” see how he comes out of it… Group I stakes placed in He’s definitely a Grade 1 type Brazil, 5-year-old Catch a Flight horse.” was third, beaten 2 ½ lengths Ridden by Kent in his U.S. debut with Stevens, Desormeaux, Sammy Mana one mile allowance on Jan. deville sat a close third at the 19. Stretching out a furlong rail, just inside the winner past today, Catch a Flight rated the half mile, swung four-wide kindly under Stevens and was turning for home and made the a close fifth past the half mile winner hustle late, although pole, took command turning he never overtook him on the for home and had to call upon gallop-out into the Club House
turn. Off at 8-1, Sammy Mandeville finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Motown Men and paid $5.60 and $4.40. Off at 30-1 with Felipe Valdez aboard, Motown Men paid $7.60 to show. Fractions on the race were 23.02, 46.86, 1:10.97 and 1:36.24. (Stevens, who became the 25th jockey to win 5,000 North American races, was joined in the Winner’s Circle by his wife, Angie and their 5-year-old daughter, Maddie. Stevens has won four Santa Anita Winter Meet titles and was leading rider three times at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree Meeting).
purse money. Louisiana Legends Night will take place on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4 this year. The annual event features eight stakes races for Louisianabred horses and total purse money of $700,000. The highlight of the evening will be the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic for 3-year-olds and up competing at 1-1/16 miles. Stall applications for the upcoming meet at Evangeline Downs are due by Friday, February 20. To request a stall application horsemen can call the Evangeline Downs racing office at 337-594-3015. The address to submit the application to is: Stall Application Committee, 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, Louisiana, 70570. The racing office fax number is 337-594-3166.
Evangeline Downs, Opelousas, LA February 11 evangeline downs releases 2015 thoroughbred stakes schedule
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino has released its Thoroughbred stakes for the 2015 season which gets underway on April 8. The Opelousas, La., track will offer 21 stakes races worth total purse money of $1.93 million during its 84day meeting that runs through August 29. The highlight of the new season will take place on May 30 when the track host the second running of the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint. The five-furlong race is one of the richest turf sprints in the country and should attract plenty of talented horses such as Heitai, who won the inaugural edition of the event in 2014. Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint Day will include a total of five stakes races worth $640,000 in
Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA February 12 Family day: Princesses, Ponies and superheros at Fair grounds, march 8
Fair Grounds will be hosting Family Day: Princesses, Ponies, and Superheroes presented by Double M Feed, Garden & Pet Supply on March 8. Between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., children will have the opportunity to meet Disney princesses Cinderella, Elsa, Ana, Tinker Bell and Rapunzel as well as enjoy a Superhero spectacular featuring Captain America, Batman and Spiderman. Admission to the tent for Family Day will be $5. Children 12 and under are free and must be accompanied by an adult. Food will be available for purchase in the tent, including hot dogs, chips, cookies and snoballs. Soft drinks, water, and other beverages will also be
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2015 Evangeline Downs stakes schedule Date April 24 April 25 May 1 May 2
Race Name Matron John Henry Tellike Need For Speed
Sex/Age FM3+ 3+ FM3+ 3+
Dist. 1m (Turf) 1m 1/16 (Turf) 5f (Turf) 5f (Turf)
Purse $60,000 G $60,000 G $60,000 G $60.000 G
Closing date 4/11/2015 4/11/2015 4/18/2015 4/18/2015
May 30 May 30 May 30 May 30 May 30
EVD Turf Sprint Day Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint Evangeline Mile Opelousas Lafayette* Acadiana*
3+ 3+ FM3+ 3yr La bred F3 La bred
5f (Turf) $300,000 G 5/9/2015 1 m $100,000 G 5/9/2015 1m 1/16 (Turf) $100,000 G 5/9/2015 7f $70,000 G 5/16/2015 7f $70,000 G 5/16/2015
July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4
Legends Night Louisiana Legends Classic Louisiana Legends Distaff Louisiana Legends Sprint Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle Louisiana Legends Turf Louisiana Legends Cheval Louisiana Legends Soiree Louisiana Legends Starter
3+ La bred FM3+ La bred 3+ La bred FM3+ La bred 3+ La bred 3 yr La bred F 3yr La bred 3+ La bred
1m 1/16 1m 1/16 5 1/2f 5 1/2f 1m 1/16 (Turf) 1m (Turf) 1m (Turf) 1m 1/16
$125,000 G $100,000 G $100,000 G $100,000 G $100,000 G $100,000 G $100,000 G $50,000 G
July 11 July 11 Aug. 29 Aug. 29
D.S. “Shine” Young (Filly Division) D.S. “Shine” Young (Colts & Geldings Division) Evangeline Downs Star** Evangeline Downs Starlet**
F2 La bred 2 La bred 2 yr F2
5 1/2f 5 1/2f 6f 6f
$100,000 G 6/20/2015 $100,000 G 6/20/2015 $75,000 G 8/8/2015 $75,000 G 8/8/2015
6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015 6/13/2015
forth from the festival to the horse races, which are run from 12:35 - 4:30 p.m. both days. For more information on the Taste Of Cuba festival, visit www. tasteofcubafestival.com.
Portland Meadows, Portland, OR February 18 Portland Meadows 2014-15 live race meet sees average daily handle increases over 2013-14 meet
Portland Meadows’ thirty-six day live racing season ended on Feb. 10, concluding G-Guaranteed; *Restricted: Horses which have not won a sweepstake; **Restricted: Horses must be Stars of Tomorrow sale graduates the 68th season of live racing that got underway on Oct. 12, 2014. Average daily handle a series of five mixed-media available for purchase. ing & Casino for a two-day run pieces dedicated to the artist’s was up as both in-state and Saturday Feb. 28 and Sunday In addition to meet and export handle saw increases Cuban heritage. March 1. greets with princesses and suthis season compared with the Perez noted that Carlos “We’re thrilled to have the perheroes, additional activities previous meet. include inflatables for jumping, opportunity to bring this won- Hernandez, Mayor of the City Average all-sources handle of Hialeah, was quick to offer derful event to a historic venue climbing and sliding along was $490,610 per race day, a his endorsement and support like Hialeah Park, ” said festival with several tables for color7.14 percent increase over the of the Taste Of Cuba Festival. organizer Fermin Perez. “My ing. Families will also have the previous season daily average “We received a wonderful letter goal with the Taste of Cuba has opportunity to meet miniature which was $457,924. In-state from the Mayor in which he been to showcase the culture I horses courtesy of Equestrian handle was up 8.08 percent expressed his confidence that was always curious about and Angel Therapeutic Outreach. to $42,634, up from last year’s the city with the largest Cuban the heritage that my parents Live racing begins with first average of $39,445 per race population in the United States instilled in me. It makes perfect post at 1:25 p.m. day. Export sales increased sense to have the 2015 festival will warmly welcome people 7.05 percent each race day to at the most iconic location in all from all over Miami and the $447,976 from last year’s aversurrounding communities to of Hialeah.” age of $418,479. the festival.” Festival goers will be “We had success with large The Taste Of Cuba Festival, treated to a variety of Cubancrowds on big event days and scheduled from 12 noon to themed entertainment, food, Hialeah Park, we are very pleased with the beverages, and art. Some of the midnight on Saturday Feb. 28 year over year increases in daily top restaurants in the area will and from 12 noon to 10 p.m. Hialeah, FL on Sunday March 1, takes place average in-state handle” said offer their exquisite culinary deFebruary 10 general manager Will Alemlights both days of the festival. during the final weekend of Taste Of Cuba Festival the live horse racing season pijevic. “It was also great to And the talented artist Alexat Hialeah Park Feb. 28 at Hialeah Park. Those attendsee horseplayers from all over ander Mijares will present his and March 1 ing can move easily back and respond to our new schedule newest works, “Me Recuerdo,” The highly popular Taste as Export sales were strong on Of Cuba Festival, which has both Tuesday and Sunday race become an annual “can’t miss” days.” event in South Florida, comes A total of $2,016,800 was to historic Hialeah Park Racpaid in out in purses during the 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
season for an average purse payout of $56,022 per race day. This represents a slight decrease from last season’s per race day payout, which was $56,372. The average number of starters per race increased for the second straight season. The 2014-15 season averaged 7.61 horses per race, up from 7.55 last season and 6.72 in 2012. On the track, jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores took home his first riding title as he led the Thoroughbred standings with 70 wins. Rigoberto Velasquez had 43 wins to win the Thoroughbred training title. Luis Gonzalez took home the Quarter Horse riding title with 19 scores while Nick Lowe was the leading trainer with 12 wins in the Quarter Horse standings.
Remington Park, Oklahoma City, OK February 11 First ever 13-sec. training race at Remington Park sets new record
able is trained by Alonza Xavier, Jr. The 2-year-old is a Texasbred by Inseperable from the Oak Tree Special mare Hy Oak Special. Running second, a halflength behind the record-setter was The Charm Of Corona, whose time of :13.084 also bested the old Remington Park 250-yard training race record of :13.147. Water Front posted the previous training race record on March, 12, 2014. HYO Inseperable set his new standard, aided by a 16 mph tailwind out of the north with a temperature of 50 degrees. The 2015 season opens on Friday, March 6 and runs through Saturday, May 30. Post times for the Opening Weekend of the season are 6 p.m. on Friday, March 6; 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7; and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.
February 8 Remington Park lowers minimums on a trio of wagers
The 2015 live racing calendar gets underway in one month at Remington Park with the beginning of the American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Remington Park began Season. Remington Park will training race opportunities to- open the season with lowered day for young horses preparing minimums on many exotic for the 2015 American Quarter wagers. Horse & Mixed-breed Season. For the first time since On the first day of the nonRemington Park opened in pari-mutuel events, a new track 1988, 50-cent minimum wagers record was posted with another will be offered on a regular balayer of history included. sis. The wagers being lowered HYO Inseperable, a 2-year- to the 50-cent level include the old gelding, streaked 250 yards Trifecta, Pick 3 and Primetime in the third of 13 training races Pick 4. on the day. He crossed the Remington Park experifinish in a remarkable :12.955 mented with a 50-cent Trifecta seconds over a fast track. The on certain race nights at the time was the first training race end of the 2014 Thoroughbred ever at Remington Park to crack Season. The bet minimum was the 13-second barrier. well received by all fans and Owned by Michelle Crock- horseplayers. Previously, the ett & Terry Irby, partnership of minimum for the Trifecta, Pick 3 Denison, Texas, HYO Inseperand Pick 4, was set at $1.
