SureBet Racing News: March 2014 issue

MARCH 2014 路 VOL.8 NO.3

Proceed powers clear in Mine That Bird Derby pg. 5

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SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

THE WAY HOME

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reBet uRACING NEWS N NE EWS EWS

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MAIN OFFICE: 575.258.2861 • 8 - 6, M - F PO Box 1971 • Ruidoso, NM 88355 www.surebetracingnews.com

PUBLISHER: LAURA FLYNN Cell: 575.937.5806 • Fax: 866.612.2997 surebetnm@gmail.com AD SALES: KENNA RAUSCH Cell: 903.815.0602 kenna7432@gmail.com E D I T O R I A L S TA F F : MICHAEL CUSORTELLI oaktown_c@hotmail.com MARTHA CLAUSSEN mclaussen50@yahoo.com TOM DAWSON tvtom@aol.com ROBERT GELLER leoboar59@gmail.com PETE HERRERA pherrera28@q.com TY WYANT ty_wyant@yahoo.com COPY EDITOR: MIKE SCANLON DESIGN DIREC TOR: KATHERINE KIEFER

CONTENTS MARCH 2014

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VOL. 8 NO. 3

Cover photo courtesy of Coady Photography Cover Story: Proceed powers clear in Mine That Bird Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., noted rancher, horseman and philanthropist, dies at 88; New Mexico passes bill to crack down on cheaters; New $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint anchors 5 stakes races; Ruidoso Downs’ growth goes beyond racetrack borders and into local economy; Prairie Meadows and Canterbury Park continue efforts to extend racing opportunities for statebreds in 2014; Rebranded Evangeline sale offers 90 2-year-olds in training; 2014 Fair Grounds Hall Of Fame inductees named; Emerald Downs announces $1.61 million stakes schedule; $200,000 LGA Mile Sunday, Aug. 24; Sire of more than $17.5 million in earners to stand at Royal Vista Ranches, OK; Average payouts up across the board at Portland Meadows; Prairie Meadows announces 2014 schedules; Pat Pope named Thoroughbred Racing Secretary; Los Alamitos looking to revive distance division in 2014; Portland Meadows end-of-season release; NMHBA honors 2013 state-bred champions; Movie ‘50 To 1’ announces road tour Race Recaps: Quarter Horse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Los Alamitos Race Course: Another Oatie is another big money winner in his family; Diva looks good in Denim N Diamonds; Nellie Delaney takes Winter Championship to earn Champion Of Champions berth; Viva Mi Corazon is super-impressive in Winter Derby; Once Over enjoys impressive first stakes win; The Ocean King rules maiden trials Sunland Park: Too Flash For You wins $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at 19-1; Streak Hitter is fastest West Texas Maturity qualifier Thoroughbred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Santa Anita Race Park: Sweet Swap easily wins Joe Hernandez Stakes; Ambitious Brew upsets to win Sensational Star Stakes; Pontchatrain takes Buena Vista Stakes; Kobe’s Back rambles from off pace to take San Vicente; Iotapa impressive gate-to-wire winner of Santa Maria Stakes; Blingo benefits from torrid pace duel and takes San Antonio; Longshot Wild Dude rallies to win Palos Verdes; Fashion Plate dictates pace and wins Las Virgenes; Drysdale’s Winning Prize takes Arcadia Stakes Oaklawn Park: Aireofdistinction rebounds late for Spring Fever victory; Tapiture wins Southwest; Don’t Tell Sophia comes from last for Bayakoa repeat; Right to Vote takes Essex; Apprehender repeats in King Cotton; Aragorn Ami pulls mild Martha Washington upset Golden Gate Fields: Zeewat just gets up to win Lost In The Fog Stakes; Tamarando edges Dance With Fate in El Camino Real Derby Fair Grounds Race Course: Bradester earns first stakes win in Mineshaft Handicap; Intense Holiday rallies to win Risen Star Stakes; Potomac River upsets Fair Grounds Handicap; Untapable dominates Rachel Alexandra; Class Included best in the Bayou Handicap; Artist Cry wins Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes; B and B’s Pulpit takes Gentilly Stakes; Kiss to Remember best in Battle of New Orleans; Warm Breeze wires Happy Ticket Stakes Sam Houston Race Park: Triumph and Song blazes to victory in Sam Houston Sprint Cup ; Fiftyshadesofgold and Ibaka triumph in Two Altazano and Jim’s Orbit Stakes; Quiet Acceleration scores second stakes win of the meet in Jersey Village Stakes; Triumph and Song wins tBucharest Stakes; Wampas Kitty springs the upset in Tomball Stakes Sunland Park: Western Way closes fast to win Peppers Pride Stakes; Jaycito wins Curribot Handicap; African Rose wins El Diario Handicap; Homerun Berti powers home in Budweiser Handicap Delta Downs: Bayou State’s best in action during Louisiana Premier Night SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 3

sire of

HANDSOME JACK FLASH –

AQHA Champion si 122

Named 2013 AQHA World Champion 2YO and Champion 2YO Gelding

FIRST MOONFLASH Champion Aged Stallion, Lifetime Earnings $969,000 SI 122 - 7 G1 Wins Sire of Earnings of $2.3 million, 2013 #2 Leading 2YO Sire Sire of an All American Futurity Winner in his First Crop, 2013 #1 Leading Freshman Sire

By Champion Multi Millionaire Sire First to Flash si 106 Multiple-Stakes Producer Nagano Moon, by Major Rime

HANDSOME JACK FLASH

The Nation’s Leading Sophomore Sire of 2014 To Flash for You SI 102 ($105,716) Wins G2 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at Sunland Park Photo by Gay Harris Photo

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SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

COVER STORY

February 22, 2014 • Sunland Park, NM

P

roceed pulled clear from Rebranded in deep stretch to earn a powerful two-length victory in the $120,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

The extremely impressive New Mexicobred 3-year-old was up to the challenge in the important local prep for the $800,000 Sunland Derby and more than confirmed his status as the 6-5 favorite.

Trained by Joel Marr, Proceed remains unbeaten in three starts and passed the test of defeating open company with flying stars.

The Red Hedeman Mile winner threw in a solid final quarter mile and repelled a terrific challenge from Rebranded.

Under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr., Proceed launched a sizeable bid on the second turn of the 1 and 1/16 mile race and was in front at the three-quarter mile pole. The classy Desert God colt sprinted to the front in upper stretch and completely held Rebranded at bay for the final 200 yards of the feature.

He completed the distance in a fast 1:42.47, very close to the track record of 1:41.09 held

by Midnight Lucky.

A very happy winning trainer Joel Marr said, “He a very talented horse. We had hoped he could turn in to something special going a route, and that’s why we tried open company going this distance. We want to

Proceed powers clear in Mine That Bird Derby

keep routing him.

He moved up into an excellent position down the backstretch.

Alfredo rode him great. We had no excuses either way. If he comes out of the race OK, we hope to run him in the Sunland Derby. Sometimes, we gotta dream big.”

Proceed earned $72,000 for owner Michael Stinson of Fort Worth. The stellar 3-year-old remains a perfect three-forAt top, Proceed, Alfredo Juarez Jr. up; above, winning connections three. His bankroll Photos by Coady Photography nearly doubled to is an imposing son of Tiznow trained by more than $142,000. He could be a major force in the $800,000 Sunland Derby (Grade leading conditioner Justin Evans. He should also have a major say in the Sunland Derby 3) on Sunday, March 23.

Riley Allison Futurity winner Rebranded (Grade 3).

The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine ran a very bold race and closed with energy That Bird was on hand to lead the post pato earn second place, nearly 13 lengths in rade for the 2014 Mine That Bird Derby. front of Ima Happy Strike. The runner-up SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 5

6 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

FEB. 22, 2014

Midland, TX Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., noted rancher, horseman, and philanthropist, dies at 88

Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., longtime rancher, noted Midland philanthropist and championship horseman, died Friday, Feb. 21, from complications from emergency surgery. He was 88.

Scharbauer, Jr., born July 6, 1925, was known for his generosity to and love for his hometown, his affinity for cattle ranching and his passion for horses. A patient tower that opened at Midland Memorial Hospital in December 2012 bears his and wife Dorothy’s names. The city’s sports complex and the Midland College Student Center are also named after the Scharbauer family. In his final years, Scharbauer helped create and establish the Scharbauer Foundation.

“My father loved Midland,” said Scharbauer’s son, Clarence Scharbauer III. “This town will not likely soon forget the generosity and the mark that both he and my mother left on it in their years working together for Midland.”

Scharbauer was passionate about horse racing; the family-owned Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby. Just last weekend, a Scharbauer-owned horse, Fiftyshadesofgold, won the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Park, and Scharbauer, Jr., watched the victory via the Internet from his Midland home.

“He got to see this filly win last Saturday, and that really pleased him,” said Ken Carson, longtime manager of Scharbauer’s Valor Farm in Pilot Point. “He was a great man, loved horses and loved horse racing.

He loved horses like kids; loved the animals.

Horses were a big part of his life.”

Scharbauer is a member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame (1992), the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2001), a recipient of the National Golden Spur Award (for national rancher of the year, 1991), and was honored with the Texas Thoroughbred Association’s lifetime achievement award (2007).

Scharbauer was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, who died February 23, 2005. He is survived by son, Clarence Scharbauer III and wife

Kerry Wallace Scharbauer, of Midland; son, Douglas Scharbauer and wife, Karen Johnson Scharbauer, of Midland; son, Chris Scharbauer and wife, LaVonne King Scharbauer, of Amarillo; daughter Pamela Ruth Scharbauer, of Palm Springs, Calif, and numerous grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending with Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home and Crematory in Midland.

Santa Fe, NM New Mexico passes bill to crack down on cheaters

After developing a reputation as a haven for cheaters, New Mexico is trying to clean up its act when it comes to horse racing.

The New Mexico Watchdog reported that in the just-completed 30-day legislative session, lawmakers in Santa Fe, lawmakers passed a bill aimed at cracking down on trainers and owners who dope their horses with performance-enhancing drugs.

Under the bill, race track owners can eject anyone whose license has been suspended or revoked for drugging horses from the grounds of their facilities.

Furthermore, in cases where doping has been suspected, a hearing officer will be assigned within 90 days, with the final decision made by the New Mexico Racing Commission. Those accused can appeal by putting up a $500 fee, but if they lose their case, they forfeit the $500.

Under the current system, those suspected of drugging their horses could remain at racetracks, as long as their cases were being appealed.

As a result, a backlog has developed.

The longest-running case involves trainer Jose R. Gonzalez Jr., accused of injecting a horse with a drug that’s a byproduct of cocaine, which hasn’t been resolved for nearly five years.

Among some of the other drugs listed in the appeals is Clenbuterol – which increases oxygen into the lungs of a horse and was banned by the racing commission in 2012 – and Dermorphin – a painkiller considered 40 times more powerful than morphine that’s known around race tracks as ”frog juice.”

The reasoning behind injecting horses

with pain killers is that if the horse has a nagging injury, the drugs will numb it so that the horse will run through the pain.

But by doing so, the horses are liable to worsen their injuries or even break down, which often leads to their being killed.

The just-passed bill is one of a number of efforts to clean up horse racing in New Mexico.

Last year, two state laws were passed to improve testing procedures and dramatically increase fines for those caught injecting their horses with illegal substances and the racing commission has passed a series of regulations to improve the safety of jockeys and horses at New Mexico’s five licensed tracks.

Racing Commission appeals • Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr.: D202-CV-2010-03580 (2009 race) – Benzoylecgonine and Cocaine • Joyce D. Salisbury: D202-CV-2012-04935 (2011 race) – Lidocaine • Gerardo Cano: D-202-CV-2012-06639 (2011 race) – Contraband • Juan Torres: D-202-CV-2011-11866 (2011 race) – Clenbuterol • Cal E. Martin: D-202-CV-2012-05499 (2011 race) – Valerenic Acid • Homero Gutierrez: D202-CV-2013-02117 (2011 race) – Clenbuterol • Freda McSwane: CV-10-145 (12th Judicial District) 2nd place challenge Record on Reviews filed • Fred Ike Danley: D-202-CV-2012-09669 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol • Abraham Jaquez: D202-CV-2013-05590 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol D-202-CV-2013-06078 (2013 race)- Zipaterol • Roberto Sanchez: D202-CV-2013-05251 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol • Alonso Orozco: D-202-CV-2013-10621 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol • Chris A. Hartman: D202-CV-2012-05018 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol • Paul C. Jones : D-202-CV-2013-06237 (2011 race) – Zipaterol SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 7

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Judy Bachicha : D-202-CV-2013-01487 (2012 race) – Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenylbutazone • Damian S. Onsurez : D202-CV-2013-06781– 2013 Possession of syringe • Henry Dominguez : D202-CV-2013-03118 (2013 race) – • Eduardo A. Gonzalez: D202-CV-2013-03844 (2013 race) – Clenbuterol Record on Reviews to be filed in February • Carlos Sedillo : D-202-CV-2012-09672 (2012 race) – Demorphin *Due Feb. 17, 2014 • Juan Gonzalez: D-202-CV-2013-02648 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol * Due Feb. 17, 2014 • John D. Martinez : D202-CV-2013-02648 (2012 race) – Zipaterol & Zylazine *Due Feb. 27, 2014 Cases in Court of Appeals • John Stinebaugh : D202-CV-2012-01864 (2011 race) – Clenbuterol Court of Appeals No. 32,840 • Chris A. Hartman: D202-CV-2012-06186 Contraband (Ventipulmin) Appealed to Court of Appeals • Cal E. Martin: D-202-CV-2012-05499 (2011 race) – Valerenic Acid Appealed to Court of Appeals

and a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 wager, which will allow ADW bettors and players at North American simulcast locations to take advantage of these rich wagering opportunities.

In addition to the Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, the lucrative card will also include the $100,000 Opelousas Stakes on turf for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up at 1 1/16 miles, and the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at one mile on the main track for 3-year-olds and up. Two Louisianabred sprints stakes on the main track – the $70,000 Lafayette for 3-year-olds and the $70,000 Acadiana for 3-year-old fillies – complete the $640,000 stakes program for the day.

“We are very excited to inaugurate the Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint for our horsemen and fans here in Louisiana and around the country,” said Chris Warren, Director of Racing Operations Delta Downs/ Evangeline Downs. “Turf sprints have become extremely popular in recent years on a national scale and we are extremely proud to bring one to the southern region of U.S. We look forward to drawing horses from Louisiana and across the U.S. to run in the Turf Sprint and our strong supporting card of stakes races.”

The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint is the second major stakes purse venture by Boyd Gaming, which purchased Evangeline Downs from Peninsula Gaming LLC in 2012.

Evangeline’s sister track, Delta Downs, in Vinton, La., is home to the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (Grade 3) for 2-year-olds in Opelousas, LA late November. In 2012, three Jackpot startNew $300,000 Evangeline ers qualified for last year’s Kentucky Derby Downs Turf Sprint anchors 5 (Grade 1), and produced Breeders’ Cup Dirt stakes including new $300,000 Mile (Grade 1) winner Goldencents. The Jackpot Day program has proved extremely Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint popular with horseplayers across the U.S., Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino as total handle for the full card has risen by and Hotel and Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) announced the creation of one of America’s more than $2 million since 2009, punctuated by last year’s record setting all-sources richest turf sprint races for the upcoming Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meeting, mark of $5,044,286.