“Remington Park racing has enjoyed a renewed enthusiasm in recent years,” noted Matt Vance, vice president of racing and wagering. “Lowering the Trifecta, Pick 3 and Primetime Pick 4 to 50-cents allows us the opportunity to elevate the winning experience for all who play our races; locally, nationally and internationally.” The 50-cent trifecta will be available for every Remington Park race. The 50-cent Pick 3s will be offered starting with the third race on each program. The 50-cent Primetime Pick 4 takes place over the final four races at the end of the program. Remington Park will still offer $2 minimums on win, place and show straight wagers and the Daily Double. Exacta wagers will continue with a $1 minimum, as they have for years. The Superfecta will still carry a 10-cent minimum, as it has since 2005.
February 4 Master Performance gets first official workout of Remington Park pre-season
Morning training is underway at Remington Park as trainers were allowed to bring horses to the racing surface for the first time this morning. Master Performance, a 3-yearold Oklahoma-bred gelding, had the first official workout of the pre-season. Remington Park opens the 2015 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season on March 6. Owned by Andrew Smith of Ardmore, Okla. and trained by Luis Villafranco, Master Performance worked 220 yards over a fast track in :12.40 seconds handily under jockey Mario Delgado. Mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 40s greeted horses on the first day of training. A winner of one race from six attempts, Master Perfor-
mance posted the work under the eye of Remington Park official clocker Vicky Grothaus just after the track opened at 7 a.m. Master Performance made one start at Remington Park last year as a 2-year-old. He broke his maiden status in October 2014 at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. He is a son by Dance Master from the Power Train mare Powerful Performance.
Ruidoso Downs, NM January 22 Ruidoso Downs horses shine in annual championship honors
Ruidoso Downs Futurity winner Kiss My Hocks was honored as champion two-year-old and champion 2-year-old colt as horses who raced at Ruidoso Downs last summer did very well during the announcements of the 2014 world champion Quarter Horses in Oklahoma City on Jan. 21. Kiss My Hocks was also a very close second as the 3-10 favorite in the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity. He won six of seven 2014 starts and earned $692,380. The Toby Keeton-trained Kiss My Hocks is expected to return to Ruidoso Downs this summer for the three Grade 1 derbies: the $800,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby, the $1 million (est.) Rainbow Derby and the $2.3 million (est.) All American Derby. Kiss My Hocks’ owners Conda Maze and Tyler Graham, who have a three-horse stable, were named champion owners. They also raced Grade 1 winner Lovethewayyoulie at Ruidoso Downs. Ruidoso competitors Hes SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 23
He was also presented with the Sam Thompson Award at Ruidoso Downs last summer and his mounts earned $2.8 million last year. The Thompson award is from his fellow jockeys for character on and off the track. New Mexico horsewoman Jamie Zamora was honored with the prestigious Mildred N. Vessels Achievement Award. Kiss My Hocks winning the Ruidoso Futurity, Cody Jensen up. Kiss My The award is given to a woman Hocks and Jensen each earned 2014 champion awards for their service in Quarter Photo courtesy of Roberta Harris, Ruidoso Downs Race Track Horse racing. Zamora is a breast cancer Relentless, Jess Walking Thru, Restricted Grade 2, $139,493 survivor and organized Pink Foxy Moonflash, Jesscuzican Zia Derby at Ruidoso Downs Day at New Mexico tracks to and Wahoo also earned cham- and then reeled off four raise money for breast cancer pionship titles. straight wins, including three research and treatment. She Owned by R.D. Hubbard, stakes against state-breds, has raised more than $30,000. A Johnny Cope, Tom Maher to wrap up her sophomore Pink Day is held every summer and Bill Maher, Hes Relentcampaign. at Ruidoso Downs. less showed consistency is Darian Burt’s homebred The horses she trained rewarded and was honored as Jesscuzican was honored as have earned $3.1 million. champion three-year-old colt. champion aged stallion. At The summer racing season He was third in the Grade 1, Ruidoso Downs for trainer Wes at Ruidoso Downs begins on $1,048,000 Rainbow Derby at Giles, the stallion was second May 22 with the first of two Ruidoso Downs. He then won in the Grade 1, $200,000 All days of Ruidoso Futurity trials. the Grade 3, $175,121 Hobbs American Gold Cup; the Grade The meet runs through Labor America Derby and was a close 3, $30,000 Higheasterjet Stakes Day when the Grade 1, $3 milsecond in Grade 1, $350,000 and the Grade 3, $20,000 Mr lion (est.) All American Futurity The Championship at Sunland Jet Moore Stakes. is contested. The All American Park for trainer Jason OlmBobby Cox’s homebred Futurity has the largest purse stead. Wahoo took the champion dis- of any 2-year-old race in the Jess Walking Thru, owned tance horse award. The gelding world. by Gary and Linda Gordon from the John Buchanan barn For complete Ruidoso with Ross Roark, was named won the $30,000 Master Salls Downs’ information, go to champion 2-year-old filly. She Handicap over 870 yards in his www.raceruidoso.com, visit made three starts at Ruidoso sole Ruidoso Downs’ start. the Ruidoso Downs Race Track Downs with a win in an allowRuidoso Downs’ horsemen and Casino Facebook page and ance race. She had no chance also shined in championship follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@ in her Ruidoso Futurity trial honors. RuiPressBox) on Twitter. when she was squeezed into Trainer Paul Jones earned the inside rail and sustained a his record 13th consecutive laceration that required dozens Blane Schvaneveldt Champion of stitches. She still came back Trainer title. Horses he trained to run fifth in her All Ameriearned $3,313,455. His New can Futurity trial. The Mike Mexico operation is managed Robbins-trained miss thrived by Lisa Saumell while Jones last fall with a win in the Grade is based at Los Alamitos Race Sam Houston Race 1, $381,000 Dash For Cash FuCourse. turity and a third in the Grade Ruidoso Downs’ reguPark, Houston, TX 1, $2 million Los Alamitos Two lar Cody Jensen was named February 4 Million. champion jockey. Last summer Bobby Simmon’s New at Ruidoso Downs, he won the Dollar Day and $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint at Mexico-bred Foxy Moonflash Ruidoso Futurity on Kiss My was named champion 3-yearHocks and the Rainbow Derby Sam Houston Race Park old filly. The Sleepy GilbreathSam Houston Race Park on Houdini. He has won five of trained miss was second in the the last nine Rainbow derbies. hosted Dollar Day Feb. 7 where 24 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
admission, live racing programs, hot dogs, sodas, and draft beer (4:30-10 p.m.) were be available for just $1. This included the first ever Swifty Swine Pig Races, live racing and the dollar menu. For more information on Dollar Day, 50 Cent Beer Fridays, or other upcoming promotions, visit www.shrp. com.
Solar Charge returned in the $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint
Saturday night’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park was the $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint, for accredited Texasbreds at five-furlongs over the Connally Turf Course. Multiple stakes winner, Solar Charge, was the 2-1 morning line favorite. The 8-year-old son of Authenticate is trained by Ellen Williams and has won 15 career races, including the 2012 Spirit of Texas and 2013 Bucharest Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. Bred by Carolyn Barnett and co-owned by Barnett and Lana and David Alford, Solar Charge rallied for second in last year’s edition of the Bucharest, which was won by 2014 Sam Houston Race Park Horse of the Meet, Triumph and Song, Solar Charge successfully turned the tables on Triumph and Song with a victory in the $50,000 Premiere Stakes at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie on April 10. Solar Charge drew post position five in the six-horse stakes and will be ridden by Lindey Wade. The field also includes Caroline Dodwell’s Aces N Jacks, winner of the 2014 Groovy Stakes. Dodwell, who also trains the 4-year-old son of Jet Phone, has given the mount to Lindey Wade. Trainer Danny Pish and rider Deshawn Parker, won the previous weekend’s Tomball Stakes with I Am Jane Dough. The duo
teamed up in the Bucharest with Margo Narro’s Proper’N Storme, who broke his maiden here on Jan. 16 and steps up to stakes company in just his second start. Every Saturday, Sam Houston Race Park offered the $20,000-Guaranteed Pick 4, on races 7-10; the Bucharest Turf Sprint will run as the ninth race of the card. The feature is named for the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set three track records at Sam Houston Race Park, including the lighteningfast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, which remains the current track record.
Rose Mary Chandler breeds another turf stakes winner
Saturday, Jan. 31, Rose Mary Chandler’s homebred, I Am Jane Dough, was a game winner in the $50,000 Tomball Distaff at Sam Houston Race Park. It was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old filly, trained by Danny Pish and ridden to victory by Sam Houston Race Park’s leading jockey, Deshawn Parker. Chandler, who resides in Luling, Texas, was not able to make it to Houston, but shared her fascinating history about the naming of her stakes winning filly. “I Am Jane Dough didn’t come in this world running forward,” said Chandler. ”She was a breach baby. We got a call from Elgin Veterinarian Clinic
around midnight, April 2nd, 2011, saying Strawberry Smile was having problems and it would be costly. Of course we said to do whatever possible to save the mare, and if possible, the baby, too. After many exhausting hours, Jane Wallace from Elgin Vet called to say all was okay and we had a baby elephant horse! Jane had been with the doctor all night working and is a dear friend and horse woman. Because of the cost of the bill, ‘Dough’ came to my mind. I had to include Jane in her name, and it all came together.” Chandler has bred some exceptional Texas champions. Skip a Smile was honored as 2011 Texas Thoroughbred Association Horse of the Year, and won eight stakes, including the $50,000 Texas Hall of Fame at Retama Park and the $50,000 Richard King at Sam Houston Race Park. Chandler and her husband, Wendell, give high praise to Strawberry Smile, the dam of both I Am Jane Dough and Skip a Smile. “Strawberry Smile is the sweetest mare in the world,” acknowledges Chandler. “She had breeding problems so Wendell and I decided to give her permanent retirement on our ranch in the Golden Manor section. She really thinks she’s “people” and enjoys a sandwich and beer every once in a while just for fun and show.” In addition to her Thoroughbred stakes winners, Chandler also bred and owned
Acorn, a multiple graded stakes Quarter Horse champion. He is part of a prestigious group of racehorses reunited in retirement. “Skip A Smile is truly enjoying free running in the big pastures at our ranch,” she explained. “He is joined by his constant companion, Cowboy Sam, a small horse who was his loyal friend and stable mate, all through his racing career. Skip A Smile has two other retired buddies with him and the four enjoy endless hours of frolicking. One of his companions is Acorn, the 2010 Quarter Horse 3-Year Old Champion Gelding and the 2011 Texas Champion Aged Gelding. The foursome is rounded out with Lydia’s Last Step, who was a Texas Thoroughbred stakes winner. All three were foaled in 2007, raised together, and played as weanlings and yearlings. They thoroughly enjoy being back together again.” As for I Am Jane Dough, Chandler expects her to return to the Connally Turf Course on Feb. 28 to compete in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes.