“The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint is the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, another example of Boyd Gaming’s continwhich will be run on Saturday, June 21. ued commitment to high quality ThoroughThe $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint will be contested on the grass course bred racing for horsemen and fans,” said Steve Kuypers, Vice President and General at a distance of five furlongs for 3-year-old Manager of Delta Downs. “We hope to and up with a maximum of 12 starters. It capitalize on the success we’ve created will be the highest purse for a five furlong with the Delta Downs Jackpot and bring turf race to date this year in the U.S. it to Evangeline for an outstanding day of The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint racing on June 21 and throughout the 2014 will anchor a special Saturday afternoon meeting.” program of races on June 21 at EvangeFree nominations for the Evangeline line Downs, located near Lafayette, La. Downs Turf Sprint close on May 28.

The day will be highlighted by five stakes

FEB. 20, 2014

Ruidoso Downs, NM Ruidoso Downs’ growth goes beyond racetrack borders and into local economy

Racetrack figures always go beyond the sometimes confusing numbers and land on Main Street.

This is especially true at Ruidoso Downs.

Located in a small town in a county with little more than 20,000 residents, “the numbers” from Ruidoso Downs drive the local economy every summer. The more people that attend the races, the more people are in town to support local business.

In addition to going to the track, visitors shop in the numerous local boutiques, eat at diverse restaurants and golf at the local courses. That provides incentive to open new businesses and produce more local jobs. Everybody wins when Ruidoso Downs opens every Memorial Day weekend for the summer run through Labor Day. “While Ruidoso Downs provides about 500 jobs every summer, we are thrilled that people come to the track and also support our local businesses,” said general manger Shaun Hubbard. “These people are our neighbors and friends and, of course, we want to see them do well.”

Last summer, the total attendance at Ruidoso Downs was the equivalent of one in 11 people who live in New Mexico.

Ruidoso Downs thrived and the Ruidoso season ended with smiles on locals’ faces.

Ironically, the Ruidoso Downs’ numbers are growing at a time when horseracing nationwide shows declines. A prime reason for these declines is due to fewer potential racehorses being born. Many breeders are breeding fewer mares, thus fewer foals.

This also means there are fewer foals that can potentially be nominated to Ruidoso Downs’ famed Grade 1 races. Yet, “the numbers” at Ruidoso Downs show exactly the opposite result.

This summer the current projections indicate there could be up to 320 two-yearolds competing in the two days of trials to the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Aug. 14 and 15. The $900,000 Rainbow Futurity projects to have up to 260 juveniles racing in the trials on July 3-4.

The $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity is expected to have up to 260 entries in the trials on the meet’s first two days, May 22-23.

Last year, the All American Futurity trials had 280 entries, the Rainbow Futurity trials had 252 entries, and the Ruidoso SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 9

F I R S T R U N N E R S T U R N U P T H E H E AT I N 2 0 1 4

SOUTHWESTERN HEAT GONE WEST - XTRA HEAT, BY DIXIELAND HEAT



Ranked among the state’s top five active sires by median, gross and average in 2013

 Sired three $15,000 yearlings in first crop  By SPEIGHTSTOWN, 2nd Leading Sire in 2013

and his 23 stakes winnners recorded the most stakes wins, 36

 Out of champion 3YO filly XTRA HEAT, G1 winner of 26 of 35 starts and $2,389,635

 Broodmare sire by DIXIELAND BAND, a top 10 broodmare sire last year 2014 Fee: $2,500

10 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

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

NEW MEXICO’S LEADING STORM PRODUCER



#1 ACTIVE SIRE IN NM in 2013 & 2014 Combined Earnings over $1,324,985



Sired the Most Stakes Winners (4) & Stakes Wins (6) in the state last year



#5 in North America by 2013 2YO ABC Index at 3.14



3.16 A Runner Index, higher than Giant’s Causeway, Smart Strike, Kitten’s Joy, etc.



9 with $100,000 or more in earnings, including 2013 NM Champion 2YO REAPER ($251,730 to 3, 2013) and 3YO NM Champion HUSH’S STORM ($204,837)

ATTILA’S STORM FOREST WILDCAT-SWEET SYMMETRY, BY MAGESTERIAL

2014 Fee: $3,000

Inquires to Fred Alexander (915) 539-2176 Office: (915) 539-0040 Fax: (575) 882-1235 • Email: aahorseranch1@aol.com SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 1713 W. Washington, Anthony, NM 88021 • www.aaranch.org

11

W I C K E D L Y

F A S T

THE FIRST STALLION IN NM HISTORY TO FINISH FIRST SEASON RANKED AMONG

NORTH AMERICA’S TOP 4 FIRST CROP SIRES Cumulative: 5 Stakes Horses, no other second crop sire in NA has more 17 Winners, only one second crop sire in NA has more Multiple SW THAT’S THE IDEA ($234,035), never off the board at 2, 2013 4th highest 2yo money winner by a freshman sire last year

DIABOLICAL Adam Coglianese

artax - bonnie byerly, by dayjur

12 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

2014 Fee: $5,000

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

4-Time SW BACK SEAT ROLL ($276,114)

WINNERS KEEP ROLLIN’ IN No other NM sire had more stakes winners last year Stakes Horses include: BACK SEAT ROLL, 2 to 3, 2013, on the board in all 8 career starts HENNESEY SMASH ($252,006) 7 wins in 8 starts, 4X SW KISS MY HENNESSY ($219,238) Multiple Stakes Winner ROLL OUT THE BAND ($151,468), Multiple Stakes Winner at 2, 2013 ROLLSETROLL, multiple stakes placed, 9-1-5-1 2014 Fee: $3,500

ROLL HENNESSY ROLL HENNESSY - ROLL OVER BABY, BY ROLLIN ON OVER

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 • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 13

Futurity trials had 245 entries. Translation: The 2014 All American Futurity trial entries project to be up 14 percent while the number of horses racing in the Rainbow Futurity trials and Ruidoso Futurity would show slight increases.

The initial figures for the 2015 Triple Crown futurities – All American, Rainbow and Ruidoso futurities – show an estimated 15 percent boost in nominees over this year.

When compared to five years ago, “the numbers” for 2014 are striking and show the long-term growth of Ruidoso Downs that translates to the local economy. The All American Futurity trial entries project to be up 62 percent, Rainbow Futurity trial entries could up 45 percent and Ruidoso Futurity trial entries should rise 37 percent.

The “real numbers” are the purses that will be paid out in the six Grade 1 stakes this summer at Ruidoso Downs. This money is awarded to the owners, trainers and jockeys who are spending money in the Ruidoso area every summer.

The total purse projection is $8.7 million for the major stakes: the All American Futurity, the All American Derby, the Rainbow Futurity, the Rainbow Derby, the Ruidoso Futurity, the Ruidoso Derby and their associated stakes. These races are led by the $2.6 million pot in the All American Futurity with the winner taking $1.3 million.

The real bottom line is on Main Street, or in Ruidoso’s case it’s Sudderth Drive and Mechem Drive. That is where much of the money from visitors finds its way into the local economy and multiplies four to seven times, according to the New Mexico Tourism Department.

FEB. 14, 2014

Altoona, IA; Shakopee, MN Prairie Meadows and Canterbury Park continue efforts to extend racing opportunities for statebreds in 2014

For the second year, Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, and Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., have agreed to extend opportunities to host restricted races for Thoroughbreds foaled in Iowa or Minnesota during this year’s racing season.

This arrangement is beneficial to both racing jurisdictions because it allows Minnesota Thoroughbreds to compete at Prairie Meadows in restricted races written for Iowa Thoroughbreds prior to the start of the Canterbury Park race meet on May 16.

14 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

Likewise, when the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet concludes in early August, Iowa Thoroughbreds will have an opportunity to run alongside Minnesota Thoroughbreds in designated race restrictions at Canterbury Park through midSeptember.

This program is slated to return when the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet (67 days) opens on Friday, April 18 Derron Heldt, Director of Racing at Prairie Meadows, reports that the 2013 inaugural program between the Iowa and Minnesota horse tracks will continue that partnership spirit at Prairie Meadows in 2014.

“With this being the second year, we look forward to growing the opportunities for both Minnesota- and Iowa-breds,” said Leroy Gessmann, President of the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Gessmann is credited with proposing such a concept to the Iowa and Minnesota program in 2013, in the hopes that additional racing opportunities would augment the Thoroughbred programs in both states.

Said Deb Leech, President of the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, “This is a good opportunity to run your Iowa-bred horse in a restricted state bred race once our season has ended at Prairie Meadows. This also allows Minnesota-breds to run in restricted statebred races before their season at Canterbury kicks off. I am looking forward to the two tracks building on what they started last season.”

Canterbury Park’s 69-day racing season begins May 16 and concludes Sept. 13.

“This cooperative program is beneficial to owners of Minnesota and Iowa-bred horses and to the racing and breeding industries in both states,” Canterbury Park Vice President of Racing Operations Eric Halstrom said.

Opelousas, LA Rebranded Evangeline sale offers 90 2-year-olds in training

Having recently completed its first season under the leadership of new owner Boyd Gaming, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino will conduct its annual 2-year-oldin-training sale on Sunday, March 9. Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Central time. The Sale, now known as the “Stars of Tomorrow” 2-Year-Old in Training Sale, features 90 exciting young racing prospects and will once again be held in the Evangeline Downs

Event Center, which is located directly adjacent to the racing paddock. In addition, there will be a Preview Gallop Show on Saturday, March 8, which will begin at noon Central time. As in past years, both the Sale and the Preview Gallop Show are free and open to the public.

Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, President of Stemmans Inc., Administrator for the Sale stated “This catalog showcases Accredited Louisiana bred juveniles from the state’s leading stallions but also includes promising youngsters from well-regarded and proven sires such as Forestry, Flower Alley, Stroll, Brother Derek, and Half Ours. Clavier added, “This sale features a solid group of attractive and versatile racing prospects that will appeal to both the local horsemen as they prepare for the upcoming Spring/ Summer racing season at Evangeline Downs as well as to those from neighboring and other racing circuits.”

Chris Warren, Director of Racing Operations for Delta Downs & Evangeline Downs stated “Evangeline Downs has a long tradition as a proving ground for 2-yearolds. Our stakes schedule includes multiple events for the juveniles and features a pair of $100,000 races for 2-year-olds that offers first preference for those youngsters who pass through the sales ring. Named the Evangeline Downs Star & the Evangeline Downs Starlet, the two races are free to nominate with supplemental nominations accepted at the time of entries. They will be run at the distance of six furlongs on the main track and contested on Saturday, Aug. 30, the final night of the Spring/Summer racing season.”

Thoroughbred Racing will return to Evangeline Downs for the 49th consecutive season here in Cajun Country with an 84-Night Season on Wednesday, April 9 that will run through Saturday, Aug. 30.

Online Catalogs and other Sales information are available at Evangelinedowns. com/race/horsemen-information.

For additional information please contact Stemmans Inc. or the Evangeline Downs Race Office at 1-800-544-6773 or 337-594-3015.

FEB. 13, 2014

New Orleans, LA 2014 Fair Grounds Hall Of Fame inductees named

Brereton Jones’s Proud Spell, one of five fillies of recent vintage to have parlayed a win in the Fair Grounds Oaks to one

in the Kentucky Oaks later in the spring, will be joined by Crescent City-based trainers Bret Calhoun and Larry Robideaux Jr. when all three are inducted into the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame during ceremonies to be held March 12 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Proud Spell, a Kentucky homebred daughter of Proud Citizen, accomplished her “Oaks Double” in 2008, the year before Dolphus Morrison’s Rachel Alexandra did the same thing on her way to eventual Horse of the Year honors.

“We and I were absolutely ecstatic when they told us,” said Proud Spell’s trainer Larry Jones when asked about his and his wife Cindy’s reaction. “When we called ‘Brere’ and told him and Libby (Brereton Jones’s wife), they were just tickled pink.

They are really excited and are making plans to be here for the ceremony.”

Calhoun, 49, born in Dallas, Texas, but now a resident of New Orleans, has been training horses for two decades. The highlight of his career to date was winning two Breeders’ Cup races in 2010 – the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan’s Dubai Majesty as well as the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Carl Moore’s Chamberlain Bridge.

“To tell the truth, I never even thought about this until they told me,” said Calhoun.

“I was really surprised and shocked. Obviously, it’s a great honor. When I look at the list of trainers already in there, all I can say is that I’ll be joining some really great people and some really great horsemen.”

Robideaux, 80, born in Iowa, La., saddled his first horse at Fair Grounds in 1961 and his last one in 2012. The highlight of his career came when he saddled Ben Castleman’s My Charmer to win the 1972 Fair Grounds Oaks. My Charmer went on to be famous as the dam of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

“I appreciate this very much,” said Robideaux, speaking over the phone from Louisiana Downs where he is currently serving as stall man. “I’ll be joining guys like Hal Bishop and Marion Van Berg. I was selftaught as a trainer, but those were the guys I looked up to when I first came around.

I appreciate this very much. This really means a lot to me.”

Fair Grounds Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held in the Black Gold Room in the Derby Building above the Racing Office shortly after the racing program on March 12.

Also, three longtime veterans of the New Orleans press corps, previously announced, will be inducted into Fair Grounds Press Box Hall of Fame during the ceremonies. They are Glenn Gremillion, who ran the Fair Grounds television department for many years, A. J. Paretti, who called the charts at Fair Grounds for Daily Racing Form and later for Equibase, and longtime track photographer Lou Hodges Jr., who will be joining his late track photographer father Lou Hodges Sr. in the Press Box Hall of Fame.

the Mt. Rainier as a perfect tune-up for his brilliant gate-to-wire victory in the Longacres Mile.

Annually attracting several of the nation’s fastest middle-distance runners, The Mile culminates a tremendous twoweek stretch that features championship events in four categories. In addition to The Mile and Emerald Distaff, 3-year-old fillies meet in the $65,000 Washington Oaks on Saturday, Aug. 9, and 3-year-olds square off in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Sunday, Aug. 10.

The 2-year-old divisions tilt heavily toward the latter half of the meeting, capped by a Sept. 28 doubleheader featuring the Auburn, WA Emerald Downs announces $1.61 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1-1/16 miles and the $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes at six million stakes schedule; $200,000 furlongs.

LGA Mile (G3) Sunday, Aug. 24 Washington Cup XII – six races excluA 29-race stakes schedule featuring the sively for Washington-breds worth an ag79th renewal of the $200,000 Longacres gregate $300,000 – is Sunday, Sept. 7. Again Mile (Grade 3), three stakes double-headers in 2014, Washington Cup races are worth and Washington Cup XII has been an$50,000 in all six stakes divisions: 2-yearnounced for the 2014 season at Emerald olds, 2-year-old fillies, 3-year-olds, 3-year-old Downs. fillies, older horses, older fillies and mares.

Beginning with the $50,000 Hastings The 75-day season, the 19th at Emerald Handicap for older fillies and mares on Downs, begins Saturday, April 12. Live racSunday, May 11, and ending with a stakes ing is offered every Saturday and Sunday double-header for 2-year-olds on closing through April, with Fridays added to the day, Sunday, Sept. 28, a total of $1.61 milschedule beginning May 2. Post time is 6:45 lion will be offered in stakes purses. p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. weekends. ExcepTwenty-six stakes are scheduled on tions are 1 p.m., Kentucky Derby Day, SaturSundays including the $200,000 Longacres day, May 3, and 4:30 p.m. for the Fireworks Mile (Grade 3) on Sunday, Aug. 24. The Spectacular, Thursday, July 3.

Grade 3 Mile – among the Northwest’s Holiday racing will be held Monday, most enduring and iconic sporting events May 26, Friday, July 4 and Monday, Sept. 1.

– is half of a stakes double-header also featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for 2014 EMERALD DOWNS older fillies and mares at 1-1/8 miles.

According to Emerald Downs Vice Pres- STAKES SCHEDULE 29 races: $1.61 million in purses ident Jack Hodge and Director of Racing Bret Anderson, the 2014 stakes schedule May 11 $50,000 Hastings Handicap allows all categories several opportunities (3&UP F&M), 6F at large purses, and designed so that horses May 18 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap peak for the biggest events in August and (3&UP), 6-½ F September.

The schedule features 10 stakes events May 25 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G), 6-½ F for older horses, 10 races for 3-year-olds, June 1 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F), eight events for 2-year-olds and one race 6-½ F for Quarter Horses.

The road to the Longacres Mile begins June 8 $50,000 WA State Legislators Sunday, May 18, with the $50,000 GoverStakes (3&UP F&M), 6-½ F nor’s Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at June 15 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap 6-½ furlongs, and continues Sunday, June (3&UP), 1M 15, with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. The $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap June 22 $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G), 1M at 1-1/16 miles on Sunday, July 20, serves as the final local prep for this year’s Mile. In June 29 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F), 1M 2013, Horse of the Meeting Herbie D used

FEB. 7, 2014

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July 6 July 13 July 19 July 20

July 27 Aug. 9 Aug. 10 Aug. 16 Aug. 17 Aug. 24

$50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M), 1M $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G), 1-1/16M $50,000 Kent Handicap (3YO F), 1-1/16M $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP), 1-1/16M $50,000 Emerald Express (2YO C&G), 6F $50,000 Angie C Stakes (2YO F), 6F $65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F), 1-1/8M $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO), 1-1/8M $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G), 6-½ F $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F), 6-½ F $65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M), 1-1/8M

$200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP), 1M Aug. 31 TBA Bank of America Chmp Challenge* (3&UP), 440 Y Washington Cup XII Sept. 7 $50,000 Northwest Farms Stakes (2YO F WA), 6F $50,000 DRF Dennis Dodge Stakes (2YO C&G WA), 6F $50,000 Comcast SportsNet Stakes (3YO F WA), 1M $50,000 Jim Beam Stakes (3YO C&G WA), 1M $50,000 Pegasus Training Center (3&UP F&M WA), 1-1/16M $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA), 1-1/16M Sept. 28 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO), 1-1/16M $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes (2YO), 6F *Quarter Horse

FEB. 6, 2014

Wayne, OK Sire of more than $17.5 million in earners to stand at Royal Vista Ranches in OK Grade 3 winner and multiple champion sire Cactus Ridge (TB) will join the Royal Vista Ranches, near Wayne, Okla., stallion roster in 2014. His fee has been set at $5,000 with special consideration to Quarter Horse mares.

“We are very excited to have this outstanding Thoroughbred stallion join our roster for the upcoming breeding season,” Royal Vista Ranches Farm Manger Laura Wipf-Erickson said. “He has sired a sprint champion and his connection to leading Quarter Horses through his sire should make him a great out-cross.”

Owned by Toby Keith’s Dream Walkin’ Farms, Cactus Ridge has sired nine crops to race, 52 stakes horses, 249 winners with earnings of $17.5 million and average earn-

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ings per starter of nearly $55,000. Among his top performers are Grade 1 winner Hot Cha Cha (6 wins, $998,552), Champion Sprinter and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Hollywood Hit (9 wins, $622,156), two-time Champion Peyote Patty (11 wins, $538,343), Grade 1 placed Supreme Summit (3 wins, $498,080), stakes winner Sharp Secretary (7 wins, $346,012), etc.

Cactus Ridge won three of four starts at 2, earning $187,850, including the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity, James C. Ellis Juvenile Stakes and Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes.

A son of leading sire Hennessy, who is also the sire of Grade 1 winner and leading Quarter Horse sire Check Him Out, Cactus Ridge is out of Grade 1 placed Lycius mare Double Park ($57,392). He is a brother to stakes winner Sebastian County ($230,155), and half-brother to stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Harriett Lane ($163,500). The second dam is a multiple stakes producing daughter of leading sire Danzig.

For additional information or breeding contracts call Laura at 405-449-7575.

“We put out Average Payouts Per Wager – Portland Meadows Live Racing a better product

and our races

2013-14 Meet 2012 Meet $ Change % Change were in greater

$2 Base demand in the Win $10.86 $9.21 $1.65 17.97% local market and Place $5.47 $4.61 $0.86 18.70% Show $3.84 $3.33 $0.51 15.34% with horseplay

ers in other $1 Base

jurisdictions and Exacta $32.85 $23.50 $9.36 39.82% Trifecta $187.28 $101.41 $85.88 84.69% those wagerDaily Double $31.92 $29.03 $2.90 9.98% ing from home,” $177.28 $131.33 $45.94 34.98% Pick 3 said Portland Pick 4 $1,224.30 $398.75 $825.55 207.03%

Meadows Gen

$0.25 Base eral Manager Will $660.62 New Wager in ‘13-14

Pick 5 Alempijevic. “As

$0.10 Base

a result, whether Superfecta $111.42 $53.72 $57.70 107.42% you like the

straight, horiAvg. Field Size 7.56 6.72 0.84 12.50% zontal, or vertical wagers there was for statebred contenders. The top-level, significantly more value betting Portland open allowance purses will be $40,000 and Meadows in the 2013-14 Meet.”

Iowa-bred purses will be $51,640.

While every wager at Portland Mead“Our racing staff evaluated the purse ows showed increases in average payout, structures at other tracks around the there were some huge increases that Midwest region,” said Derron Heldt, Prairie stood out. Average trifecta payouts nearly Meadows’ Director of Racing. “We tried to doubled, going from an average $1 payoff structure this year’s purses to be competiof $101.41 in 2012 to $187.28 in 2013/14. tive in all categories with those across the Superfecta payouts more than doubled, as Portland, OR region.” the $0.10 base wager offered an average Average payouts up across the The Thoroughbreds will race on payout of $111.42 this season versus $53.72 board in 2013/14 at Portland Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 last season.

Meadows p.m., and on Sundays at 1 p.m. Thirty-three The most significant increase was in Good value for their gaming dollar is stakes worth more than $3 million will be Portland Meadows’ 14 percent Takeout one of, if not the most, paramount things Pick 4. The wager had an average payout of featured during the 67-day meet. Prairie for bettors to consider when playing the Meadows’ live card will begin early on $398.75 in 2012 and jumped a whopping races. The 2013/14 season at Portland the three Saturdays comprising the Triple 825 percent in 2013/14 with an average Meadows was one of growth not just for Crown Series (Kentucky Derby, Preakness payout of $1,224.30. purse sizes and field sizes, but for wagering Stakes and Belmont Stakes), in addition Portland Meadows debuted a $0.25 pools and payoffs. In 2012 Portland Meadto Memorial Day, July 3, and July 4. The Pick 5 with a 15 percent takeout rate in ows ran the inaugural Summer Meet, racing 2013/14 which had an average payoff of Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, three days a week from July to December, Iowa Derby, and Iowa Oaks, all Grade 3 $660.62. which was a switch from the traditional Ocevents, headline the Iowa Festival of RacAbove is a full list of the average paytober-to-April schedule the track had always outs for the recently completed 2013/14 ing, June 27-28, which offers six stakes in run. For 2013/14 season, Portland Meadows season compared to the 2012 season. all and combined purses worth more than reduced the schedule to racing just two $1 million. Iowa Classic Night on Aug. 2 will days a week as well as increased purses. feature purses worth $550,000, distributed These changes helped spur an increase in across seven stakes for Iowa-breds.

Altoona, IA field size in 2013/14 to 7.56 horses per race, Prairie Meadows has hired Pat Pope to up from 2012’s average of 6.72 per race. The Prairie Meadows announces serve as Thoroughbred Racing Secretary. A 2014 schedules; Pat Pope named graduate of the University of Arizona Race purse and field size increases helped result Thoroughbred Racing Secretary in a dramatic increase in wagering handle, Track Industry Program, Pope is a fixture Prairie Meadows announces its 2014 as per-day handle soared to $457,924, up in the industry with more than 30 years’ 49.56 percent from the 2012 Summer Meet schedules for purses, race dates and stakes. experience. The Sioux City, Iowa, native was The Thoroughbred meet’s average that averaged $306,182 per racing day. also the racing secretary at Prairie Meadows With more horses in each race and daily purse projected for the 67-day period, from 1997-2002. In addition, he has been more money being bet, there were more beginning on April 18 through Aug. 9, will racing secretary at Oaklawn Park, Louisiana opportunities for bettors and the payouts average approximately $220,000 per race Downs and Delaware Park. showed a dramatic increase almost across day. Maiden special weight purses will be “Pat is well-known throughout the the board. $30,000 for open contenders and $38,730 industry,” said Heldt. “We feel his ability to

FEB. 4, 2014

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attract quality stables is vital to striking a balance with the open program and the Iowa program. We look forward to having him back with us.”

Chad Keller, who has been with Prairie Meadows since 2000, will be the racing secretary for the 27-day Quarter Horse meet (Aug. 16 - Oct. 18). In addition, he will assist Pat Pope during the Thoroughbred meet.

“Chad did an excellent job for us managing both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets in 2013,” Heldt said. “But, that’s a tall order. Having both Pat and Chad in the office to manage these programs is a plus-plus. We’re looking forward to a great year and excellent racing opportunities.”

The Quarter Horses will race on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 1 p.m. Daily Quarter Horse purses will average approximately $150,000 per race day. Maiden special weight purses will be $10,500 for open contenders and $14,574 for statebred contenders. The top-level, open allowance purses will be $15,000, and the Iowa-bred allowance purses will be $20,820.

Prairie Meadows will host 31 Quarter Horse Stakes with an estimated value of more than $2.4 million. The Bank of America Regional Challenge Championships on September 13 will be worth more than $200,000 in purses plus added moneys, highlighted by the Grade 2 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Challenge Championship.

Prairie Meadows has great hopes again this year for its top two- and three-yearold races, the Valley Junction Futurity and the Altoona Derby. The Valley Junction Futurity, which paid an all-time high purse of $282,250 in 2013, will be held this year on Oct. 17 and will be worth an estimated $235,000. The Altoona Derby, which also paid an all-time high purse of $146,800 in 2013, will be worth an estimated $110,000 this year and will be held on Oct. 18.

Four Iowa-bred championships worth $370,000, plus added purse money, will be held on closing weekend, October 17-18.

The signature event for statebreds is the Jim Bader Memorial Futurity worth an estimated $150,000.

Also on closing weekend, Oct. 17-18, the Bank of America Challenge Championships, which Prairie Meadows has been selected to host for the second time in the past three years, will feature a dozen stakes races worth more than $1.1 million. Six of the 12 stakes will be national Challenge 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

Championship races. The Challenge Championship’s signature event is the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship on October 18 worth $350,000.

“We always look forward to each new year to showcase some of the finest racing in the midwest,” said Heldt. “We are putting much thought again this year into the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets, and we are excited to see how things will evolve.”

FEB. 2, 2014

Cypress, CA Los Alamitos looking to revive distance division in 2014

When Richard Gardner and RTM Stables’ Honoroso was named the AQHA distance champion of 2013, the gelding by Fly Jess Fly became just latest horse to win the division’s top distinction thanks in part to winning a major distance race at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Honoroso won the 870-yard $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge on Bank of America Racing Challenge Night on November 9, which was the only distance race contested at the Orange County oval in 2013. In fact, since 2011, the track has hosted just seven Quarter Horse races around the turn, but three of those have been stakes events. In addition to the 2011 and 2013 Red Cell Distance Challenges, Los Alamitos also hosted the 870-yard Gold Rush Derby for 3-year-olds in 2011.

Los Alamitos racing officials, however, are excited to renew the distance division in 2014. Racing Secretary Ron Church noted that he will include 870-yard races in the next Los Alamitos condition book, which will begin with the racing program on Friday, February 14.

“In the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s, Los Alamitos Race Course was the premier track for a Quarter Horse to race at 870 yards,” he said. “The lineup of superstars that have competed at Los Alamitos reads like a who’s who in the history of the 870yard division. I know that it might take a little bit of time to fill some races because horses will need to post at least one workout at 660 yards prior to racing, but I think we’ll fill some distance races in the near future.”

Major stars like three-time champions Sign Of Lanty and Griswold and two-time distance champion Snowbound Superstars were the poster boys of greatness in the division for many years. Sign Of Lanty won

a record 16 stakes races around the turn here, while the 870-yard track record holder Griswold ran a thrilling and unforgettable match race against the Thoroughbred Valiant Pete at Santa Anita. Snowbound Superstar, meanwhile, won 15 consecutive starts at 870-yard – 13 of those coming at Los Alamitos. Champions like Prankster CF, Sterling Sport, Baychaino, Heros Call and so many other distance greats have plied their trade at Los Alamitos.

“This track has had so many unbelievable moments take place at 870 yards,” Church said. “We get owners, trainers and racing enthusiasts that ask about having 870-yard races. That time is now. We are going to make a concerted effort to revive distance Quarter Horse races at Los Alamitos, and we are excited about seeing what develops in this division in the months to come.”

For more information on the upcoming conditions for the 870-yard races, please call the Los Alamitos Racing Office at 714-820-2788.

JAN. 31, 2014

Portland, OR 2013/14 Portland Meadows endof-season release

Portland Meadows’ 49-day live racing season ended on Jan. 26, concluding the 67th season of live racing that got underway on July 21.

“We worked together with our partners in racing and with their financial support along with a reduction in live race days we were able to significantly raise purses on a daily basis,” said Portland Meadows General Manager Will Alempijevic. “The increased purses had a clear positive affect on the quality and appeal on our live races. Combined with a shift in our racing schedule to focus on customer demand and the availability of horse supply we realized significant year over year increases in handle.”

All sources handle totaled $22,438,272 during the 2013/14 meet for an average daily handle of $457,924. This represents a 49.56 percent increase from the average daily handle of $306,182 from the 60 live race day 2012 summer/fall meet.

A total of $2,722,760 was paid in out in purses during the season for an average purse payout of $56,724 per race day. This represents an increase from last season’s per race day payout which was $39,558.

The average number of starters per

by Currie J. Maben), and Mitey Moon (top 2-year-old filly, owned and bred by Debra J. Laney).

First Moonflash was both the top Quarter Horse stallion and freshman stallion for 2013, as the Grade 1-winning 9-year-old son of First To Flash and 2009 AQHA champion aged stallion sired the earners of $2,243,679, including Handsome Jack Flash. First Moonflash is owned

by Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Maria G. Gonzalez, and Mike C. Abraham, and he stands at W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farm in Bosque, Albuquerque, NM New Mexico.