up-to-date information on the contenders was available at kentuckyderby.com. There will be two more opportunities to place a Derby Future wager: Feb. 27-March 1 and March 27-29. Sam Houston Race Park will also offer the only Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool Feb. 27-March 1. Sam Houston Race Park is Host Site for Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna Sam Houston Race Park is pleased to be the host site for a unique and exquisite entertainment experience of Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna. Amaluna, which will open on Feb. 12, invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s comingof-age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between ProsKentucky Derby Future pera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a Wager offered For racing fans already love that will be put to the test. focusing on the 141st Kentucky The couple must face numerDerby, Sam Houston Race Park ous demanding trials and offered the second pool of the overcome daunting setbacks 2015 Kentucky Derby Future before they can achieve mutual Wager. trust, faith and harmony. There were 23 individual Amaluna will run through 3-year-olds and a 24th betMarch 22; for showtimes and ting option for the field. The to order tickets, visit www.shrp. minimum wager was $2 and com.
Providing Multimedia, Advertising, Marketing and Design Services P.O. Box 7261 Ruidoso, NM 88355 575.937.9330 By appointment only SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 25
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RACE RECAPS - QH & TB PHOTO CREDITS: 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
Metaboss
CALIFORNIA
Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CA February 14 metaboss wins $200,000 el camino Real derby with big stretch kick
on Jan. 4, went off at odds of 6-1 in the El Camino Real Derby and paid $15.20 after clocking a time of 1:49.92 on the synthetic Tapeta racing surface. “I just wanted to save some ground and be patient,” said Solis. “At the half-mile pole I asked him a little bit and he kicked on right away, so I grabbed him and said, ‘whoa, whoa.’ I said I was going to wait until I got to the five-sixteenths to ask him and
Metaboss gave trainer Jeff Bonde of Pleasanton his first victory in the Grade 3 $200,000 El Camino Real Derby when he rallied from eighth in a field of 10 to win Northern California’s official Kentucky Derby prep race going away Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Metaboss was forced to race very wide coming into the stretch but the extra real estate proved to be no problem for the Kentucky-bred son of Street Boss as he took the lead inside the eighth pole and was lengthening his advantage at the wire. Ridden by Hall of Famer Alex Solis, Metaboss won the 1 1/8-mile feature for 3-year-olds by 2 1/2 lengths over California Derby winner Cross the Line and jockey Juan Hernandez. Conquest Typhoon, the 9-5 favorite ridden by Mike Smith, finished third, a neck behind Cross the Line. Metaboss, who was coming off a 1 1/2-length victory in a 1 1/8-mile maiden allowance race on the turf at Santa Anita SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 27
Sharla Rae
that’s what I did. He caught them quick. He kept opening up on them. He ran a mile and an eighth today, now we just need a mile and a quarter (the Kentucky Derby distance) and we’re in business.” Bonde said Metaboss has improved as he’s been given more distance to cover. “In the sprints he was in with tough horses with a lot of speed but when we stretched him out you could see the difference,” said Bonde. “When you’ve got a 3-year-old, you’re hoping you can make it to the Kentucky Derby. There are a lot of steppingstones on the way, and you have to make sure you’re at your best on that given day. We’ll look at it a lot closer this week and decide where we go from here. I don’t see dirt as a problem because he’s trained very well on it at Santa Anita.” Conquest Typhoon, who rallied from last to win the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes on the turf at Del Mar in his previous race on Nov. 30, went to the lead on the backstretch when Smith had enough of the soft fractions (opening quarter of a mile in 25.29 and half mile in 49.25). “Since there was no pace, I thought I’d try to pull something different (and go to the front),” said Smith. “I thought, 28 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
MataBari
when something is coming this easy, you can’t take it away. The winner just beat me, that’s all. The winner is a nice horse. I was never going to beat the winner. He beat us pretty handy.” Metaboss, purchased as a 2-year-old for $60,000, earned $120,000 for the El Camino Real Derby victory. The chestnut colt is owned in partnership by Milan McFetridge, Mersad Metanovic, Daniel Preiss, Arndt, and Azcarate.
February 7 sharla Rae completes stakes hat trick Sharla Rae notched her third career stakes victory at Golden Gate Fields when she ran down front-running favorite Glory in the final strides to capture the $51,615 California Oaks. Sharla Rae, ridden by Silvio Amador, defeated 4-5 choice Glory and jockey Russell Baze by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds fillies. Star Via Strada, ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Despite being the only stakes winner in the field of eight, Sharla Rae went off at odds of 4-1 and returned $10 after collecting her fourth win in eight career starts. Always
within striking distance, Sharla Rae came from off the pace to win the Oaks in 1:44.46. “As soon as we broke I knew I had a lot of horse, and I was able to get into a good position right away,” said Amador. “She started to drift in a little bit in the stretch, but as soon as I switched the stick to my left hand she straightened out and finished strong. She’s a nice filly.” Sharla Rae is a Kentuckybred filly by Afleet Alex who was purchased as a yearling for $22,000. Owned by W. C. Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill, Sharla Rae earned $30,400 for the Oaks win and has made $169,595 in her eight outings. Sharla Rae won a pair of stakes as a 2-year-old – the $100,000 Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos and the $75,420 Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Glory, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit and a $260,000 yearling purchase, was coming off an impressive win in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden allowance race at Santa Anita. Although she didn’t get the victory, Glory impressed Baze with her effort. “No excuses, she just got a little tired late,” said Baze. “It was her first time going around turns and she never quit on me.
She kept trying and just didn’t have enough left. I’m pretty proud of the way she ran. She’s a genuine filly and nice to ride.”
Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA February 15 matabari holds off moonist to win the Los alamitos Winter championship Balgo Racing Team LLC and Marlyn Gonzalez’s Matabari did not make any mistakes on the way to spoiling champion Moonist’s bid to win his 10th race in a row in Sunday’s Grade 1, $169,800 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Ridden by Santiago Mendez for trainer Felix Gonzalez, Matabari broke slightly behind Moonist in the 400-yard race, but she quickly accelerated to take the lead on the way to scoring victory by a head in a time of :19.761. It was a trifecta of champions, as Matabari was the champion 3-year-old filly in 2013, while runner-up Moonist was 2014’s overall champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding, and third
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB place finisher Jake Gold Br was the International champion last year. Bred by Balgo’s Jose Maria Gonzalez, Matabari has enjoyed a tremendous racing career. The daughter of Mr Jess Perry won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in 2012, and the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby the following year. Matabari did not win either of her two starts as a 4-year-old last year, but she bounced back in a big way tonight. She’s now the third distaffer to ever win the Winter Championship, joining 2014 winner Nellie Delaney and 2002 winner Corona Kool in the process. “She didn’t do great last year, but we were still pointing her to this race,” Gonzalez said. “If she doesn’t win this race, she would have been retired. We’ll keep running her now. We’ll give her some time off. We’ll send her to Lazy E Ranch to breed her to Corona Cartel and then we’ll bring her back. We got an embryo out of her (by Corona Cartel) last year and that baby could be born any day now.” Matabari earned $71,136 for the win to take her career earnings to $1,410,291. That figure is believed to make her fifth richest money earning Quarter Horse mare of all-time only behind Blues Girl Too ($2,032,328), Heartswideopen ($1,885,283), Dashingly ($1,754,323), and Corona Cash ($1,542,880). To be horse to end Moonist’s winning streak, which is one of longest in the history of Los Alamitos, is just another accomplishment that she can add to her impressive resume. “I’m very surprised right now,” the owner added. “She beat a great champion in Moonist. There were a lot of very nice runners in this race. We thought she had a shot because Matabari is very tough as well. She broke fast. We were
shouting and screaming for her at the wire. It was a close race and I waited to make sure that she had won it before I started celebrating. She just broke too fast. My kids, my family, my friends are all here so it’s exciting. We also have her half sister here in training. She’s a 2-yearold filly by Walk Thru Fire out of Hold Me Now. We have her to be excited about.” For Felix Gonzalez, the Winter Championship was a return to the spotlight for the veteran trainer. In his career, Gonzalez has trained likes of champion Hawkish and PCQHRA Breeders Futurity winner Valiantly, and multiple Grade 1 finalist Two Corona Special. “It had been a while since I’ve won a big race like this one,” the trainer said. “It’s good to be back. I’ve only had Matabari for a month, but I’ve always been a big fan of this mare and I’ve watched her for a long, long time. She has a huge heart and she always tries so hard. She never gives up. She was a little nervous this morning, but when she was in the saddling paddock she was relaxed. She’s a classy mare.” The start of the race proved to be the key to victory according to jockey Santiago Mendez. “She did not break that great in the trials, but she came on strong to finish second in that race,” he said. “I was just hoping that she could get a good start because I knew that she would finish. She ended up getting a great start and then we started battling with Moonist. With 50 yards to go, she really started taking off. She finished very strong.” Mendez was sidelined for several months in 2014, as he recovered from injuries suffered in an accident in the winner’s circle on the night of the Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity on June 15. “I’ve had a few knocks, but
Ynot Walk
I’m fortunate to be back and I feel great,” said the 26-year-old jockey. “I’ve won some nice races over the years. I won the Golden State Million Futurity with One Sweet Jess and won the Vessels Maturity with Blues Man Too. Matabari is an honest mare just filled with a lot of heart. She gives it her all.” Ron and Jeryl Hartley’s Moonist earned $28,866 for running second for trainer John Cooper and jockey Cesar De Alba. The Separatist gelding has now earned $492,084. In 22 career starts, he’s won 14 races and finished second in three other races. “He ducked in a little bit at the start,” Cooper said. “The law of averages will catch you if you have enough races. He never leveled out until it was close to (the end of the race). I was too late. That’s what happens.” “He broke good,” De Alba said. “I thought we were in good shape during the race, but I just couldn’t shake (Matabari) off. She just beat us.” Clodoaldo De Oliveria Miranda’s Jake Gold Br earned $20,376 for running third. Paul Jones saddled Jake Gold Br, who was ridden by Joe Badilla Jr. Remarkableyesapoweer, Far Niente, French Fury, Wagon Tales, Tres Pescado, New Look and Seperate Inter-
est completed the field.