NMHBA honors its 2013 Lady Genius, a homebred chestnut state-bred champions daughter of Quinton’s Gold campaigned The New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Asby Mike H. Carson, Bill D. Carson, and sociation honored its 2013 Thoroughbred Leach Racing LLC, was honored as the top and Quarter Horse champions during its New Mexico-bred 2-year-old ThoroughZia Awards Banquet at the Marriott Upbred filly for 2013. Miss Einstein, a multiple town Hotel in Albuquerque. stakes winning 16-year-old daughter of During the banquet, which was emBeau Genius and the dam of Lady Genius ceed by author and noted longtime racing and 2013 New Mexico-bred champion media personality Chris Kotulak, a total of older Thoroughbred horse or gelding, was 21 awards were presented. Breeders Mike honored as last year’s top Thoroughbred H. Carson and Bill D. Carson were honored broodmare. with the 2013 Julep Cup by the Lexington, Other NMHBA Thoroughbred awards Kentucky-based The Blood-Horse Magawent to Rose’s Desert (top older mare, zine. The Carsons bred and raced 2013 owned and bred by Joe R. Peacock Sr.), Mr. New Mexico-bred champion ThoroughWizard (top older horse or gelding, owned breds Mr. Wizard and Lady Genius.

by Mike H. Carson, Bill D. Carson, and Handsome Jack Flash, an AQHA cham- Leach Racing LLC, and bred by Mike H. and pion and winner of the 440-yard, $2.6-mil- Suzanne Carson), Way To Go Gerda (top 3-year-old filly, owned and bred by Larry lion All American Futurity (Grade 1) at W. Strain), Hush’s Storm (top 3-year-old Ruidoso Downs, was last year’s top New gelding, owned by Dale and Carey Taylor, Mexico-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding.

Joe Dee Brooks, and Jon Hogg, and bred Bred by Debra J. Laney of Tularosa, New

by JEH Stallion Station NM), and Reaper Mexico, raced by Laney, Norma Alvarez, (top 2-year-old colt or gelding, owned and and Brenda Alvarez, and trained by Juan bred by R.D. Hubbard).

M. Gonzalez, Handsome Jack Flash won Desert God was honored as the top four of five starts, all at Ruidoso Downs, and earned $1,482,271, and his two season Thoroughbred stallion for 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year that the nowstakes wins included a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $409,434 Zia Futurity pensioned 23-year-old son of Fappiano has earned the award. The sire of Rose’s (RG1) for state-breds.

Desert and a total of 23 stakes winners, Debra Laney’s Shez Jess Nice, an Desert God is owned by H. Joe Allen, and 11-year-old daughter of champion Mr Jess Perry and the dam of Handsome Jack he is currently living on Allen’s farm in Abilene, Texas.

Flash, was the 2013 Quarter Horse BroodDiabolical, an 11-year-old multiple mare of the Year. graded stakes winning son of Artax, was The following Quarter Horses were last year’s top freshman Thoroughbred stalalso honored: Desert Delight Cash (top lion. Diabolical is owned by Fred Alexander older mare, owned by Red Box Carriers and J. Kirk Robison, and he stands at Fred Inc., bred by the Estate of T. Jerry Lee), Bet On Ballou (top older horse or gelding, and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch in Anthony, New Mexico. owned by Quarter Circle W Bar LLC, bred Also, a Distinguished Service Award

by Carl D. Dahl), Aful Alibi (top 3-year-old was presented to Harold Payne of El Paso, filly, owned by Joel Varela Sr., bred by Leonard P. Blach), Jess Rueben James (top Texas. In 2013, Payne retired after a suc3-year-old colt or gelding, owned and bred cessful career in the racing industry that race increased from 6.72 during the 2012 meet to 7.56 this season.

On the track, jockey Eliska Kubinova took home her first riding title as she led the Thoroughbred standings with 55 wins.

Jim Fergason had 34 wins to win the Thoroughbred training title. Joe Crispin took home the Quarter Horse riding title with 15 scores while Juan Sanguino was both leading trainer with 13 wins and owner with six wins in the Quarter Horse standings.

included a long stint as general manager of Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in southern New Mexico.

JAN. 29, 2014

Hollywood, CA Movie ‘50 To 1’ announces road tour Feature film about Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, an inspiring underdog tale of misfit cowboys and their long-shot racehorse, starring Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane, William Devane, Madelyn Deutch, Todd Lowe and jockey Calvin Borel.

The cast and filmmakers of “50 to 1” will hit the road rock-star style on a cross-country tour beginning March 17 to promote the major motion pictures release, says the film’s producer, director and co-writer Jim Wilson, Oscar®-winning producer of “Dances with Wolves.”

“We’re bringing ‘50 to 1’ to the people of America,” Wilson says. The group will travel in a tour bus from New Mexico to Kentucky, making stops in cities and towns along the way, mirroring the trip racehorse Mine That Bird took on his way to the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Cast members joining the tour will be Skeet Ulrich (Jericho, “Scream,” “As Good As It Gets”), Christian Kane (Leverage, “Friday Night Lights,” “Secondhand Lions,” “Just Married”), Todd Lowe (True Blood, “The Princess Diaries,” Gilmore Girls) and Hugo Perez (“Machete,” “The Longshots,” “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”).

Also on tour will be Wilson and co-producer, co-writer Faith Conroy. The real Mine That Bird will make special appearances along the tour.

“When was the last time Hollywood’s leading men hopped on a bus and toured the country from town to town, introducing their film to the people of America?”

Wilson says. “It’s unprecedented.”

“I’m extremely excited to hit the road with a film I’m very proud to be a part of,” Ulrich says. “It seems fitting we’d be selling our wares from a gypsy-like caravan, given the underdog nature of our story, and I’m hoping this journey answers three burning questions. One, are audiences tired of the blockbuster and ready to be uplifted by the values of hard work and integrity?

Two, can we inspire our audiences to stick to their guns and do what they love at all costs? And three, does Christian snore SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 23

2014 Fee: $1500.00 with Considerations

24 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

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Scenes from “50 to 1”: above left, Jockey Calvin Borel (playing himself) races Mine That Bird (Sunday Rest) at Churchill Downs; above, Chip Woolley (Skeet Ulrich, far left), Leonard ‘Doc’ Blach (William Devane) and Mark Allen (Christian Kane) react to their competition at Santa Anita Park racetrack; below, Producer/Director Jim Wilson talks to Christian Kane (far left) and Skeet Ulrich during filming of “50 to 1.”

louder than Todd?”

“Man, this almost feels like we’re carnies or something. Or an old whistle-stop political campaign,” Lowe says. “I’m looking forward to rolling into different towns and shaking hands and kissing babies.”

“Personally, I’ve always wanted to be a rock star,” Conroy says. “And seriously, traveling across the country for weeks on end with a busload of gorgeous cowboys?

Sign me up!”

“I’ve done tours before. I’m excited!”

Kane says. “It’s old hat for me in the sense that when you love something so much, you will put 18 wheels and lives in motion just to bring it into town and say, ‘I hope you like this. I made this for you.’”

“It’ll be a fun, fun road trip vacation for me, part of the dream-life I want to live,” Perez says. “It’s also an honor and I’m so fortunate to be a part of this adventure.”

Inspiration for the tour came during a brainstorming session by Wilson and Conroy. “I thought, why not meet the audience this movie is intended for, introduce them to the stars and shake their hands,” Wilson says. “It’s the audience that matters the most. It’s why we make these stories, to share them with the world.”

“50 to 1” is based on the inspiring true story of Mine That Bird and the cowboy trainer and owners who became the ultimate underdogs in a showdown with the world’s racing elite at the 2009 Kentucky Derby. The film was shot in 40 locations across New Mexico, Kentucky and California, and will open theatrically in roll-out fashion

beginning in New Mexico March 21, followed by Texas and Louisiana April 4, Oklahoma and Arkansas April 11, Tennessee and Kentucky April 18, and will then expand across the country.

The tour mirrors not only the true story, but also the release, and will weave its way from town to town through the initial seven states. “This is just for starters,” Wilson says. “We have every intention of crisscrossing America, but it’s dependent on demand. If you want us to come visit your city, let us know.”

People interested in having the ‘50 to 1’ tour stop in their town can email their requests to 50to1themovietour@gmail.com.

Include in the subject line: 50 to 1 Movie Tour – first and last name, town, state and Zip Code.

Wilson won the Academy Award® for Best Picture for “Dances with Wolves,” which he produced. Other producing credits include “The Bodyguard,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Swing Vote,” “Mr. Brooks” and “Message in a Bottle.” Wilson’s previous directing credits include “Head Above Water,” “Whirlygirl” and the critically-acclaimed documentary about Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr.,

Courtesy photos

“Laffit – All About Winning.”

Mine That Bird was born May 10, 2006, and began racing in 2008 in Canada, winning four of his first six starts. His career slumped after he was purchased by Mark Allen in the fall of 2008, going winless until his monumental upset at the 2009 Kentucky Derby at 50-to-1 odds. Mine That Bird continued his run for the Triple Crown that year, finishing second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes. He amassed $2,228,637 in earnings throughout his career but never won another race in nine starts after his win at the Kentucky Derby. Mine That Bird was retired from racing in November 2010 and currently lives with his owners at Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M. Website: www.50to1themovie.com .

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 25

Come

the thunder

The Sunland Derby is one of the region’s premier sporting events, and attracts some of the best horses and jockeys in the country.

Come experience the speed, the excitement, and the fun of race day.

Sunday, March 23 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

This Is How You Win.

I-10 To Sunland Park EXIT 13 • www.sunland-park.com PLAY RESPONSIBLY, HELPLINE 1-800-572-1142.

26 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE 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: Emily Stevens/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 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: Reed Palmer Photography Retama Park: Courtesy of Retama Park Sam Houston Race Park: Coady Photography WASHINGTON: Emerald Downs: Courtesy of Emerald Downs

Another Oatie

FEB. 23, 2014

“He flew out of the gate and I just tried to make him go straight,” Valenzuela explained. “I could feel the pressure was Los Alamitos Race Course, coming so I went to the whip. He didn’t Cypress, CA like the whip at all. He started to fall apart Another Oatie is another big on me so I stopped using the whip and I money winner in his family just started riding him from there.”

LEMA Racing’s Another Oatie is living Another Oatie was purchased for up to his bloodlines following a hard$87,000 at the 2012 Los Alamitos Equine fought nose victory in the running of the Sale. He did not make his first start until $112,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes at October 5 of his 2-year-old campaign, the Orange County track. but he performed well right off the bat.

With leading Quarter Horse rider Raul He ran second in his maiden appearance Valenzuela aboard for trainer Juan Aleand then posted back-to-back third place man, the 8-1 shot Another Oatie led from finishes in his trials to the Golden State start to finish while holding off the 6-5 Million Futurity and Los Alamitos Two Milfavorite Here O Beduino. In the process the lion Futurity. He finished his freshman seagelding by Walk Thru Fire out of Kingman son with a seventh place finish in the Los Kin joined his full brother Oatman and Alamitos Invitational Stakes on Dec. 15. half-brother Hulapai as a winner of a big “He was a little immature so we money race at Los Alamitos. Oatman won gelded him after the (Invitational Stakes) the 2011 Los Alamitos Winter Derby while and that’s helped him out a lot,” Aleman Hulapai won the 2009 Southern California said. “We liked the way he was bred and he Derby. Another Oatie completed the 350- was always right there in his races. He won yard distance in a time of :17.483. his Maiden trial and now the final. He’s do“Another Oatie needed a perfect race ing great. He hasn’t grown to be as big as to win tonight,” Aleman said. “When he Oatman was, but he’s still maturing. We are broke as well as he did, I knew we had going to give him some time off after this a shot to win it. I also knew that Here O race and hopefully he’ll grow some more and be ready to run 400 yards.”

Beduino was going to come on strong.

Based in Phoenix, Ariz., LEMA Racing Another Oatie had to do everything right has paid Another Oatie into the August because he was facing tough horses like Here O Beduino and (fastest qualifier) The 10 trials to the Golden State Derby and the trials to the Los Alamitos Super Derby.

Ocean King.”

Both of those trials will be contested at A big key in Another Oatie’s dash to 400 yards. Another Oatie came into this victory was his jockey’s quick thinking race with a bankroll of $7,535, but after under pressure.

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runners that included Grade 2 Charger Bar Handicap winner Native Tea Rose racing in the 350-yard event for 4-year-old mares.

“I thought I had a good chance to win it with Native Tea Rose, but she was in dancing in the gate and just didn’t leave,” Jones said after the race.

“Good thing that Splendiferous Diva my other nice mare came through.”

Racing for earning a $47,040 paycheck from this Veronica Gail Worth, Splendiferous Diva race his lifetime total now reads $54,575. has a slight bump at the start and was Another Oatie was bred by Ed Allred, the perfect from there on the way to winning sport’s all-time leading breeder. Allred is the Denim N Diamonds by a head over also the breeder of the aforementioned Tom Atwood’s stakes winner Curlie Cue. Oatman and Hulapai.

Ridden by Ramon Sanchez from post five Owned and bred by Cynthia Cruz and at odds of 7-2, Splendiferous Diva covered saddled by Roberto Dominguez, Here O the distance in a solid clocking of :17.629.

Beduino ran a solid race and was coming Sanchez has proven to be a perfect match on like a freight train in the final 100 yards. for the dashing mare, as the two have With Abel Ramirez in the irons, Here O ended up in the winner’s circle the last Beduino’s runner-up effort still earned him three times that they’ve joined forces. a nice payout of $19,040. The colt by No “I’ve just been lucky with her,” Sanchez Secrets Here has earned $24,020 in his four said. “She got a good break and she was race career. great at the end.”

“My horse ran his race,” Dominguez “She runs pretty good for Ramon,” said. “I have no excuses. It was a good Jones added. race. The other horse just ran a better race.

Native Tea Rose, the 2-5 favorite in We’re thinking about making his eligible this race, was looking for her third stakes to the Southern California Derby.” victory in as many starts, but the 4-yearJeffrey and Kim Pitcher’s Separate Jett old mare broke slowly and never threatearned $13,440 for finishing third. Sent off ened the leaders. She ended up in fifth at 28-1 odds, the Separatist gelding has place. finished in the money in each of his last “Splendiferous Diva outbroke her,” three starts. Foose Down Dash, Strategic Jones continued. “Native Tea Rose got beWeapon, Whos Got The Look, Swingin hind and then (Beautiful Fire) got in front Eagle, The Ocean King, Snitchy and Brightof her and probably kicked dirt in her face. erthanthesun will complete the field.

It’s hard to make up ground after that. It’s nice to have two runners in a race, just in case one makes a mistake. Native Tea Rose couldn’t win this one, but we had a nice Los Alamitos Race Course, back up plan.”

Cypress, CA Worth and Native Tea Rose’s owner, Diva looks good in Denim N Abigail Kawananakoa, were in Hawaii Diamonds at Los Alamitos watching the running of the Denim N Diamonds according to the trainer.

Paul Jones liked his chances going “Veronica and Abigail are pretty into the $25,000 Denim N Diamonds competitive when their horses are runHandicap at Los Alamitos. The AQHA ning against each other,” he said. “I’m sure champion trainer had a pair of top notch

FEB. 22, 2014

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Abigail wanted to beat her in this race, but it was (Veronica’s) turn. It’s nice to get a stakes win for this mare. We’ll probably keep running in these types of handicap and will look for filly and mare races for her.”

A finalist in last year’s PCQHRA Breeders Derby, Splendiferous Diva earned $13,750 for the win to take her career earnings to $28,475. Bred by Sharon Brandsness, Splendiferous Diva is out of the 2001 Golden State Derby winner Royal Dip. The Denim N Diamonds winner has now won four of 12 starts while earning $42,225.