February 14 Ynot Walk runs away with victory in Los Alamitos Winter Derby Why run when you can Walk? In the case of the Grade 1, $208,850 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, the impressive Ynot Walk was the fastest way to the finish line, as the Californiabred gelding led from start to finish en route to a half length victory over fastest qualifier Apolitical Zoom on Saturday at Los Alamitos. Owned by RTM Stables LLC and George Weldon, Ynot Walk lugged in from post number 10, but he was still too much for his nine rivals to handle in the 400yard race. Ridden by Guillermo Suarez for trainer Rafael Orozco, the son of Walk Thru Fire covered the distance in :19.870 while picking up his fourth win in 11 starts. Three of Ynot Walk’s four victories have come in stakes races at Los Alamitos. He won the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge and the Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational last year before walking away with the first place share of the purse in the Winter Derby. “When I saw him in the paddock, I thought he was in SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 29
for a big race,” said Weldon’s wife, Judy. “He’s getting better and better. He likes 400 yards. He was the littlest guy in the race, but 400 yards does not scare him at all.” For the Weldon’s, the victory in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby was their biggest at the Orange County oval. “This is our first Grade 1 race at Los Alamitos, but our homebred Lotta Dynasty won the ($158,800) Mile High Futurity at (Arapahoe Park) last year,” she added. The Weldons have been involved with Quarter Horses since 1983 when George gave money to his boss at the time to buy him a horse from David Plummer at a horse sale in Apple Valley. “I was working at an oil company at the time and my boss was involved in horse racing,” said George, a native of Vernal, Utah. “”I couldn’t go to the sale so he ended up telling me that he would buy me something at the sale. He bought me a colt named Kipomatic and I ended up racing him and standing him at stud for a long time. He did well for me. He won some races and also sired some colts that made me some money. Kipomatic lived until he was 28-years-old.” George Weldon trained horses in the Wyoming racing circuit that included tracks in Evanston, Casper, Gillette, and Rock Springs. He also raced horses in Utah and enjoyed his Quarter Horses in the chariot racing circuit. As Weldon’s oil field construction company grew, he had less time to train his horses. “The oil company paid more bills than the horses so I had to spend more time with it. I’ve worked for Chevron since 1987 and we had other clients in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. The company finances the horses. My son runs the 30 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
company more and more now. I’m now at the barn most mornings. I love being at the barn. I also run chariots. I have two teams. I am a driver of one team and my friend, Geno Flannery, who was a jockey and rode a lot of winners for me, is the driver of the other team.” Weldon is also stands a couple of stallions, including Harems Last Dash, who stands at AVS Equine Hospital in Tallahassee, Florida, and is also part of the FDD Dynasty and Stel Corona syndicates. “ ‘Scoop’ Vessels made sure I was in the FDD Dynasty syndicate and we jumped at the chance to join,” he said. “We also bought a half sister to Ynot Walk sired by Favorite Cartel at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale last year,” George Weldon added. The Weldons raced Ynot Walk in partnership with the Hanson family’s RTM Stables. “Jim Hanson called me a couple of years ago and asked me if I wanted to partner up. Up to that point my wife was the only partner that I had ever had, but I had known the Hansons for a long time.” At the 2013 Equine Sale, George and Jim’s son, Ryan Hanson, went together to look at Ynot Walk. They both came away impressed with the Steve Burns-bred product of Walk Thru Fire out of the broodmare Ynot Bar. Sired by Chicks Beduino, Ynot Bar won $136,480 in her career that included finishing second in the Governor’s Cup Futurity and qualifying to the Los Alamitos Million Futurity. Ynot Walk earned $87,717 for winning the Winter Derby to take his career earnings to $129,147. Denny and Kris Hill’s Apolitical Zoom earned $35,504 for running second. The filly by Apollitical Jess was sixth at the start, but she quickly found her stride and was the only runner
within striking distance of Ynot Walk in the final 100 yards of the race. Bret Vickery saddled Apolitical Zoom, who was ridden by Carlos Huerta. Ed Allred and Steve Burns’ Cartels Big Gun, a full brother to 2013 AQHA champion 2-yearold colt Five Bar Cartel, earned $25,062 for finishing in third place. Carlos Huerta piloted him for trainer Scott Willoughby. The field to the Winter Derby was completed by Old Six Six, Face The Mark, James First Affair, Walk The Catwalk, Chowchilla Dreamin, Wild Sixes Cartel, and SMS Boogie Nanu.
Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA February 16 diversy Harbor takes advantage of torrid pace and tags favored La tia late to win $200,000 buena Vista stakes; stevens, Proctor combine for 3/4 length win at a mile on turf Diversy Harbor, with Gary Stevens up, took advantage of a blistering early pace scenario and flew late to defeat 3-5 favorite La Tia by three quarters of a length in Monday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes, as she covered one mile on turf in 1:34.33. Ridden by eastern-based Joel Rosario, La Tia broke running from the rail and cleared Blingismything by one length around the Club House turn, but “Bling,” who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux turned up the heat down the backside and around the far turn, resulting in fractions of 23.12, 46.49, 1:10.05 and 1:22.05. “Kent chirped to his
filly leaving the gate and I said ‘Good, somebody’s gonna put some pressure on La Tia,’” said Stevens, who broke from post position three in a field of six older fillies and mares. “She’s matured a lot, she’s push button. She showed a nice kick. I can’t believe how much she’s matured. Like all good fillies, she’s got a mind of her own, but she’s gotten more cooperative and I’ve gotten to know her a lot better too from working her in the mornings…They really picked it up at the half and I was content to sit back there until I could get out.” Trained by Tom Proctor and owned by Leonard Lavin’s Glen Hill Farm, Diversy Harbor was off at 9-2 and paid $11.80, $3.40 and $3. A 4-year-old Kentuckybred filly by Curlin, she’s out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks. Second, beaten a nose in her most recent start, the Grade 3, 1 1/8 miles turf Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Dec. 27, Diversy Harbor improved her record to 10-3-4-1 and with the winner’s share of $120,000, hiked her earnings to $377,190. “He (Kent Desormeaux on Blingismything) did help her on the pace,” said Proctor assistant Aimee Dollase. “That’s what she’s been lacking in a lot of her races, is a pace up front, but she still closes really strong, so that definitely helped us today.” A dedicated front runner, La Tia, ridden by Joel Rosario, had been idle since annexing the Grade 1, one mile turf Matriarch on Nov. 30 at Del Mar and was in search of her third consecutive win for trainer Armando de la Cerda. “She was going easy, even when that horse (Blingismything) came to our outside, she was still comfortable,” said Rosario. “She did everything she could but we just got beat. We were second best today.” Off at 3-5, La Tia finished three quarters of a length in
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
Diversy Harbor
front of pace nemesis Blingismything and paid $2.40 and $2.20. Off at 10-1, Blingismything paid $3.60 to show.
February 16 Course specialist Bettys Bambino heads deep and competitive field in $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes
Course specialist Bettys Bambino heads a field of eight older California-bred or sired horses in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. A winner of the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes down the hill on Dec. 28, the Peter Eurtonconditioned Bettys Bambino seeks his fourth consecutive win over the course and his sixth win from 10 career starts. Bred in California by Alesia, Ciaglia and Mellen, the 5-year-old Unusual Heat gelding is owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC. A gem of consistency, Bettys Bambino has four wins and a third from five starts down the hill and has earnings of $258,036. Blessed with ample tactical speed, he’ll be ridden by Martin Garcia, who has been aboard for his last four trips to
Bettys Bambino
the post. Trainer Mark Glatt’s Boozer, a sharp second to highly regarded Alert Bay in the California Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 24, cuts back in distance and has an impressive 6-3-2-1 resume down the hillside. A 5-year-old gelding by Unusual Heat, he’s owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood and will be ridden back by Gary Stevens. Although he’s shortening up, he’s been on or near the lead in all of his hillside races. Boozer is 14-5-3-2 overall with earnings of $345,242. Third, beaten a neck by Alert Bay in the Cal Cup Turf Classic, Patriots Rule will hope for a fast pace in his first hillside attempt. Trained by Sean Williams, the 4-year-old gelding by Tribal Rule is owned by Charles Garvey and has an overall mark of 14-4-2-3. He has earnings of $271,920 and will be handled by regular pilot Fernando Perez. Seventh, beaten just three lengths in the Grade 1, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 1, Pamela Ziebarth’s homebred Ambitious Brew enters the Sensational Star fresh and dangerous for trainer Marty Jones. Second, beaten a nose in the Grade 3 Eddie D. Stakes down the hill two starts back on Sept. 26, Ambitious Brew won last year’s Sensational Star and has
three wins and a second from five starts down the hillside. A 5-year-old gelding by Tizbud, Ambitious Brew is 9-4-4-0 overall with earnings of $247,920. Trainer Carla Gaines’ Big Bane Theory finished fourth, beaten three quarters of a length to Alert Bay and is one of three horses exiting the Cal Cup Turf Classic. Owned and bred by Scott Gross and Mark Devereaux, the 6-year-old horse by Artie Schiller won his only start down the hill. Idle since June 8, speedy Pathway to Yes draws the outside post for trainer Dan Blacker and will be ridden for the first time by Tyler Baze. The Harris Farms homebred gelding by Lucky J.H. is undefeated in two starts down the hill and will be making his seventh career start on Saturday. Idle since winning the Cal Cup Turf Classic on Jan. 25, 2014, trainer Brian Koriner’s Weewinnin tries the hill for the first time in his seventh career start. Owned by e-Racing.Com, Gray, Gray, Lyons and partners, the 5-year-old Comic Strip gelding is 6-3-1-0 overall with earnings of $281,880. A winner of the Cal Cup Sprint going six furlongs on Jan. 24, trainer Paul Aguirre’s Spirit Rules has ample natural speed and tries the hillside for
the first time. A 6-year-old Tribal Rule gelding, he’s owned by Accardy, Murphy, Siedler and partners. He’s 16-5-2-4 overall with earnings of $318,378. The complete field for the Sensational Star Stakes, to be run as the eighth race on a nine-race card Saturday, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Patriots Rule, Fernando Perez, 118; Boozer, Gary Stevens, 123; Weewinnin, Elvis Trujillo, 118; Bettys Bambino, Martin Garcia, 123; Big Bane Theory, Joe Talamo, 123; Ambitious Brew, Brice Blanc, 118; Spirit Rules, Iggy Puglisi, 123, and Pathway to Yes, Tyler Baze, 118.
February 15 Favored Bench Warrant smokes late to take $75,000 Baffle Stakes; Baze, Sadler team for neck victory down hillside turf With scintillating fractions to run at, favored Bench Warrant flew from far off the pace to take Sunday’s $75,000 Baffle Stakes by a neck under Tyler Baze, as he bested seven 3-year-old rivals in getting 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.43. Trained by John Sadler, Bench Warrant was last as the
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Warren’s Veneda
field crossed over the main track at the top of the stretch, and with pacesetter Serbian Syclone setting suicidal splits of 20.91, 42.20 and 1:06.15, the complexion of the race changed completely with a sixteenth of a mile to run. “When they were 15 or 20 lengths in front of me, I knew how fast they were going up front,” said Baze. “I just had to have confidence. Even though they were spread out turning for home and it got tight for a second, he went right through there and made the hole we were running for. He’s only going to get better with more distance.” Bench Warrant, who was a close fourth in the Grade 2, seven furlong San Vicente Stakes Feb. 1, was off at 9-5 and paid $5.80, $3.80 and $2.60. A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Street Boss, Bench Warrant got his third win from six starts and with the winner’s share of $48,300, he increased his earnings to $177,060. “When I saw that first quarter in 20 and four, I felt pretty good because this horse has a lot of heart,” said Sadler assistant, Larry Benavidez. “We’d like to keep him running down the hill, but I don’t think there’s anything for him for a while… I’d say he’s still getting better at 32 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
Wasted At Midnight
racing. He’s a neat horse.” Ridden by Flavien Prat, Pain and Misery was mid-pack early and made the lead a sixteenth out when Serbian Syclone faltered but could not hold off the winner and finished second, one length in front of Diamond Majesty. Off at 10-1, Pain and Misery paid $8.60 and $4.60. Diamond Majesty, with Rafael Bejarano up, rallied from far back to be third, finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of Jazzy Josh, who had been forwardly placed early. Off at 9-2, Diamond Majesty paid $3.60 to show.
who notched her second win in a row and got her first graded stakes victory, was the second choice in a field of eight older fillies and mares at 9-5 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $2.60. “I was on her when she broke her maiden a couple of years ago and I knew she was a nice filly then,” said Baze. “Going into the first turn I thought about taking her back and dropping her in, but I told myself to just have confidence and I knew she was the best in the field. I lost a little ground, which I really don’t like doing but she was the best. She amazes me, she’s just a great animal.” February 14 A 5-year-old mare out of Warren’s Veneda rolls the Flying Continental mare to 2 ¾ length win in More Cal Bread, Warren’s Veneda improved her overall $200,000 Santa Maria mark to 21-7-3-5 and with the Stakes; Baze, Lewis combine for win as Cal- winner’s share of $120,000, increased her bankroll to bred mare gets 1 1/16 $587,612. miles in 1:43.18 “I guess when you’re the Although she was caught best horse, that’s what you do wide around both turns, War(go wide and win),” said Lewis. ren’s Veneda rallied from off the “It takes a very good horse pace to an emphatic 2 ¾ length to overcome that trip, but Tyler knew what he had and win in the Grade 2, $200,000 didn’t want to get stopped, so Santa Maria Stakes at Santa everything worked out well… Anita, as the California-bred She’s an Amazon…We’ll probdaughter of Affirmative covably come back in the Santa ered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.18. Trained by Craig Lewis and Margarita (Grade 1, $400,000 at 1 1/8 miles on March 14).” owned by her breeder, BenjaLongshot Uzziel, who was min C. Warren, Warren’s Veneda,
ridden by Fernando Perez, sat a close third into the far turn and held favored Thegirlinthatsong safe by a length to finish second. The biggest price in the field at 52-1, Uzziel paid $38.40 and $11.60. Thegirlinthatsong, who came off a 4 ¼ length win in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on Jan. 17, was a close fourth into and around the far turn under Rafael Bejarano and didn’t appear to have any excuses in running third. Off at 9-5, she paid $2.60 to show.
February 12 Wasted at Midnight is all heart winning $60,000 Santa Anita Allowance under Garcia; Mandella charge gets 6 furlongs in 1:09.43 Wasted At Midnight, sent from the rail under Martin Garcia, proved ultra game in taking Thursday’s $60,000 allowance feature at Santa Anita, as she prevailed by a nose while covering six furlongs in 1:09.43. “I let her break, I took a position and when I asked her, she just responded and she made it,” said Garcia. Trained by Richard Mandella, Wasted At Midnight shook loose of Tempe around the far
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
Birdlover
turn, was immediately engaged by 5-2 favorite Harlington’s Rose at the quarter pole and just held off the late charge of Clearly Confused to carry the day at 5-1 in a field of six older fillies and mares. Owned by Ellen and Peter O. Johnson, Sr., the 5-year-old Florida-bred mare by Midnight Lute paid $12.40, $5.40 and $3.20. In her second start of the year, Wasted At Midnight improved her overall record to 15-3-3-2 and with the winner’s share of $36,000, she hiked her earnings to $170,790. “It was a perfect trip,” said Mandella. “She looked like she could be the speed of the race if she wanted and she broke there wanting to run. Martin did a great job slowly taking it, not in any hurry and she had something left to fight ‘em off.” Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Clearly Confused was last, about nine lengths off the lead at the three eighths pole and wheeled five-wide turning for home to just miss while finishing a half length in front of Harlington’s Rose. Off at 7-2, Clearly Confused paid $3.80 and $2.60. Harlington’s Rose, ridden by Joe Talamo, had dead aim on the winner with three sixteenths of a mile to run but flattened out late to finish third,
Shared Belief
8 ½ lengths clear of Ramona’s Wildcat. Harlington’s Rose paid $2.60 to show.
February 8 Birdlover overcomes year absence to win $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes gate to wire under Trujillo; O’Neill trainee wins by half length
Idle one day shy of a year, trainer Doug O’Neill’s Birdlover broke sharply from her outside post under Elvis Trujillo and registered an impressive gate to wire win in the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. A 5-year-old Englishbred mare, Birdlover prevailed by a half length and got the distance in 1:13.22. Second, beaten a head in last year’s Wishing Well on Feb. 9, 2014, Birdlover was dispatched at 3-1 in a field of seven and paid $8.60, $4.80 and $3.20. “It was exactly the trip we wanted,” said Trujillo, who engineered splits of 22.41, 45.17 and 1:07.35. “I know she has a lot of speed. I wanted to save her as much as I could for the stretch and it was a perfect race.”