Saddled by Jose Hernandez, Jr. and ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Curlie Cue earned $5,625 for running second. The First Down Dash mare has hit the board in seven of her last 10 starts. She won the 2012 Junos Request Handicap.

Trained by John Cooper, Ron Hartley’s Forgotten Dynasty earned $3,125 for running third with Cesar De Alba aboard.

FEB. 16, 2014 Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA Nellie Delaney takes Winter Championship to earn Champion Of Champions berth

Owned and bred by J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley, Nellie Delaney joined the champion and millionaire Corona Kool as the only mares to ever win the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship following a stellar effort in the 400-yard race.

Piloted by Raul Valenzuela, the meet’s leading Quarter Horse jockey, for trainer Juan Aleman, Nellie Delaney scored a 1 ½ length victory over 21-1 longshot Eye On Corona in the Winter Championship.

The 9-year-old Rylees Boy, the winner of last year’s Winter Championship, finished strongly for third place with Los Alamitos Super Derby runner-up Scatmandu running fourth. The win gave Nellie Delaney the first automatic berth to this year’s Champion of Champions. A dead-heat winner of the Southern California Derby last season, the talented 4-year-old mare has now won her last four starts while giving long time owners Kelly and Yearsley their first ever qualifier to the Champion of Champions.

“I’ve been in racing since the 1980s and I can’t tell you what a thrill this is,” Kel-

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Nellie Delaney

ly said. “I would give up the purse money for the opportunity to be in the Champion of Champions and I think Nancy would say the same thing. It’s just a real honor to have bred one that’s made it to the biggest dance of them all.”

Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, Nellie Delaney earned $65,625 in the Winter Championship. She’s now won five of 15 career starts with lifetime earnings of $167,683 to her name. The daughter of FDD Dynasty, who covered the distance in :19.488, is from the family of 2005 Los Alamitos Million Futurity winner Value The Man, who was also a Kelly and Yearsley homebred.

“If Value The Man was standing next to Nellie Delaney you would not be able to tell them apart,” Kelly said. “Delaney’s mother (Fleeting Touch) is a half sister to Value The Man.” Aleman is thrilled to have another Champion of Champions finalist. Among his many Champion of Champions qualifiers, the trainer qualified the mare Apollitical Time twice to the Champion of Champion and then won the prestigious race with her son, the 2010 World Champion Apollitical Jess. Aleman would love to see Nellie Delaney reach the lofty heights of the champion Apollitical Time.

“Nellie Delaney completely different to Apollitical Time,” Aleman admitted.

“Nellie is a lot bigger mare and her stride is different than Apollitical Time. If she keeps getting better and better then we can make a better comparison and I think she’s capable of doing that. This filly always showed a lot of ability, even when she was in Ruidoso. She had minor

Too Flash For You

surgery after the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, but since then she’s progressed.

I don’t know how good she could be.

She stumbled in the Southern California Derby, but she came back to catch (Jabuti Eagle SA) to tie for the win. She always does stand perfect in the gate and is ready to go. She just looks down the track.

We’ll give her some time off and wait for the (September 28 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap).”

Nellie Delaney’s win never seemed to be in doubt. She was third at the start, but a few strides later she was a half-length ahead of Moonshine Racing’s Eye On Corona. She continued to increase her lead from there on the way to an impressive score.

“She was excellent,” Valenzuela said.

“She did nothing wrong. She took off at 100 yards. I gave her a touch of the whip, but she was gone. She got away clean.”

“She’s had some bad luck in the past,” Kelly added. “She deserved to win this race. She had surgery right after the Maiden Stakes. It was just a minor clean up.

She’ll be back for the Millie Vessels. I don’t think we’ll breed her during her time off.

Maybe, maybe we’ll get one embryo out of her. Right now she’s a racehorse and we’ll keep her that way. Nancy couldn’t be here tonight because she’s busy with the horses and the breeding season. I wish she could have been here.”

Another person in Kelly’s mind on the night of the Winter Championship was the namesake of Nellie Delaney.

“Nellie Delaney was grandmother’s best friend back in Ireland,” he said. “She took a shine to me when I was kid. This

was back in the days of World War II when I lived in Ireland. Everything was scarce in those days, but Nellie always took good care of me. I would ride my bike to her farm to help her with the cows or with her yard. She would give me a treat or make me pancakes. She was always nice to me.”

Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Cody Joiner, Eye On Corona was second throughout on the way to earning $26,562. The 5-year-old horse by Corona Cartel has performed well at Los Alamitos since arriving from Sunland Park last fall.

He was third in the Farnam Stakes on Bank of America Racing Challenge Night and then won an allowance event on December 15. He was fifth to Nellie Delaney in the Winter Championship trials before running a tremendous race in this final.

A participant of the 2011 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, Eye On Corona has earned $129,204 in his 12 race career.

The ageless Rylees Boy was seventh at the start, but he flew in the final yards to grab third place. Trained by Paul Jones for Lorena Velazquez Rodrigues, Rylees Boy earned $18,750 to take his career earnings to $1,562,939 from 51 starts. Saul Ramirez, Jr. piloted the Arizona-bred son of Heza Motor Scooter. Aleman saddled Gentry Farms’ Scatmandu to earnings of $10,937 from his fourth place finish. Vodka With Ice, winner of the Grade 1 Bank of America Racing Challenge, Stel My Corona, Tres Coronas Mas, Valiant Valor and Remembering Spence completed the field. Jess Being Valiant was scratched because of a fever. He is doing much better according to his connections and figures to be back in training in the near future.

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE Sunland Park, NM Too Flash For You wins $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at 19-1

Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Ridden by AQHA champion jockey Cody Overlooked at 19-1 odds, Too Flash Jensen for trainer for You won the $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Trey Wood, Viva Horse Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack Mi Corazon ran and Casino. powerfully from Propelled by his large frame, Too post number one Flash for You surged powerfully in the en route to a 1 ¼ final half of the 400 yard dash to win by length victory over a half-length in a fast 18.992 seconds, Abigail Kawananagood for a 97 speed index. The Wes Giles koa’s Spirit Leader trainee was well prepared and soundly in the 400 yard defeated the best three-year-olds New race. Sired by First Mexico-bred Quarter Horses in training.

Down Dash, Viva Mi Viva Mi Corazon Despite having qualified for 4 major fuCorazon covered turities in 2013 and racing for the leading the distance in a sizzling time of :19.467 to Quarter Horse barn, Too Flash for You paid enjoy his fifth win in six outings at the Or$40.20 on a $2 win ticket. ange County track. Bred by Bob and Jerry Under jockey Larry Gamez, Too Flash Gaston in Texas, the gelding as a 2-yearfor You broke solidly in second place and old won the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity was chasing 8-5 favorite Woodys Allstar in and was second in the Los Alamitos Two the early stages. In mid-stretch, Too Flash Million Futurity in what is his only local for You hit an other gear and swept past defeat. the early leader. The First Moonflash geld“I love this horse and the bottom line ing powered on home for his first career is that he loves it at Los Alamitos,” said stakes victory in 10 starts. His second Wood’s assistant trainer Paul Leal. “He career win was worth $51,000 for owners enjoys it so much here. When I take him Jose R. Espinosa, Jim Laird and Michelle to the track to train, he just starts strutting Laird. around like a champion. He loves being Booyah Bay finished a good second here.” at odds of 10-1. The runner-up was ridViva Mi Corazon was sent off as the den by All American Futurity winner pilot second choice in the wagering at 9-5 odds Jaime Parga Leos. The son of Brookstone following a strong trial victory on Jan. Bay took home $18,700 for owner James 25. The role of favorite in this race went Baucom of Andrews, Texas. to Richard Frandsen’s fastest qualifier SS 2014 Shue Fly champion Woodys Paydirt, who ended up third in this race Allstar broke like a bullet and looked like and is also trained by Trey Wood. a winner early but could not maintain her “Viva Mi Corazon was a little nervous speed. The flashy filly came in third under in the paddock on the night of the trials,” jockey Salvador Martinez, beaten almost Leal added. “He was all business tonight. one length. Shue Fly runner-up Kia Won He wasn’t trying to wash out or do anywas no threat and finished fourth. thing like that. I knew he was going to run a great race. I could see it in his eyes.”

Jensen piloted SS Paydirt and Viva Mi Corazon to victory in the trials, but in the Los Alamitos Race Course, end he stuck with the horse that carried Cypress, CA him to victory in the aforementioned Viva Mi Corazon is superBreeders Futurity. impressive in Grade 1 Winter “SS Paydirt impressed me so much on trial night, but Viva Mi Corazon had his Derby worst race at Los Alamitos on the night Racing for AQHA champion owners of the (Winter Derby) trials and he still Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches LLC, finished with the second fastest qualifying Viva Mi Corazon continued his love affair time. It was hard to turn down the opwith Los Alamitos Race Course with an portunity to ride him again. The owners ultra impressive victory in the $196,600

FEB. 15, 2014

(Trotter and Burnett Ranches) have been so good to me and stuck with me on this horse for the Two Million Futurity. I got on this horse only because Ricky Ramirez, who is the first call rider for the barn, had trouble with his flight on the night of Breeders Futurity trials. They’ll have to pry me off this horse now.”

The past month has been memorable for the veteran rider. He was awarded his first title as AQHA champion jockey on Jan. 22, made his acting debut in a music video for artist David Benn Tyson entitled “Second Chance”, and now has enjoyed a Grade 1 derby win aboard one of the most exciting sophomores in the nation.

“It’s been great,” Jensen said. “A lot of good things have happened recently and I cherished every one of them. To get on a big horse like Viva Mi Corazon means a lot. He gives you a chance to win every time. He’s become so professional. He had that trouble at the start in the Two Million where he got bumped and then he was flying to finish second. The winner (Foose Cash SR) shook away from us at the start and we couldn’t catch him. There are not a lot of races that I wish I could re-do, but the first three jumps in the Two Million with Viva Mi Corazon I wish I could do them over.”

Jensen liked leaving the gate from post number one aboard Viva Mi Corazon.

“I like the edges - posts one, two, nine, 10,” added the champion jockey. “The trouble factor can get minimized because you only get bumped from one side if you start from inside or outside post. If you’re in post two, the one horse usually goes SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 31

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE inside so you don’t get bump from there.”

As much as Viva Mi Corazon loves Los Alamitos, plans call for the strapping gelding to now travel to Texas.

“He’s going to go home and rest at Trey Wood’s ranch in Texas,” Leal said. “He’ll rest for 45 days. He’s paid into the three derbies at Ruidoso Downs and also the Los Alamitos Super Derby at Los Alamitos. He’ll be back for the Super Derby.”

Viva Mi Corazon earned $82,572 for the win to take his career earnings to $601,241. He’s won seven of 11 lifetime starts.

Trained by AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, Kawananakoa’s Spirit Leader earned $33,422 for running second. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, the son of Corona Cartel also ran second to Viva Mi Corazon in the Winter Derby trials.

“The winner was the best horse in the race going in and he ran strong,” Jones said. “I was pleased to see my horse finish second. I told Abigail that we could run third because I wasn’t sure that we could beat Viva Mi Corazon or SS Paydirt. We were able to beat SS Paydirt so I’m thrilled about that.”

Ridden by Ricky Ramirez, SS Paydirt had early trouble before flying to go from 10th to 3rd place. He earned $23,592 for his gritty rally.

“He stumbled first jump out of the gate,” Leal said. “He worked so hard to get back to the front of the race that he just couldn’t catch the second place finisher.”

Ron Hartley’s Moonist earned $13,762 for finishing fourth.

“We just missed third place by a nose, but we weren’t going to beat Viva Mi Corazon,” said Moonist’s trainer, John Cooper. “(Viva Mi Corazon) can really run. You can’t knock them when they run like that.”

Jesus Garera Garcia’s Mr Its Country Time finished fifth and was followed by Dynasty Of Habits, Moven Lannie, Energized, Ms Perry and Chalalita.

FEB. 14, 2014 Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA Once Over enjoys impressive first stakes win

Ed Allred’s Once Over, who had been the runner-up in stakes races in two out of his last three starts, enjoyed the biggest victory of his career following an impres-

sive effort in the $16,000 Pete Wood Handicap on Friday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, who had a grand slam night aboard Quarter Horses, Once Over covered the 350 yards in a sizzling :17.385 while crossing the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of 2013 Los Alamitos allowOnce Over ance winner Redd Tailed Hawk. Once Over had previously finished second in the 550-yard Barbara B Handicap on January 12 and also second in last year’s Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap. Saddled by Scott Willoughby, Once Over was picking up his third win in 14 career starts. Sent off at 3-1 odds, the son of Walk Thru Fire earned $8,800 for the win. The Allred-bred has a lifetime bankroll of $53,243.

Once Over is out of the stakes winning mare Look Her Over. His grand dam is is the great Oh La Proud, a producer of three AQHA Champions (Flame N Flash, Hawkish, and Hawkinson). Other broodmares to have accomplished that outstanding feat are 1946 mare Garretts Miss Pawhuska, dam of Vanetta Dee, Vannevar and Vandy’s Flash; 1976 Thoroughbred mare Trippy Dip, dam of Calyx, Florentine and Ive Been Blessed; and 1981 mare Our Third Delight, dam of Fortune Of Delight, Dean Miracle and Tres Seis. Oh La Proud also produced a chariot racing champion in Pride Of Katella.

Aceves, meanwhile, had four Quarter Horse wins on the night. He started the evening by piloting Bet on Snow in the second race and quickly followed with a win aboard Stel Surprise in the fourth. He then piloted heavy favorite Thought About It in the sixth before putting the exclamation point aboard Once Over.

Racing for AQHA champion owners Burnett Ranches, LLC and Johnny Trotter, Redd Tailed Hawk earned $3,600 for finishing second. The Hawkinson gelding came into this race following a fourth place finish to Los Alamitos Winter Championship finalist Jess Being Valiant in the A Ransom

Handicap on Dec. 20. Hector Hernandez’s Blistering Speed, a finalist to last year’s Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Southern California Derby, was third. Stel Heights, Dynasty Red, Time For A Royal Dip, New Look, and Checkspeed completed the field.

FEB. 7, 2014 Sunland Park, NM Streak Hitter is fastest West Texas Maturity qualifier Streak Hitter, a gelded 4-year-old son of Walk Thru Fire owned by Olivas Racing

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Streak Hitter

The Ocean King

and Javier Marquez, is the fastest qualifier for the March 1, $111,450 West Texas Maturity (Grade 3) at Sunland Park.

Racing in the third of four trials on Friday, Streak Hitter defeated second-fastest qualifier Kerrys Wave Carver by a neck while covering 400 yards in :19.213 and earning a 91 speed index. Esgar Ramirez rode the gelding for trainer Luis Rojero.

Streak Hitter was bred in California

by Edward C. Allred, and he was coming off of an eighth-place finish in the 400yard, $132,883 Sunland Park Winter Derby (Grade 2) on Dec. 28. All told, the gelding has won three of eight outs and has banked $17,928.

Kerrys Wave Carver is a 4-year-old daughter of Wave Carver campaigned by Julio Islas and trained by Gene Burden.

Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the mare has earned $41,609 from 14 outs.

Third-fastest qualifier RCJ Major Storm won the fourth heat by a half of a length after Motion Of The Ocean was disqualified from first to fourth. A 5-year-old stallion by Brookstone Bay racing for Linnette San-

chez from the barn of trainer Antoinette Gonzales, RCJ Major Storm won the 2012 Hard Twist Stakes (RG3) for New Mexicobreds at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The complete list of qualifiers is below.