Owned by Cseplo, Keh, Kramer and W.C. Racing, Birdlover got her second win from four tries down the hill and improved her overall mark to 14-4-5-0. With the winner’s share of $47,100, she improved her earnings to $219,535. “She’s trained so good and she’s just so honest,” said O’Neill. “This is really a credit to (assistant) Steve Rothblum, because there was talk of retiring her. She had fractured her hock (upper hind leg) and she had done so much for us and we could have retired her without having surgery. She was sound enough to do that. But Steve said we should operate and try to bring her back. “I think she’s a miler. We had her in the (one mile turf) Megahertz, but she was the only also eligible and we didn’t get in. She’s got that kind of ability, but this race came up and she was doing well.” Breaking from the rail with Flavien Prat, Indecise saved ground early, split horses while four-wide a furlong from home and was gradually gaining on the winner at the wire. Idle since Jan. 19, 2014, she was off at 12-1 and paid $9.80 and $4.40. Fanticola, who was the second choice at 2-1, sat close to the pace with Martin Garcia
and completed the trifecta, finishing 1 ¼ lengths behind Indecise. Fanticola paid $2.80 to show. Racing resumes at Santa Anita on Thursday and will continue through Monday, Presidents’ Day. First post on Thursday is 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
February 7 Shared Belief establishes himself as nation’s top older horse with convincing 1 ½ length win over California Chrome in $500,000 San Antonio Invitational
Let there be no doubt. Jerry Hollendorfer’s Shared Belief, a tough-luck loser of the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 1, established himself as the nation’s top older horse with a convincing 1 ½ length win over reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 San Antonio Invitational at Santa Anita, as he negotiated 1 1/8 miles under Mike Smith in 1:48.45. With longshot Alpha Bird streaking to the lead from the far outside in a field of nine older horses, California Chrome, SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 33
ridden by Victor Espinoza, settled into a comfortable second through the first half mile and assumed command going into the far turn with Shared Belief sitting a close third before he assumed second position approaching the quarter pole. “I can’t even describe that performance,” said Smith, who is a member of Racing’s Hall of Fame and is the sport’s all-time winningest Breeders’ Cup jockey. “He ranks right up there with the top five horses I’ve ever been on, with room to grow…There’s no telling what this horse can do or the potential that he can reach. “There was a little jockeying around that first turn between the three of us. We were just making each other decide what they were going to do without showing one another our (poker) hands… At first I thought California Chrome was getting away from me and I know that when he switches leads he has another gear…Hopefully they get to meet again. They’re two great champions. They’re going to battle back and forth.” The solid favorite at even money, Shared Belief came off a seven furlong win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes Dec. 26 and paid $4, $2.40 and $2.10. Owned by Jim and Janet Rome’s Jungle Racing, LLC, KMN Racing, LLC, Hollendorfer, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II and George Todaro, Shared Belief’s only defeat came in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic which was marred by a controversial start. In taking the San Antonio, the 4-year-old Candy Ride gelding got his ninth win from 10 starts and with the winner’s share of $300,000, he increased his earnings to $2,332,200. “The race kind of came up on paper like we thought it would,” said Hollendorfer. “We got lucky that way. We wanted to be around third (early). Mike 34 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
said if he came away from there and shot to the lead, he might try to do that… “I was thinking you’re going to have to go get him (California Chrome, when he opened up turning for home), and that’s what we had to do. Good for us we got to him in mid-stretch and then got past him. We’re thinking about the Santa Anita Handicap next (Grade 1, $1 million on March 7) for sure.” Hollendorfer also noted that Shared Belief’s San Antonio performance was probably his best race to date and “He’s still a young horse and he’s going to mature some more. I think people who looked at him today can see that he was carrying a little more (flesh). He’s still training on a regular schedule which is a little bit hard for these kinds of horses, and he’s gaining weight, not losing…They (Shared Belief and California Chrome) are two great horses and they’ll probably meet up again, so we’ll see what happens. It’s a long year.” A winner of the Grade 1, 1 1/8 miles turf Hollywood Derby on Nov. 29, California Chrome was the second choice at 7-5 and paid $2.80 and $2.20. Trained by Art Sherman, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winning California Chrome was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic two starts back and saw his record go to 17-9-2-1. “You saw two of the best handicap horses in the country,” said Sherman of his Californiabred stable star. “We’ll see how he cools out. Dubai is still on the table. We had a helluva turnout here today at Santa Anita (21,522 on-track) to see California Chrome and the matchup. We are looking forward to a matchup down the line. Jerry’s horse is the real McCoy. My horse is very good too, we just got out-run… He didn’t give it up, he ran his
Finnegans Wake
$200,000 San Marcos Stakes by one length while covering 1 ¼ miles on turf in 2:00.88. Previously based in the Midwest and fresh off a pair of Grade 2 stakes wins in the Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar Nov. 27 and the San Gabriel Stakes Jan. 3, Finnegans Wake notched his third consecutive win for trainer Peter Miller and owners Donnegal Racing and Rockingham Ranch. “The horse ran great,” said Miller. “Victor gave him a tremendous ride. The horse is unbelievable. He just keeps firing. I wish I could take the credit. The horse really has blossomed out here…He’s got a great turn of foot and he’s a very ratable horse. Victor and the horse go together like six and seven.” Off at 9-5 in a field of eight older horses, Finnegans Wake, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred horse by Powerscourt, paid $5.80, $3.40 and $3. He improved his overall record to 27-6-3-3 and with the winner’s share Finnegans Wake rallies of $120,000, Finnegans Wake to take $200,000 became a millionaire, with San Marcos Stakes earnings of $1,065,375. under Espinoza; Miller “I wasn’t ever concerned trainee notches third about catching (longshot pacesetter) Diamond Bachelor,” consecutive win With an eye catching move said Espinoza. “I thought I could around the far turn, Finnegans catch them anytime I wanted. This horse is unbelievable. He Wake rallied from far off the runs, he tries hard. He repace to take the Grade 2, eyeballs out.” Espinoza, who has been aboard “Chrome” in his last 11 starts, asserted that his horse would improve next time out. “For (having) two months off, it was a good race for him, a good effort,” he said. “I was trying to open it up on him (Shared Belief) as much as I could turning for home. California Chrome, he just got a little tired the last 20 yards… In the last race (the Hollywood Derby), it was pretty easy for him. It didn’t take much out of him, so I think after this race and the next one, he’ll be a better horse…I can tell you for the next race, he’ll be good.” A winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 10, Bob Baffert’s Hoppertunity made a threatening move around the far turn but finished third, 6 ½ lengths behind California Chrome and paid $2.60 to show.
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
Dortmund
ally likes it here in California… distance is never a problem. I thought last time, going a mile and one eighth was a bit short for him but he took it well. Today, it was even better for him.” Pacesetter Diamond Bachelor, under Martin Pedroza sped to an early charge and went on to open a commanding lead. The Patrick Biancone trainee held on through the stretch but ducked out from a left handed whip late and moved into path of third place finisher Power Ped and was disqualified to fourth. Power Ped, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Neil Drysdale paid $8.80 and $5.60 to place. Neil Drysdale’s other entry, Power Foot, ridden by Kieren Fallon paid $7.40 to show.
Favored Dortmund prevails in epic stretch battle with rival Firing Line to win $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes by a head; Baffert, Garcia team in important Santa Anita Derby prep Although he appeared beaten at the rail with a furlong to run, Bob Baffert’s Dortmund called upon his considerable class and courage to defeat
Ocean King
rival Firing Line by a head in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, an important steppingstone to the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4. Undefeated in his previous three starts and ridden by Martin Garcia, the imposing chestnut colt by 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown was collared by Firing Line midway around the far turn and was a half length behind leaving the eighth pole en route to covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.20. “He’s a really good horse,” said Garcia. “He’s just a big baby, he’s still learning. I broke sharp and I put myself in a good position. When I asked him to go he started moving slowly. It looked like Firing Line (who was ridden by Gary Stevens) went by me, but in the end, when I asked him, he just started coming back. Firing Line gave us pressure, but my horse just took off again.” Heavily favored at 3-5 in a field of five Derby hopefuls, Dortmund, a Kentucky-bred colt who is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Our Josephina, paid $3.20, $2.10 and $2.10. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Inc., Dortmund, who also defeated Firing Line by just a head in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20, picked up $90,000 for
the win and now has earnings of $449,400. For his part, Firing Line, who rated kindly behind longshot Tizcano and Dortmund, appeared to have gained a clear advantage in deep stretch, but couldn’t hold the winner off while finishing some 21 ½ lengths in front of third place finisher Rock Shandy. “I was disappointed,” said Stevens, who was also bidding for his 5,000th career win in North America. “I saw that Martin was asking his horse and he wasn’t getting any response and I was sitting there with a lot of horse. I thought I would never say that I moved too early at the eighth pole in a dirt race, but I moved too early. “At the three eighths pole, I saw Dortmund wasn’t responding and I was smiling. I said ‘We’ll see what he does and we were opening up and he was idling. I thought we buried the one we had to beat and then I saw the shadow coming back at me.” Trained by Simon Callaghan, Firing Line was off at 9-5 and paid $2.20 and $2.10. His overall record now stands at 4-1-3-0. Callaghan, when asked if he thought Firing Line had the race in-hand, responded “I did. Gary came back and the first
thing he said is ‘I’d ride him a little differently next time.’ It was Gary’s view that he moved a little early. These things are always easy after the event and he’s still learning. I think one thing for sure is he’s a very good horse and he got beat by a very good one.” The third wagering choice at 6-1, Rock Shandy, who was ridden by Victor Espinoza, finished third, 7 ¾ lengths in front of Hero Ten All and paid $2.10 to show. Dortmund collected 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, while the second, third and fourth place finishers collected four, two and one, respectively.
FLORIDA
Hialeah Park, Hialeah, FL February 15 The Ocean King continues stakes streak with Roble Rojo score The Ocean King, a talented gray four-year-old colt by Corona Cartel out of Runaway SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 35
The Star Alert
Wave, continued his stakes race dominance with a smart score in the $22,875 Roble Rojo Stakes at 220 yards, notching his third consecutive stakes victory at Hialeah Park since the start of 2015. Ridden by Shanley Jackson and trained by Matt Frazier for The Ocean King Syndicate of breeder Gary Lucas, The Ocean King hit the finish line ¾ of a length in front of Roble Rojo runner-up Sting Like a Viper and clocked a time of 11.727 for the “super sprint” distance. The Ocean King cut back to 220 yards for his latest success after posting victories in the Signature Stakes at 350 yards on Jan. 11 and the City of Hialeah Stakes at 400 yards on Jan. 25. The colt has now logged 3 wins in 4 local starts since shipping in from Los Alamitos for the start of the Hialeah Park
36 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
Moonin The Eagle
season. The lone blemish on his South Florida resume was an off-the-board finish in a Hialeah Maturity trial in late December. After his victory in the City of Hialeah Stakes, his connections reported that they wanted to get one more race under their runner’s belt to strengthen the chances of a Hialeah Invitational bid. The Ocean King’s strong performance in the Roble Rojo on Sunday afternoon likely made that invitation a forgone conclusion. The Ocean King earned the winner’s share of $13,725 for his Roble Rojo victory, increasing his lifetime earnings to $71,075 over the course of 13 career starts that now include 5 victories. The official order of finish in the 2015 Roble Rojo Stakes, the 3rd leg of the Hialeah Park
Sprint Series, was: The Ocean King, Sting Like a Viper, Sweet N Salty, Oldsmobile Hill, Oh My Gol Sis, Apollitical Lady, Maxanita Silver Chip, Blues Runner, and 8-5 post time favorite Miss Southern Dd. Eyem Jumpn was scratched.