Here O Beduino. The Ocean King had previously broken his maiden with a terrific length victory on December 27. Horses are eligible to compete in the Maiden Stakes trials if they were still maidens as of Dec. 1. The Maiden Stakes final will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23.

The Ocean King reigned supreme on trial night and the Maryland-bred has Los Alamitos Race Course, the bloodlines that could make him a Cypress, CA sophomore to watch this season. Sired by The Ocean King rules Los Alamitos leading living sire Corona Cartel, the gray maiden trials colt was bred by 2004 AQHA Champion Racing for the partnership of Lucas breeder Dan Lucas. Out of Lucas’ 2005 Racing, Inc, Vaughn Cook, Hugo Barron AQHA Champion Broodmare Runaway Sierra and Ron and Denise VanAmburgh, Wave, The Ocean King is a half-brother to the royally bred sprinter The Ocean King World Champion Wave Carver and threeposted his second eye-catching win in a time AQHA divisional champion Ocean row while posting the fastest qualifying Runaway. The Ocean King was picking up time to the $112,000 Los Alamitos Maiden his second victory in five starts.

“We bought him as a 2-year-old at Stakes. the Heritage Place Winter Sale last year,” Ridden by Oscar Peinado for AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, The Ocean said Ron VanAmburgh. “We liked so many King covered the 350-yards in a meet’s things about him. He’s the first Corona best :17.358 while crossing the wire ¾ Cartel out of Runaway Wave plus he’s a lengths ahead of second fastest qualifier gray Corona Cartel. We talked to Vaughn

FEB. 1, 2014

West Texas Maturity qualifiers • Sunland Park, NM • Trials, Feb. 7 • Race, March 1 Horse (Age, Sex) STREAK HITTER, 4G KERRYS WAVE CARVER, 4M RCJ MAJOR STORM, 5S FEATURE MR LUCKY, 4G THE DEVILS RAINBOW, 7G TF FEATURED EFFORT, 5S CJS ROCKSOLID, 4G JAMES ON THE RUN, 4G TESTING THE ICE, 5G ONE EXOTIC EAGLE, 4G

Owner Olivas Racing & Javier Marquez Julio Islas Linnette Sanchez Jose Saul Medina Jill B. Giles Heysol Howlet & Julieta N. Torres Rockin J Running Horses & Jack Manning Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC Juvenal Sanchez

Breeder (State) Edward C. Allred (CA) Narciso Flores (TX) Mr. & Mrs. R.C. Jones (NM) Vinewood Farms (CA) C.W. Freston & S.W. Sandall (ID) Tate Farms (LA) Rockin J Running Horses (TX) Bobby D. Cox (TX) Corner K Quarter Horses LLC (AR) Michael S. Amburn (TX)

Trainer Luis Rojero Gene Burden Antoinette Gonzales Jaime Dominguez Wes Giles Jaime Dominguez Tammy Kay Johnson Mario Sanchez Mario Sanchez Alejandro Chavez

Time :19.213 :19.257 :19.270 :19.276 :19.289 :19.290 :19.292 :19.343 :19.357 :19.386

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 35

Cook about a partnership with us and Hugo Barron and we knew we wanted to be involved with Dan Lucas. After we bought him for $67,000 we must have had 10 people wanting to get into the partnership, but we decided to keep it how we had it. It’s a nice group of owners.”

The Ocean King began preparations for his debut with a pair of solid :12.30 workouts at 220 yards on March 23 and April 6, but a setback halted the plans.

“Paul told us that he was ahead of the curve as far as his 2-year-olds were concerned and he was training great,” VanAm-

36 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

burgh added. “Unfortunately, he suffered a stress fractured in his tibia and that set him back.”

The Ocean King did not make his racing debut until a fifth place finish against maiden foes on September 27. He returned with a second place finish against maidens on October 13 before running fourth in a trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity against the race’s eventual winner Foose Cash SR. “The trials came too quick for The Ocean King,” he continued. “He ran great in his next race, but it wasn’t until tonight

before this race that Paul said that he thought he really had a racehorse.”

Owned and bred by Cynthia Cruz and trained by Roberto Dominguez, Here O Beduino finished with the second fastest time of :17.481 after following The Ocean King home.

Ridden by Abel Ramirez, the son of No Secrets Here was also impressive in his previous start at Los Alamitos when breaking his maiden by daylight on Dec. 13.

Here O Beduino’s mother is Keen O Beduino, who was a winner at Los Alamitos as a 2-year-old in 2006.

Double Bar S Ranch’s Whos Got The Look won the first of five trials on the night on the way to posting the third fastest qualifying time of :17.489. Ridden by AQHA champion jockey Cody Jensen and saddled by Jones, Whos Got The Look won by a half length while enjoying her first victory in four career starts.

LEMA Racing Stable’s Another Oatie won the final trial of the night to post the fourth fastest time of :17.504. The gelding was making his first start since competing in the $35,000 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational, which serves as the Two Million consolation race. In his two previous starts he was third in a trials to the Two Million and Golden State Million Futurity. Raul Valenzuela piloted Another Oatie.

Felix Gonzalez’s Snitchy, a full brother of two-time Grade 1 winner Snitcher, had the biggest margin of victory of the night after crossing wire 1 ½ lengths ahead of the field in the fourth trial. With Valenzuela aboard, Snitchy covered the distance in :17.543 – the fifth fastest qualifying time. Jesse Godinez saddled the gelding by TR Dasher.

The complete list of qualifiers to the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes is as follows: The Ocean King (:17.358), Here O Beduino (:17.481), Whos Got The Look (:17.489), Another Oatie (:17.504), Snitchy (:17.543), Brighterthanthesun (:17.544), Separate Jeff (:17.55), Strategic Weapon (:17.551), Foose Down Dash (:17.576), and Swingin Eagle (:17.586).

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED FEB. 23, 2014 Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Sweet Swap easily wins the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Race Park Sweet Swap, with Joe Talamo up, took no prisoners in easily winning the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths, while covering 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.28.

The second choice at 3-1 in a field of seven older horses, Sweet Swap, a 5-year-old full brother to 2010 Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy, sat a close second to longshot Rosengold through fractions of 22.39, 44.56 and 1:06.53. Sweet Swap drew alongside the pacesetter crossing the dirt at the top of the lane and went on to his first added stakes victory.

Trained by John Sadler and owned

by Hronis Racing, LLC, Sweet Swap paid $8.60, $4.20 and $3.40.

“He has a nice turn of foot, just like Sidney’s Candy,” said Talamo, who rode “Sidney” and was aboard Sweet Swap for the first time on Sunday. “We had a real good trip. We laid second, turning for home, I just had to ask him a little and he exploded.”

A sharp second after stumbling at the break in the 6 ½ furlong turf Clockers’ Corner Stakes Jan. 26, Sweet Swap, a Kentucky-bred horse by Candy Ride, notched his third win from seven tries down the hill and his fifth win from 11 overall starts.

With the winner’s share of $45,840, he improved his earnings to $227,133.

“We’ve always had high expectations for him,” said Sadler. “The pace was a little slow today, so I was glad he wasn’t too far back. We’ll go a mile with him on the grass at some point this year – a middle distance on the grass. Depending on how that goes we could stay with that or shorten him up for the Breeders’ Cup (Turf Sprint) in the fall.”

Ridden by apprentice Drayden Van Dyke, Zimmer showed good speed out of the gate and settled into a pocket trip in fifth position crossing the dirt and was game for the place, finishing a half length in front of Pure Tactics.

Off at 14-1, Zimmer paid $12.20 and $7.20.

Sweet Swap

FEB. 22, 2014 Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Ambitious Brew upsets to win $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes Ambitious Brew, ridden by Brice Blanc, got a perfect stalking trip and upset favored Lakerville to win the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes by 1 ½ lengths, covering 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12 flat.

The 4-5 favorite in a field of six older horses bred in California, Lakerville, ridden

by Gary Stevens, finished second, a half length in front of Summer Hit and Rafael Bejarano.

Ambitious Brew

A 4-year-old Tizbud gelding trained

by Marty Jones, Ambitious Brew sat third early, stalking pacesetting longshot Coach Bob and Summer Hit through fractions of 22.00, 44.22 and 1:06.28 and hit the front three-wide a furlong out.

“Mike (Smith, regular rider) was out of town today and I worked him the other morning,” said Blanc. “…I talked to Mike a little about the horse, I watched the replays and it seemed pretty straight forward. He has plenty of tactical speed and this race looked like it had a few speed horses in it.

My plan was to track and Marty told me he has a really nice turn of foot. He told me not to worry and that when it was time to go, he would go for me, which he did.”

Owned by his breeder, Pamela Ziebarth, Ambitious Brew, the second choice at 3-1, paid $8, $3.40 and $2.60.

With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $227,920. He now has four wins and three seconds from seven starts.

“I don’t think he could have been any more impressive in my eyes, the way he ran,” said Jones. “He’s 110 percent race horse.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 37

Bradester

Aireofdistinction

I think he will go further. It might be time to try it. I was going to walk down there (to the Racing Office) and nominate him to the Kilroe (Grade 1, $350,000 mile turf on March 8) if he cools out all right. We’ll keep all our options open.”

Lakerville, who came off an authoritative win down the hill in the Clockers’ Corner Stakes Jan. 26, sat fifth down the hill, swung wide turning for home and appeared to have dead aim on the winner but was outrun through the drive, finishing second, a half length in front of Summer Hit. “I left him too much to do,” said Stevens. “They weren’t going that fast for those kind of horses. Brice got the jump on me and we couldn’t overcome it. I just kinda tactically beat myself.”

Lakerville paid $2.60 and $2.20.

Summer Hit, the actual third choice at 3-1 with Rafael Bejarano, sat a close second throughout and couldn’t hold off Lakerville for the place. He finished 4 ½ lengths in front of Coach Bob and paid $2.40 to show.

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR Aireofdistinction rebounds late for Spring Fever victory Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. is making

38 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

quite a habit out of winning stakes races this meet at Oaklawn and did not disappoint the backers that made his mount, Aireofdistinction, the 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes.

After looking well beaten in the stretch, the filly came back to beat Chortle by a slim nose for her first career stakes victory and it was the fifth stakes win of the season for Santana Jr. Aireofdistinction and Chortle raced head and head from the start with the winner holding the advantage by a head after an opening quarter mile in 21 4/5 and the runner-up taking control after a half mile in 45 2/5. Chortle began to widen the margin in early stretch, but could not hold off the late surge of the favorite, who completed the 5 ½-furlong race in 1:04 2/5 over a fast track. Boss Barney’s Babe closed from last in the field of nine to get third.

“She broke good and I got her in a good position,” said Santana Jr. “She’s a nice filly. She really tried hard.”

Trainer Brian William was equally pleased with the effort of Chortle, an 18-1 longshot.

“We were jumping up and down,” Williamson said. “She ran a great race, you can’t say much more than that. You know it’s a shame that on the last jump, we got beat. We’ll take a look and see how she comes out of it and go from there.”

Airofdistinction, a Songandaprayer filly, did not win until her seventh career

start, but has been unbeatable since and is now riding a four-race win streak after her Spring Fever victory. Overall, her record stands at 4-1-3 in 10 starts and she has earned $176,362 for owner Gillian Campbell.

The winner paid $6.80, $4.60 and $3.40.

Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA Bradester earns first stakes win in Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap

Joseph Sutton’s Bradester tracked the pace throughout before edging clear of Maggi Moss’s Grand Contender by 1 ¼ lengths in the lane to earn his first stakes victory in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, stopping the clock in 1:43.80 for the 1 1/16 mile journey.

Ridden by Rosie Napravnik for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Bradester entered the Mineshaft off a frontrunning score against second-level allowance company at Gulfstream in January. He was making his first start against stakes foes since finishing second in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby last October.

“We sat in a great position,” said winning rider Napravnik, “and he wanted to wait, so it took some urging to get him to go past, but he’s just a classy horse.”

Bradester returned $15.40, $6.60, and $5.40 and increased his career earnings to $305,054 with the $90,000 winner’s share.

Grand Contender, trained by Tom Amoss and ridden by James Graham, cruised on an uncontested lead through splits of :24.08, :48.31, and 1:12.31 and

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Intense Holiday

Potomac River

a little too keen early, so when I finally talked him out of it he just completely let go and I was like,’uh, no, not that much.’”

“There’s a lot of room to improve there and a lot of room to grow,” said Smith. “What I really liked at the end was galloping out. He took one breath and came back so we did not get to the bottom of him (today).”

Runner-up Albano, who finished second in Fair Grounds’ Grade 3 Lecomte Intense Holiday rallies to win Stakes on Jan. 18, was ridden once again

by Kerwin Clark for trainer Larry Jones and Risen Star Stakes was valiant in defeat. He made the pace Starlight Racing and Jack Wolf’s with early fractions of 24.30 and 48.14, Intense Holiday, unhurried early, comcontinued with good courage throughout menced a rally approaching the lane, the stretch run, could not withstand the continued willingly outside the leaders winner at the wire but clearly held the throughout the final furlong and was up to best Brereton Jones’s Albano in the final place by 5 ½ lengths from Ken and Sarah stride of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Pre- Ramsey’s Vicar’s in Trouble, the 6 ¾-length sented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds winner of the Lecomte.

Albano paid $12.20 and $6.80 and Race Course & Slots.

Vicar’s in Trouble returned $3.40 for the The Risen Star is Fair Grounds’ final show position. prep for the upcoming $1 million LouisiHoppertunity, Gold Hawk, Commandana Derby March 29.

With his Risen Star tally, Intense Holi- ing Curve, Rise Up, Flat Gone, Son of a Preacher, Quick Indian, Vigorish, Emmett day earned 50 points in the “Road to the Park, Interchange, and Xtra Luck completKentucky Derby” points standings, virtued the order of finish. ally assuring his owners a starting berth for their horse in the Kentucky Derby May Potomac River upsets Fair 3.

Ridden brilliantly by Hall of Fame Grounds Handicap jockey Mike Smith, the Todd Pletcher Maribel Ruelas’ Potomac River, ridden trainee paid mutuels of $12, $6 and $4,

by Juan Vargas and void of early foot, comtoured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.86 menced a bold rally in the final sixteenth of and increased his lifetime earnings to Saturday’s Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap $351,900 with his second win in seven over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated good career starts. and got up in the last jump to best Calu“In the very beginning he kind of met Farm’s Skyring by a nose after finishslipped leaving there which turned out ing eighth in the local oval’s Grade 3 E. R. to be a good thing,” said Smith. “He was Bradley Handicap Jan. 18. stayed on for second, 1 ¾ lengths clear of Jim Tafel’s Fordubai, last-out winner of the Louisiana Handicap for trainer Greg Geier and jockey Robby Albarado. Grand Contender returned $6 and $3.80, while Fordubai paid $3.80.

Ground Transport, Afford, race favorite Prayer for Relief, Micromanage, Stephanoatsee, and Mister Marti Gras completed the order of finish.

“Well, in that last race he was not ready,” said trainer Jose Camejo, who was accomplishing the first stakes win of his career. “He shipped from Kentucky and he was not 100 percent. We fixed a couple of things and he was 100 percent today.”

Potomac River lit up the tote board with mutuels of $31.40, $14.40 and $5.40, toured the distance in 1:50.52 and increased his career earnings to $322,676 with his sixth win in 20 lifetime starts.

Sky Ring set the early fraction of 24.28, lost the lead to Ken & Sarah Ramsey’s Gentleman’s Kitten in the run down the backstretch, who covered the half in 48.70, regained command at the eighth pole, could not withstand the winner in the last jump but paid $17.40 and $6.20.

Cathy and Bob Zollars’ Daddy Nose Best rallied to get the third position, a length behind Skyring and returned $2.20.

Gentleman’s Kitten, Slip and Drive, Hard Aces, and Unitarian completed the order of finish.

Untapable dominates FG’s Rachel Alexandra

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, settled behind the early leaders, commenced a rally leaving the backstretch, took command entering the lane and drew off at will to win the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes by 9 ½-lengths against a group that was expected to be highly competitive.

Untapable earned 50 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” points standings in the Crescent City’s final prep for the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks March 29.

“She acted extremely well in the SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 39

2014 HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITY MAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S MOST LUCRATIVE RACE GRADE II - NINTH RUNNING

Futurity Trials

Futurity Final

400 Yards

September 20, 2014

October 5, 2014

122 lbs

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$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $300,000 O PE N T O A LL F OA L S O F 2012 HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITY NOMINATION FORM

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Owner: Mailing Address: City:

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Date

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED paddock today and the Fair Grounds Oaks is definitely the plan from here,” said Asmussen.

Five of the last nine Fair Grounds Oaks winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Oaks.

Untapable returned mutuels of $10.80 $5.20 and $3.60, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.64 and increased her career earnings to $308,125 with her third win in five career starts.

Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings’ Got Lucky rallied in the lane to finish second by a neck in front of Connie Apostelos’ Shanon Nicole.

Got Lucky paid $4 and $3.20 for the place and Shanon Nicole returned $5 for the show.

Loooch Racing Stable et al’s Ria Antonia, adjudged winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Untapable Juvenile Fillies last fall, lacked the needed response and finished fourth. Express Model was fifth, Lothenbach Stables’ Eden Prairie in the late Army crossed the wire sixth, while Stream- stages to tally by a length and a half. ing made the pace briefly with fractions of “I thought the horse to beat was Eden 24.01 and 47.91 and gave way.

Prairie,” said Bridgmohan. “I followed her the whole way and took my horse out at Class Included best in the Bayou the top of the stretch and she kicked in real nice.”

Handicap Class Included returned mutuels of Brittlyn Stable’s Class Included, allowed to settle just off the early pace in Saturday’s $7.80, $3.80 and $2.60, accomplished the about 1 1/16-mile distance over a Stall-Wil$60,000 Bayou Handicap, came outside the leaders when set down for the drive by son turf course rated good in 1:43.46 and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan and wore down increased her career earnings to $630,826

Class Included

with her 13th victory in 25 lifetime starts.

“It was tough,” said trainer Ron Faucheux after the race.

“Neil’s filly (Eden Prairie) fought the whole way and we were fortunate to be the winner.”

Eden Prairie made the pace with splits of 24.01 and 48.10, could not withstand the winner but held the place by three-quarters of a length from Calumet Farm’s Starstruck.

Eden Prairie paid $3.40 and $2.40, and Starstruck returned $2.40.

Masquerade, Awesome Flower, Street of Gold, Twirl, Aggressive Elegance, and Channel Lady completed the order of finish.

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, TX Triumph and Song blazes to victory in Sam Houston Sprint Cup In the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup Stakes, it was another spectacular effort for the talented Texas-bred, Triumph and Song, who racked up his third stakes win of the 2014 Thoroughbred racing season.

Jockey Junior Chacaltana has ridden the 5-year-old son of leading 2013 Texas stakes sire, My Golden Song in each of his three appearances, and tonight was his fastest clocking to date. Breaking from post position four, he took the lead, setting fractions of :22.03; :44.32; :56.42 and crossing

Triumph And Song SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 41

2014 HOBBS AMERICA DERBY MAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S PREMIER RACE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS GRADE II - NINTH RUNNING

Derby Trials

Derby Final

440 Yards

September 21, 2014

October 5, 2014

122 lbs

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1st Payment $200 due April 1, 2014 2nd Payment $350 due June 3, 2014 3rd Payment $450 due August 5, 2014

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Time of Entry Supplement $7,500

$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $200,000 O PE N T O A LL F OA L S O F 2011 HOBBS AMERICA DERBY NOMINATION FORM

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Date

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Zeewat

the wire of the six furlong sprint in 1:09.39.

“This is one of the best horses I have ever ridden,” said Chacaltana. “He’s fast, got a lot of heart and never quits. Our plan was to send him; that’s the horse’s style and we don’t want to change it.”

Trainer Karl Broberg claimed Triumph and Song for $40,000 at Fair Grounds for owners H & H Ranch. The grey made his first appearance in the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes here on January 18, and followed that with a turf win in the $50,000 Bucharest Stakes, just three weeks later.

Triumph and Song was sent off as the 2-5 choice in the five horse field, with the scratch of Heitai. He has earned $90,000 in his last three starts, and with his allowance victory on December 29 at Fair Grounds, has a four-race win streak intact.

“Three stakes in a row is so incredible,” said owner Carolyn Hanek who spoke on behalf of the ownership group. “It was a wonderful claim and we love coming to Sam Houston Race Park.”

Silver Lining John, a Kentucky-bred son of Tiz Wonderful, closed gamely under Deshawn Parker, finishing second by a neck.

“It was close,” said Parker. “I thought we had it, but the winner is a nice horse.”

Solar Charge, has had the tough task of facing Triumph and Song in each of the three stakes, and had to settle for third under jockey Lindey Wade.

FEB. 17, 2014 Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CA Zeewat just gets up to win Lost In The Fog Stakes Zeewat, the heavy 4-5 favorite, made

his backers sweat but eventually got the job done in the $51,605 Lost In The Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Ridden by Russell Baze, late-running Zeewat fought Tapiture his way through traffic in the stretch and just got up to win the six-furlong sprint for older horses by a head over No Silent and French jockey Flavien Prat.

Administer, ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished third, a half-length behind No Silent and a neck in front of Mah Gellin and jockey Abel Cedillo in the blanket finish of the Presidents’ Day feature.

Zeewat’s tight victory gave Baze and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer a sweep of the holiday weekend stakes races at Golden Gate Fields. Saturday, Baze and Hollendorfer teamed up with Tamarando for a victory in the Grade 3 $200,000 El Camino Real Derby.

“I’d prefer not to make it so close,” said Baze. “I didn’t have any place to go (in the stretch) and then I saw (Mah Gellin) start to drift out. I sent him up in there and he started to make a little move and then hung. I’m like, ‘come on, go on through there.’ And then (Administer) came jamming up on the inside of him and that got him started again. For a while there, I didn’t think he was going to fire.”

Zeewat, who captured the 2013 California Derby for Baze and Hollendorfer, was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 18.

Zeewat never picked it up in the 1 1/16-mile Strub and was beaten nearly seven lengths by winner Shakin It Up. Zeewat was taking a serious class drop in the Lost In The Fog but the race turned out to be far from a slam dunk.

“I wanted to get the horse a win but it came up a lot tougher than I thought,” said Hollendorfer. “I think the reason the race was so close is that he had the one post. He was pretty well compromised down there.

Sometimes you think it’s going to be easy and it turns out not to be. But we got the win anyway, and hopefully he’ll gain some confidence from that.”

Zeewat clocked an impressive time of 1:09.45 on the synthetic Tapeta racing surface and paid $3.60 after recording his seventh victory in 14 career starts. Owned in partnership by Hollendorfer and George Todaro, Zeewat banked $30,300, a payday that boosted his earnings to $361,450.

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR Tapiture wins Southwest over Strong Mandate Winchell Thoroughbred’s homebred Tapiture secured 10 points and a place along the Derby trail with his runaway SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 43

Pontchatrain

victory in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (Grade 3) before a crowd of 25,622. Trainer Steve Asmussen said he will now continue down the path toward the April 12 Arkansas Derby and May 3 Kentucky Derby with a likely start in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes March 15.

Taking advantage of his inside post position, Tapiture took up a stalking position as several horses battled for the lead early.

Smarty Jones winner Tanzanite Cat held a half-length advantage for the opening quarter in :23 2/5, but gave way to Ride On Curlin before the half mile in :47 4/5. While the even-money favorite Strong Mandate was making his move five wide around the turn for home, Tapiture hugged the rail and drew off to win by 4 ¼ lengths over Strong Mandate. Ride On Curlin held on for third after his wide trip. The winning time was 1:44 4/5 over a fast track.

“It was a big step forward for him,” said Asmussen. “I was impressed with what he did. I saw some things we need to improve and he’ll need to continue to improve with the races coming up. I think the series sets up really well for him.”

Coastline, Tanzanite Cat, Bourbonize, Walt, Fire Starter, Son of Dixie, Paganol, Kendall’s Boy and Louies Flower completed the order of finish.

Tapiture, by Tapit, was making his seasonal debut in the Southwest after ending his juvenile year with his first career victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Grade 2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 30. He has now won two of five starts and earned $320,838.

As the 5-1 second choice in the field of 12, he returned $13, $4.80 and $3.20.

44 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Pontchatrain takes Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes

A winner of Don’t Tell Sophia three consecutive stakes going 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, the Tom Proctor-trained Pontchatrain stretched out in style Monday, winning the Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes by a length under Gary Stevens, getting one mile on grass in 1:33.33.

Off as the second choice at 5-2 in a field of 10 older fillies and mares, Pontchatrain sat a comfortable third just in behind longshot Miss Serendipity and 2-1 favorite Egg Drop, and swung three-wide turning for home to win as best.

“I was hoping we would get the trip we did,” said Stevens, who registered his sixth added-money win of the meet. “Tom has done such a good job preparing this filly for this race. With a filly like her, you can get a perfect trip. She has good gate speed. Those races down the hill for fillies that are tough to handle, it changes their whole mind set.

“She relaxed for me and we just brought it home. If she keeps relaxing for me we can go even further with her…If not, she’s (already) a great miler.”

A 4-year-old filly by War Front, Pontchatrain was bred in Kentucky by Lavin Bloodstock and Kenowa Stable and is owned by Glen Hill Farm. She paid $7,

$3.60 and $3.

“I just told Gary to ride her and be comfortable, and it looked like he was in a very comfortable spot,” said Proctor. “Egg Drop was coming off a hard race. We might have caught her not at her best.”

When asked what might be next for Pontchatrain, the fun-loving Proctor responded, “Life’s very short. You don’t plan ahead.”

In winning her sixth race from eight starts, Pontchatrain banked $120,000, increasing her overall earnings to $444,882.

Egg Drop, who had won three consecutive graded stakes, most recently the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes Dec. 1, was handled by her regular pilot, Martin Garcia.

She sat a close second through fractions of 23.47, 46.95, 1:10.06 and 1:21.73, put away Miss Serendipity to her inside three sixteenths of a mile out but couldn’t hold off the winner to her outside.

“We got beat by a really good horse,” said Garcia. “My filly was running easy, but I could see when the winner came to us that she was full of run. My filly tried to fight back. We just got beat by a better horse today.”

Egg Drop finished second, a head in front of a fast closing Tapicat, and paid

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Kobe’s Back

$3.20 and $2.40.

A minor stakes winner going 7 ½ furlongs on turf Jan. 1 at Gulfstream, Tapicat was full of run around the far turn in fourth position under John Velazquez and rallied well through the drive to finish 1 ¼ lengths in front of pacesetting Miss Serendipity.

Trained by Bill Mott, Tapicat was off at 7-2 and paid $3.20 to show.

“It feels great to be here, great to be back and I wish we would have won but she ran very well,” said Velazquez, who hadn’t ridden at Santa Anita since being injured on Breeders’ Cup Classic Day, Nov. 2.

“Any time you get the opportunity to come out here with a nice horse, it’s an easy decision. I knew I wanted to ride her. When the races fit, you have to take the chance and hope it works out.”

FEB. 16, 2014 Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR Don’t Tell Sophia comes from last for Bayakoa repeat

Don’t Tell Sophia wasn’t in a hurry leaving the gate, but she quickly got herself into gear and easily drew off to win her second straight $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes Sunday by three lengths. Last year, the heavy 2-to-5 favorite won both the Pippin and Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn and she had previously repeated her Pippin victory Jan. 18.

Breaking from the one hole, Don’t Tell Sophia was last of 10 early as Sisterly Love set the early tempo of 23 and 46 3/5 for the first half mile. The winner had moved into fourth after six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and by the time the field had straightened out for home, the only race left was for second

Right to Vote

place, which went to the late running Dixie Strike. Sister Ginger, also third in the Pippin, held the show spot. The winning time was 1:44 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast track.

“She’s an awful nice mare,” said trainer Phil Sims, who co-owns the mare with Jerry Namy. “It’s tough to win two races in a row. I appreciate all the support we got from the fans.”

“That was fun,” added winning jockey Channing Hill. “She always gives you a lot of confidence. She picked it right up at the ½-mile pole and did it all on her own.”

Don’t Tell Sophia, a 6-year-old Congaree mare, improved her record to 9-4-2 from 19 starts and has now earned $592,882. She returned $2.80, $2.40 and $2.20.

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Kobe’s Back rambles from off pace to take Grade 2 San Vicente Last early, Kobe’s Back made an eyecatching move around the far turn and went on to an emphatic 5 ¼ length win in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes, covering seven furlongs in 1:21.84 while repositioning himself as one of Southern California’s top Derby prospects.

Ridden by Florida-based Joel Rosario and trained by John Sadler, Kobe’s Back came off a nightmarish trip in which he nearly fell, in the Grade 1, 1 1/16 miles CashCall Futurity Dec. 14, but he enjoyed clear sailing today as he blew by 8-5 second choice Cherubim a sixteenth of a mile out.

“I wanted Joel to ride him patiently,

because everybody has kind of counted us out of the route races, except us,” said Sadler. “I wanted him off the pace a little bit and see if he’d finish up good so we could get him going around two turns next time…We’ll look at maybe the Rebel (Grade 2, 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park March 15)…There are a lot of 3-year-old races, but we wanted to get a good one at home in good weather first, then we’re going to look at a race with (Kentucky Derby) points for him in the next one.”

The actual favorite at 8-5, Kobe’s Back, a Kentucky-bred colt by the A.P. Indy stallion Flatter, paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.40.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, “Kobe,” who broke from the outside post position six, picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $120,250. He now has two wins and a second from four starts.

“We go to all the Laker games,” said Lee Searing, when asked about the naming of his colt. “I have gone 17 years to watch Kobe play and in my opinion, he’s the greatest basketball player I’ve ever watched…I kept telling everyone Kobe (Bryant) is coming back (from an Achilles injury) so when it came time to name the horse…I thought we had to do it.”

Ridden by Mike Smith, Cherubim, highly regarded on the strength of 3 ¼ length maiden win going six furlongs on Dec. 28, showed good speed from post five and was three-deep outside of Papa Turf and Grazen’s Hope into and around the turn and although he kicked clear leaving the quarter pole, he was no match for the winner when it counted.

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Apprehender

happy,” said Smith. “We just got outrun. He was second-best today.”

Trained by Simon Callaghan, Cherubim finished a length in front of Rprettyboyfloyd and paid $3 and $2.60.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Rprettyboyfloyd, the lone maiden in the field at 6-1, was next-to-last early and tagged Papa Turf by a half length late for third money and paid $3 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.73, 45.00 and 1:09.25.