February 8 The Star Alert wins marathon Key West Stakes at 1000 yards Roman Correa’s The Star Alert, a nine-year-old gelding making his 48th lifetime start, was the convincing winner of the marathon $32,000 Key West Stakes at Hialeah Park. The gray son of Beat the Feet-Lil Gamble Star hit the wire seven lengths in front of runner-up I Beat the Feet after dueling eventual fourth-place finisher Emperor Valerian – winner of the Orange Blossom Stakes and the Moonstone Stakes– into submission at the top of the stretch. The Star Alert stopped the timer in 52.766 seconds for 1,000 yards after breaking alertly from his inside post position, running head-and-head with Emperor Valerian, and then surging well clear inside the final 250 yards. Jockey Yordanis Amaro rode the winner for trainer Sergio Concep-
cion. The Star Alert garnered the winner’s share of $19,200 for his 8th career victory and increased his lifetime earnings to $100,920. The final running order in the 2015 Key West Stakes, the penultimate affair in the fourrace Hialeah Marathon Series which culminates with The Sailfish Stakes at 1,000 yards on March 1, was: The Star Alert, I Beat the Feet, Steel Together, Emperor Valerian, Dashin Daily, Slinky Red, Reds Casino, and Ticket Me. Earlier on the Sunday afternoon program, Gregorio Garcia Garza’s Moonin The Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Your First Moon) turned the tables on Hialeah Derby champion Seize The Win as those 1-2 finishers in the first of three trials topped the list of ten finalists for the March 1 $100,000-added South Florida Quarter Horse Derby at 440 yards. Moonin The Eagle –ridden by Yordanis Amaro for trainer Rolando Almanza– surged past the front-running Seize The Win in the latter stages to record a time of 21.837 seconds. With the runner-up logging a time of 21.919 seconds, the top two were the only qualifiers under the 22-second mark. The list of finalists, with times, for the 2015 South
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
Mesa Marvel
Premier Ethics
ite in the wagering, earned the winner’s share of $19,200 and increased his lifetime earnings to $61,117. The final order of finish for the 8 runners who contested the 2015 Sawgrass Stakes was: Mesa Marvel, Pyro, Eye Get the Blues, Charvet, Testing The Ice, Fire Burning, Dashing Manner, and Dashin for a Prize. Saturday’s eight-race proFebruary 7 gram at Hialeah Park also inMesa Marvel strong In cluded two trials for the Feb. 28 Sawgrass Stakes score Sunshine State Derby. Premier at 440 yards Ethics, ridden by Jose Ruiz, was Mesa Marvel, a sorrel easily the fastest of the 10 runfour-year-old gelding bred in ners to qualify for the money California by Dr. Ed Allred, took run in two weeks, taking the command early and stayed second trial in a time of 19.701 clear to the wire in registering a for 400 yards. one-length victory over runnerRogelio Martinez, who is up Pyro in the $32,000 Sawthe breeder of Premier Ethics, grass Stakes at Hialeah Park. saddled the sorrel filly –the Jockey Raul Gutierrez daughter of Ethics Aside-Poker guided the son of Foose-Straw Pot Dash– for owner Renata Flying Lady to his initial career Lopez. stakes tally for owner/trainer Six of the 8 horses in the Ricardo Martinez. Mesa Marvel, Premier Ethics heat qualified recording his 5th win in his for the finals: Premier Ethics 15th lifetime outing, covered (19.701), Ima Fighting Gator the Sawgrass Stakes Distance (19.769), Jlcjazzslilbro (19.848), of 440 yards in 21.632 seconds. Easily Bono (19.878), Strait Away Lucy (20.278), and Cashin The victory, his first at Cartel (20.421). Hialeah Park, followed on the The remaining 4 qualiheels of a near-miss secondplace effort to The Ocean King fiers came out of the first trial: Thrilling Finish (20.149), Avian in the City of Hialeah Stakes Runway (20.207), Gettin It On at 400 yards on Jan. 25. Mesa Marvel, the 2-1 post time favor- (20.274), and Fearghas (20.302).
LOUISIANA
Florida Quarter Horse Derby are: Moonin The Eagle (21.837), Seize The Win (21.939), Louisiana Legends (22.022), Roaster (22.184), Girls Can Dash (22.207), De Mille (22.215), Ipolito (22.323), Red Corona Warrior (22.335), Dashing Clouds (22.372), and Jumpn Streak (22.396).
from the back of the pack and swung into the homestretch five wide. At the finished line One King’s Man proved to be 3-1/2 lengths better than Ide Be Cool, who just nosed out 2-5 wagering favorite Sunbean Delta Downs, for the place. One King’s Man Vinton, LA covered the distance over a fast February 7 track in 1:46.47. The victory by One King’s One King’s Man rallies Man marked the ninth of his 33late for big win in the race career. He earned $120,000 Louisiana Premier Night for his effort on Saturday and Championship now boasts a career bankroll of Louisiana equine stars strut $420,304. their stuff during big money One King’s Man is a 5-yearprogram old gray or roan gelding by K One King, out of the Honour Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey’s One King’s Man used and Glory mare Mist of Honour. a determined rally from off the He was bred in Louisiana by pace to win the $200,000 Loui- Steve Crowe. Sent to the post at odds of siana Premier Night Championship under jockey Miguel Mena. 5-2, One King’s Man paid $7 to The event was one of 10 stakes win, $4.60 to place and $2.10 races for Louisiana-bred horses to show. Ide Be Cool was worth $6.80 to place and $2.40 to competing for more than $1 show. Sunbean returned $2.10 million in total purse money. to show. One King’s Man, who is In other action on Louitrained by Joe Sharp, had his siana Premier Night it was work cut out for him in the Championship as he was going Cantrell Family Partnership’s up against the millionaire Sun- Tensas Harbor winning her second consecutive $150,000 bean, who came into the race Louisiana Premier Night Distaff. undefeated at Delta Downs The J. Keith Desormeaux trainduring four previous starts. ee was also ridden to victory by When the field of seven reached the final furlong of the Miguel Mena. The $125,000 Louisiana 1-1/16 mile test for older horsPremier Night Prince was taken es, One King’s Man was rolling SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 37
One King’s Man
in dramatic fashion by Phyllis J. Hodges’ Mr. L. S. Shoe, who kept his record perfect at four wins in as many starts with the score. Mr. L. S. Shoe was ridden to victory by James Graham, who accepted the mount from trainer James Hodges. The $125,000 Louisiana Premier Night Starlet was annexed by Southern Legacy Thoroughbreds LLC’s Private Promise who pulled a 30-1 upset under jockey Graham. Private Promise is conditioned by C. Blaine Williams. The $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Matron was won by Afternoon Tango, who finished second but was moved up to the win when Solid Sender was disqualified for interference in deep stretch. Afternoon Tango is owned by Big Aut Farms and is trained by Sam Breaux. The 5-year-old filly was ridden by Diego Saenz. This year’s $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint was one for the second year in a row by the speedster Heitai, who was guided to victory by jockey Gerard Melancon. Heitai is owned by Rowell Enterprises, Inc. and is trained by Tom Amoss. The $65,000 Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Starter was won by Zara Laren, who got up late under jockey Colby 38 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
Hernandez. Zara Lauren is owned by William E. Goss and is trained by Karl Broberg. The $65,000 Louisiana Premier Night Gentlemen Starter was taken by Over a Barrel, giving Gerard Melancon a riding double on the night. Over a Barrel is owned by All right Racing Stable, LLC and is trained by Victor Arceneaux. The $50,000 Louisiana Premier Night Bon Temps Starter was won by Queen Peso under jockey Joe Patin, Jr. Queen Peso is owned by Foundation Racing Stable and is conditioned by Keith Bourgeois. And finally the $50,000 Louisiana Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter was won by Jslookoverurshoulda, who was piloted by Diego Saenz. Jslookoverurshoulda is owned by Above The Crowd Stable LLC and Horseplayers Racing Club LLC.
Divine Beauty
Mardi Gras Stakes, improving to a perfect four-for-four at the six-furlong distance and winning the second stakes of her seven-race career. Going immediately to the front, the homebred daughter of Divine Park held off Louis Roussel, III’s Starship Duchess and Whispering Oaks Farm’s graded stakeswinning Street Story to win by a neck in 1:10.20 after setting fractions of :22.32, :45.38 and :57.45. Winning the fourth race of her career, the 4-year-old banked the $36,000 winner’s share of the purse to increase her earnings to $155,200. Second by a neck, Starship Duchess was game in defeat under Richard Eramia after being Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA forced four-wide and drifting out late. Street Story, on the February 17 other hand, had a rougher trip Divine Beauty tops off after steadying at the threeMardi Gras Stakes sixteenths-pole and charging Brereton C. Jones’ Divine home on the outside under Beauty made all the running Florent Geroux two lengths with a sharp win in the $60,000 astern Starship Duchess.
Sent off at 3-1, Divine Beauty paid $8, $4.40 and $3. Starship Duchess paid $3.60 and $2.80 at odds of 5-2, while Street Story paid $3.60 to show at odds of 7-1. “Things were going good. I got to slow her down a little down the backside. Larry’s horses always respond when you push the button, so I was trying to wait as long as I could,” said Clark. “She cut and opened up quick, but she gets to waiting on horses – but now we have a new gallop boy on her now (Jones) and she’s a little fitter. You never feel confident when they’re fixing to run you down, but we got lucky and held on.” Jones echoed Clark. “She’s just better suited and better at sprinting,” he said. “Anytime they start running at you like that – and Louis (Roussel)’s horses are on fire right now – you get worried, but we had her fit with extra pounds we have been putting on her in
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
African Rose
Foose Cash Sr
juggernaut Justin Evans, and the mare propelled to a convincing 2-length win at a surprising 9-2 odds. Under jockey Alfredo Juarez, jr., African Rose handed Cottagecupcake the first defeat in her young career. Last year’s leading older Thoroughbred mare simply had too much experience and firepower for her rivals going six and onehalf furlongs. The high powered sprinting mare forced the issue throughout and was timed in 1:16.05. The 10-time winner paid $11.20 to win. African Rose picked up $30,000 for Judge Lanier Racing of Taiban, New Mexico. The fiveyear-old Bwana Charlie mare has earned over $240,000 in her brilliant career. Justin Evans, the runaway leader in the trainer standings, continued his meteoric season with his sixth stakes win of the meet. He has also led the naSunland Park, NM tion’s trainers in wins this year. February 8 Cottagecupcake ran a African Rose wins splendid race under jockey $50,000 El Diario Carlos Madeira. The Dallas Barton trainee was seeking her Handicap The well decorated stakes fourth straight win in as many winner African Rose produced a starts. She was locked in battle vintage run to win the $50,000 with the winner for much of the El Diario but could not El Diario Handicap at Sunland find enough in deep stretch. Park Racetrack and Casino. The four-year-old daughter The 2013 Harry Henson of Stormello wound up in Handicap heroine was at the second place, a half-length in top of her game for training
front of favored Wine Thief.
the mornings.” Eramia was pleased with his charge’s effort. “We had a good trip and we had to go a little wide,” he said. “I had a lot of horse left. She finished very good but the other one never stopped.” “I was behind the winner and two horses squeezed me pretty hard,” a disappointed Geroux said. “She could have won.” Favored Kiss to Remember, Table Three Ten and Lorelei True completed the order of finish.
NEW MEXICO
return last year to take the $972,10 Los Alamitos Super Derby (Grade1). February 6 Mr Corona Cartel nosed Foose Cash Sr out Rocket And Roll in the dominates West Texas second trial to post the second Maturity trials fastest time of :19.442 seconds. Multiple Grade 1 winner Joe Badilla, Jr. was aboard Foose Cash Sr defeated 2014 for trainer James J. Gonzalez, champion aged stallion JessII. The gelding races for San cuzican by a half-length in the Gregorio Racing, LLC and World first of three trials Friday afterChampion Racing Stables, LLC. noon to set the fastest qualifyThe graded stakes-placed son ing time for the West Texas of Corona Cartel has earned Maturity (Grade 3) at Sunland nearly $210,000. Jose De La Park Racetrack & Casino. Torre bred Mr Corona Cartel in The 10 fastest qualifiers will California from the Adash For return to the Southeastern New Cash mare Adashin Runaway. Mexico racecourse on March 1 Making just his fourth to vie for the winner’s share of career start Rocket And Roll a $65,000-added purse going held on to the third fastest time 400 yards. of :19.470. Jose Ramos saddles Coming off a disappointthe royally-bred Corona Cartel ing sixth place effort in the colt who is a half-brother to $350,000 The Championship world champion and last year’s at Sunland Park in his last start leading first crop sire ApollitiDec. 28, Foose Cash Sr took of cal Jess. Bred in California by business from the start under Julianna Hawn Holt, Rocket jockey Rodolfo Arvizu as he And Roll races for Valeriaro Raccruised to the top qualifying ing Stables, LLC. The 4-year-old mark of :19.404 seconds. is out of Apollitical Time, by Trainer James J. Gonzles, Apollo. Jesse Levario was riding. II saddled the 4-year-old son Badilla, Jr. also rode Jess of champion Foose to his Featureme Quick to victory seventh win in 12 starts for in the final trial for champion owners World Champion Racing Stables, LLC, Lapresita, LLC, trainer Paul C. Jones. The multiple graded stakes winning et al. An earner of more than son of Feature Mr Jess races for $819,670, Foose Cash Sr won owner/breeder Melissa Miller. the Los Alamitos Two Million He finished with the fourth fastFuturity (Grade 1) at 2 then SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 39
Supermason
Promise Me Silver
mentally, but is starting to put it together.” Grady named his stakes winner after this young son, Mason, who has no qualms about jumping off high surfaces. Supermason dominates in “My wife and I have put a the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit lot in the game; it feels good to Trainer Bret Calhoun was finally see some rewards,” said loaded with three entrants Grady. “I thought he ran really in the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit well tonight. ” Stakes for 3-year-old colts and This was the third win from geldings. It was Supermason, nine starts for Supermason owned by Brad Grady, who ($3.00), who competed in the outclassed his five rivals with ultra-tough $250,000 SpringSam Houston Race an impressive front running board Mile at Remington Park Park, Houston, TX victory. on Dec. 14. The son of Grasshopper, February 14 Flying Frenchman ran finished second in the $50,000 Promise Me Silver and second in his stakes debut for Groovy Stakes under rider owner Ken Murphy ThoroughSupermason triumph in Lindey Wade. This evening, breds Ltd. The son of Early Flyer $75,000 Two Altazano Wade guided his charge to the is trained by Robert Young and and $75,000 Jim’s Orbit lead, and was never in doubt, was ridden by Adrian Ramos. Stakes at Sam Houston drawing off to a 14 length Witt’s Tax Day, under David score. The final time for the Race Park seven furlong stakes, over a fast Cabrera, was third. Magna Breeze sets new main track was 1:23.56. track record in the $50,000 Undefeated Promise Me Sil“I am so thankful and Jersey Village Stakes ver ships in for the $75,000 blessed to have this opportuConvincing champions nity to ride this nice horse,” said Two Altazano were crowned this evening Promise Me Silver, bred and the winning rider. “He put me at Sam Houston Race Park in out there early; he was nice and owned by Myrna and Robert both divisions of the Clarence relaxed and at the 3/16th pole, Luttrell came into the $75,000 Scharbauer Texas Stallions Two Altazano Stakes undefeathe just broke out. It was nice!” Stakes Series. Promise Me Silver Calhoun was pleased with ed in five races. Trained by Bret kept her win streak alive in the Supermason, a talented son of Calhoun, the speedy filly, added $75,000 Two Altazano Stakes the first crop of Grasshopper. another stakes win to her lofty and Supermason was much the “It was a long time getrecord, with an effortless 9 ¾ ting here,” admitted Calhoun. best in the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit score this evening. “He’s been a little inconsistent Stakes. The Texas ThoroughShe shipped in off her est time of :19.479 seconds. Out of the Royal Quick Dash mare One Quick Cookie, Jess Featureme Quick has earned nearly $585,000.
texas
40 SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2
bred Association (TTA) renamed the series for accredited Texas-breds to honor the late Clarence Scharbaurer, Jr. who passed away in 2014.
victory in the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes on January 15 at Oaklawn Park. Cliff Berry made the trip from Arkansas to pilot the gray daughter of Silver City, and was a very comfortable passenger aboard the 1-9 betting choice. “She handled things nice and easy tonight,” said Berry. “She’s a racehorse. Bret’s made me a lot of money and I appreciate him letting me ride this one. She’s right at the top of the best I’ve ever ridden.” Calhoun was pleased that his filly had an easy win as some of her previous victories were extremely hard fought. “She has been great from day one,” said Calhoun of Promise Me Silver. “She’s got a lot of class; takes a lot of talent, a good mind and a lot of heart to make a champion; she’s got it all.” Infectious, bred by Will S. Farish, winner of the $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes here on January 16, ran second under Deshawn Parker. The daughter of Valid Expectations held off Tea for Two by a margin of six lengths. Promise Me Silver, paid $2.10 for the win, adding $45,000 for tonight’s victory. Her record now stands at 6 for 6 with $259,355 in earnings. This was the second year
RACE RECAPS - QH & TB
Magna Breeze
in a row that Calhoun swept the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. Last year, Ibaka won the Jim’s Orbit and Fiftyshadesofgold was much the best in the Two Altazano. The Texas Thororoughbred Association recently announced Fiftyshadesofgold as the 2014 TTA Horse of the Year. She has been retired and will be bred to Tapit
Meme Jo
came flying late under rider Iram Diego and won by 1 ¾ lengths. Owned by George A. Bryant and trained by his father, George R. Bryant, the 5-year-old son of Too Much Bling earned the first stakes win in his 25th career start. Caroline Dodwell’s Aces N Jacks, with Gerardo Mora in the irons, set a blazing first quartermile of :21.77. Meme Jo, who has two previous turf wins, Magna Breeze sets new tracked the pacesetter and had track record in the $50,000 plenty left for the finish. He Jersey Village Stakes rallied for the victory in a final The third stakes of the time of :57.67 over the firm turf Saturday evening card was the course. $50,000 Jersey Village Stakes “We laid right behind Aces with a field of ten accredited N Jacks and hoped we had Texas-breds competing at a something left for the finish,” mile and one-sixteenth over said the winning trainer. “Our the Connally Turf Course. horse ran a monster race. He’s The winner, in a track a hard-knocker; runs good on record setting performance, turf or dirt. He just gives it all he was Magna Breeze, owned has every time.” by William J. Buck Butler and “This was incredible,” said February 7 trained by Mike Maker. The his son. “I knew we had a shot Meme Jo wins $50,000 5-year-old son of Magna Graduin the race as it drew six and Bucharest Turf Sprint at ate finished third in the $50,000 there wasn’t a ton of speed exRichard King Stakes on opening Sam Houston Race Park cept for Aces N Jacks. Iram rode Texas-bred captures first weekend, but truly graduated a great race.” stakes of his career tonight under a well-timed Meme Jo defeated five ride by Cliff Berry. He was The $50,000 Bucharest Turf rivals, scoring the upset over positioned fourth in the early multiple stakes winner, Solar Sprint, for accredited Texasstages, with splits of :23.71, Charge, who was sent off at breds at five-furlongs over the 48.08 and 1;12.07, then swung Connally Turf Course was the odds of 1:9. The 8-year-old son wide to take control and finish featured race Saturday, Feb. 7. of Authenticate is trained by in 1.42.80. The winning time Ellen Williams and has won 15 It was an impressive established a new track record, performance by Meme Jo, who career races, including the 2012 besting the previous of 1:43.24 set by Luna Delight on December 4, 1998. The veteran Berry had a very calm ride aboard the bay gelding, who was saddled by Dallas King, one of Maker’s assistants. “Mr. Maker doesn’t give too many instructions,” said Berry. “He lets you look at the form and do what you want to do. The 2 (Special UFO) was eager to go, so I sat behind and stayed comfortable. He actually went before I asked him, but it turned out pretty good!” Magna Breeze, sent off as the 1:40 choice, paid $4.80 for the win. Rule Breaker, owned by P and D Racing Stable, rallied for second under Alfredo Sigala and the always game Fly the Red Eye, finished third, followed by Seeking West.
Spirit of Texas and 2013 Bucharest Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. He placed second in last year’s edition of the turf feature. “He was running at the end,” said jockey Lindey Wade. “He’s just an older horse and got a little far back, but finished well.” Meme Jo, sent off at odds of 6-1, returned $14.40 for the win and picked up a check for $30,000 this evening. His career record now stands at 8 wins from 25 starts and $149,089 in earnings. Queenland, the only mare in the field, closed for third under rider David Cabrera. Mula Run was next, followed by Proper’N Storme and Aces N Jacks. The Bucharest Stakes is named for the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set track records at Sam Houston Race Park for the distance of five and one-half, six and seven furlongs. Laborde conditioned Bucharest and took meticulous care of the Kentucky-bred gelding, who won seven of his 15 career starts, and was named Sam Houston Race Park Horse of the Meet in 1996. His lightning fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, will no doubt stand the test of time. SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 2 41