Iotapa

Vote would most likely be pointed toward the March 15 $200,000 Razorback Handicap.

“We’re here, we’re from Arkansas and we’d love to win the Razorback,” said Moquett.

Right To Vote, a 5-year-old Political Force gelding, improved his record to 6-2-4 from 18 starts and has now earned $325,124. He returned $8.80, $4.20, and $3.60 as the slight 3-1 favorite.

Two races later, Dream Farm LLC’s Apprehender, making his first start since last April, made a triumphant return to win his second straight $100,000 King Cotton Stakes over last year’s runner-up Alsvid.

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR Apprehender settled into to sixth Right to Vote takes Essex; place early as longshot Wildcat Country Apprehender repeats in King took the early lead through an opening Cotton half mile in 45 2/5.

Coming off a stylish win in a race The winner made a five-wide move where he could have been bought for entering the stretch to gain the advantage a $100,000 claiming price Jan. 31, B J D and had no problem holding off his rival Thoroughbred’s Right To Vote earned his Alsvid by a half length at the wire. Black second straight victory in the $100,000 Bear, part of the even-money entry along Essex Handicap before an on-track crowd with Alsvid, broke poorly and encountered of 22,965. traffic problems, but still managed to get Ridden by 2013 leading jockey Ricardo up for third. The winner covered the six Santana Jr., Right To Vote settled into furlongs in 1:10. second right after the break and tracked Trainer Chris Richard had originally Jaguar Paw through the first half mile in hoped to start Apprehender in an allow:47 3/5. The winner assumed control at ance race and had not originally entered the top of the stretch and appeared to be him in the King Cotton that was postponed on his way to an easy victory, but was put a week because of the weather, but when to the test when Street Spice and Voodoo an allowance didn’t go he decided to enter Storm gave chase through the lane. Right the stakes.

To Vote prevailed late by a half-length over “I always think you should take advanStreet Spice, who was just a neck in front of tage of a condition when you can, but this Voodoo Storm. The winning time for 1 1/16 worked out,” said Richard. “It was a quality miles over a fast track was 1:44 4/5. field. He’s a really good horse.”

Trainer Ron Moquett said that Right To “He’s a classy horse,” said jockey David

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Mello, who won three races on the card. “I knew I had a lot of horse at the top of the lane and if he gave me everything he had, we were going to be the winner.”

Apprehender, a 5-year-old Posse gelding, improved his career record to 6-3-1 from 14 starts and he has now earned $270,349. He returned $18.20, $6.20 and $4.80 after being overlooked at odds of 8 to 1.

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Iotapa impressive gate-to-wire winner of Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes

With Joe Talamo at the controls, the John Sadler-trained Iotapa broke from the rail and took charge into the Club House turn, controlling the pace throughout to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths, getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30.

Claimed out of a debut maiden $50,000 claiming win on June 21, 2012, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Afleet Alex came off a close second going seven furlongs in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes Jan. 25 and notched her fourth win from eight starts.

“We were going pretty slow and that was kind of our plan, to take her to the lead,” said Talamo. “She was just pricking her ears back and forth. She showed a lot of class today, I was so fortunate to get back on her…She’s never been worse than third and she’s run some great races.”

The second choice at 2-1 in a field of six, Iotapa paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.80.

Owned by Kosta Hronis of Hronis Rac-

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED ing, LLC, Iotapa picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $363,490.

Second to multiple Eclipse Champion Beholder in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April, Iotapa collected her second stakes win in the Santa Maria.

“When she drew the rail, I didn’t want to waste the post,” said Sadler in explaining the front-running strategy. “I thought she’d be first or second, but I left it up to Joe… Hopefully, she’ll go in the Santa Margarita (Grade 1, 1 1/8 miles, on March 15).”

The third choice at 5-2, Let Faith Arise, who came off a sharp second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes Jan. 19, settled into third position midway down the backside and was three deep turning for home under Corey Nakatani.

“We had a perfect trip,” said Nakatani.

“There was more pace on paper than what developed in the race. I could see that the winner got an easy lead, but I said, ‘Don’t move too soon, ’cause you won’t finish like you need to.’ The way it turned out, my filly relaxed well and she finished well. This was only her second time around two turns, so it was a great effort.”

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Let Faith Arise paid $3.60 and $2.60.

A Grade 3 stakes winner two starts back at Belmont Park, the John Shirreffstrained Stanwyk came off a close second in the 1 1/16 miles Paseana Stakes Jan. 12 and rallied from last to finish third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Let Faith Arise. Ridden by Alex Solis, Stanwyk was off at 5-1 and paid $3.20 to show.

Stanwyk finished a half length in front of longshot Yahilwa, who sat a close second with Tyler Baze past the quarter pole and tired late. It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to the actual 2-1 favorite Ondine, who stalked the pace but didn’t fire through the lane under Mike Smith.

Fractions on the race were 23.28, 47.75, 1:11.64 and 1:35.88.

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, TX Fiftyshadesofgold and Ibaka triumph in $75,000 Two Altazano and $75,000 Jim’s Orbit Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park

Three exciting finishes took place at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night in both divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes as well as the $50,000 Jersey Village Stakes.

In the $75,000 Two Altazano division for 3-year-old fillies, all eyes were on Fiftyshadesofgold as she made her return to action following an injury last August at Saratoga. The Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. homebred had been training exceptionally well at Fair Grounds for trainer Bret Calhoun, and left the gates as the Fiftyshadesofgold 2-5 prohibitive betting choice. She did not disappoint her backers, as jockey Rosie Napravnik tracked Calhoun’s other entrant, Scooter’s Choice at the 16th pole and drew clear by 2 ½ lengths.

“She actually took a while to get going, but Bret did a great job bringing her back off the layoff,” said Napravnik. “I think she’ll be even better going long.”

Calhoun had been looking for a comeback spot for the lanky, gray filly, who drilled four bullet works at Fair Grounds in preparation for race.

“It was perfect,” said Calhoun. “That’s the way we drew it up, sitting off the pace and finishing like that. She had trained very well, but in the back of your mind you are always worried how she would come back off an injury like that. I think she proved she’s back.”

Calhoun was proud of the runner-up effort of Scooter’s Choice, who was sent to the lead under Lindey Wade.

“She ran a great race,” said the conditioner. “When she came off the turn, I thought Fiftyshadesofgold might have a hard time catching her.”

Napravnik has had a very successful run at Sam Houston Race Park, winning the 2012 Connally Turf Cup, the 2013 Houston Ladies Classic and breaking her own track record in the Champion Energy Service Stakes.

“I love Sam Houston,” said the talented rider.

Fiftyshadesofgold ($2.80) covered seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.13.

Forever Since ran third under Gerardo Mora and Swifterthantaylor, with Larry Taylor in the irons, rallied for fourth.

Calhoun indicated that Fiftyshadesof-

gold, who earned $45,000 this evening, will be pointed to “one of the bigger stakes at Fair Grounds or Oaklawn Park” with the Kentucky Oaks as her goal.

The $75,000 Jim’s Orbit division for 3-year-old colts and geldings also produced a memorable finish for the same connections with a nicer price on the toteboard as Ibaka came flying from off the pace under Napravnik and paid $13.60 for the win. Owned and bred by Doug Wall of Norman, Oklahoma, Ibaka had prepped for the Jim’s Orbit with a victory on Jan. 10 at Delta Downs.

“He broke poorly at Retama, and the race was over,” said Calhoun. “He came back well at Delta, which we thought would set him up well for this. The race didn’t unfold the way we thought. He got shuffled back, but finished well in the end.”

Wall had a group of family and friends who donned “Ibaka” t-shirts and celebrated enthusiastically with the first stakes win by the son of Uncle Abbie.

“I bred him, raised him and fed him every meal until I turned him over to Mr. Calhoun in August,” said Wall. “When he lost at Retama, we thought the world had ended, but tonight we are so happy. This horse is representing not only us, but the Oklahoma Thunder.”

F J Uncle Vic ran second, following his convincing score in the $50,000 Allen’s Landing Stakes on January 25 for Johnny Evans and Terry Eoff, who trains the 3-yearold son of Uncle Abbie.

“My horse was running well, but had a lot of pressure and just got tired,” said rider Ernesto Valdez Jiminez.

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Ibaka

Justin Shepherd and Ring Necked with Glen Murphy aboard, overcame traffic to complete the superfecta.

In 2005, the TTA renamed each of the Texas Stallion Stakes races to honor a famous Texas Thoroughbred. The colts and gelding division at Sam Houston Race Park has been named for Jim’s Orbit, who won the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and started in the 1988 Kentucky Derby. The fillies division is a tribute to Two Altazano, winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in 1994. The accomplished mare, owned by the late Harold V. Goodman, was inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Quiet Acceleration scores second stakes win of the meet in the $50,000 Jersey Village Stakes

The third stakes of the Saturday evening card was the $50,000 Jersey Village Stakes with a field of ten accredited Texas-breds competing at a mile and onesixteenth over the Connally Turf Course.

Danny Pish, 2013 Sam Houston Race Park leading trainer, had to sweat out a photo finish between the late charge of his homebred Quiet Acceleration and a huge effort from Fly the Red Eye. The head bob went to Quiet Acceleration, with Gerardo Mora in the irons.

The intrepid turf specialist returned to the Connally Turf Course off his victory in the $50,000 Richard King Stakes last month. Tonight the 5-year-old son of Silent Picture notched his ninth turf win from 28 starts.

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Quiet Acceleration

said Pish. “A horse likes this keeps a fool in the business. I claimed his sire and his dam and that’s not supposed to produce a multiple stakes winner.”

Jockey Glen Murphy had praise for Fly the Red Eye, the 6-year-old year-old son of Early Flyer, who is owned by H and H Ranch.

“He ran a beautiful race,” said Murphy.

“He got around the course very well; just lost the bob. They were both fighting hard to the end.”

Quiet Acceleration was sent off at odds of 4.70-1 in the ten-horse field and returned $11.40 for the win. Valid Message closed for third and Special U F O, also trained by Pish, faded to fourth.

Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA Artist Cry wins Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes at FG Danny Brown and Wesley Hawley’s Artist Cry, void of early foot, launched a bold bid on the extreme outside in the late stages of Saturday’s $60,000 Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred sophomore fillies and was up to best Danny and Donna Browns’ P T’s Jewel by a length and a half at Artist Cry the wire.

Trained by Wes Hawley who also trained the runner-up, Artist Cry returned mutuels of $5.60, $4 and $3.20, accomplished the about one mile over a Stall Wilson turf course rated yielding in 1:42.31 and increased her career earnings to $73,800 with her third win in in four career starts. She was ridden by James Graham.

“They quickened up front pretty early,” said Graham after the race. “I took her to the outside to keep her clear and she closed well like I knew she could.”

P T’s Jewel broke alertly but was allowed to settle, launched a bold bid on the outside late, could not stay with the winner but gamely earned the place by a halflength from Stacey Moak’s Tedious.

P T’s Jewel paid $15.20 and $12.20 in the second spot and Tedious returned $8.20 to show.

Earl and Keith Hernandez et al.’s Fifolet made the pace with fractions of :24.52 and :49.66 but could not sustain the bid.

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B and B’s Pulpit

B and B’s Pulpit noses out You’ve Got a Friend in FG’s Gentilly Stakes

Earlier in the afternoon Merrill Scherer and Dan Lynch’s B and B’s Pulpit, allowed to settle early, rallied outside the leaders when set down for the drive and was up by a nose from Louie Roussel’s You’ve Got a Friend in Saturday’s $60,000 Gentilly Stakes for 3-year-old accredited Louisiana-breds at the Crescent City oval.

The winner, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and trained by Merrill Scherer, returned $14.40, $5.60, $4.20, toured the about one mile distance over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated yielding in 1:42.34 and increased his career earnings to $68,200 with his initial victory in six lifetime starts.

“It looked like they had quite a bit of speed in the race so we just wanted to give our horse the cleanest trip we could,” said Hernandez. “He just dug in and he fought it out to the wire for us.”

You’ve Got a Friend clearly held the second spot after making the lead between calls but could not withstand the winner in the last jump. He returned $3.80 and $2.80.

Donald Kirsch and James Twiggs’ Brother Maxwell, well placed early, lacked the needed late response against the top two and paid $10.20 to show.

Diamond Racing et al.’s Mypalcharliebrown made the pace with splits of :24.83 and :50.08 but weakened.

Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CA Tamarando edges Dance With Fate in El Camino Real Derby Tamarando, filling in for injured

Tamarando

stablemate Exit Stage Left, rallied from last in a field of eight to win the Grade 3 $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

Exit Stage Left, an undefeated colt with three stakes victories, sustained a tendon injury one week prior to the El Camino Real Derby. That prompted Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to go to the bullpen for Tamarando, who is based at Santa Anita.

Russell Baze, the regular rider of Exit Stage Left, rode Tamarando for the first time in the El Camino Real Derby and guided the stretch-running son of Bertrando to his third career stakes victory.

Tamarando won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and the Real Quiet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last year.

Tamarando ran down Dance With Fate and jockey Aaron Gryder in the final yards of the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby to win by a half-length in 1:51.23.

Enterprising, the 6-5 favorite ridden by Gary Stevens, finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Dance With Fate.

“He was laying closer than normal for him and doing it within himself,” said Baze.

“I had to ask him to start moving at the three-eighths pole because I knew they had a lot of horse in front of us. He got me right up there to them and then had enough to push by that horse at the finish line.

“My horse was moving pretty good, but that horse on the lead (Dance With Fate) wasn’t coming back,” continued Baze. “He ran all the way to the wire. It took a good horse to run him down and

this is a good horse. He’s got a nice, long move. There’s going to be a lot of good things coming from this colt. He’s got a lot of talent.”

Hollendorfer, who also saddled fourth-place finisher Puppy Manners in the El Camino Real Derby, said he knew Tamarando would be tough in the El Camino Real Derby.

“This horse runs well every time we race him,” said Hollendorfer. “Even before Exit Stage Left got hurt we talked about running him in this race.”

Tamarando, the 2-to-1 second choice, paid $6.60. Owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams, Tamarando earned $120,000 for the victory and has made $625,120 in 10 career starts.

Dance With Fate, trained by Peter Eurton, has run second in three stakes in his seven-race career.

“He was on the bridle a little more than I would have liked,” said Gryder. “If I could have gotten him to save a little more energy early on I think we may have had a different story at the end. But that’s all about maturing. These horses keep growing and getting better as they go along. He sure finished well going a mile and an eighth and tried hard, so I think we’ve got a nice horse.”

Enterprising, who ran second to Exit Stage Left in the California Derby while getting a dream trip, had another smooth journey in the El Camino Real Derby but settled for third.

“We had a great trip,” said Stevens.

“I’m not so sure he handles this track that well.

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Western Way

Jaycito

I thought he was going to. The race came up pretty much like we planned on paper but the result wasn’t what we thought it would be.”

petition. She was second to Iplaytricks in the New Mexico Cup Fillies and mares Championship at Zia Park last fall.

Piratz Stash tried a route for the first time and finished a solid second after leading much of the way under jockey Sunland Park, NM Carlos Madeira and trainer Joel Marr.

Western Way closes fast to win A victory in the Peppers Pride seemed $85,000 Peppers Pride Stakes Western Way closed from ninth to first appropriate before the race since she is owned, trained and ridden by the place and gained her first career stakes same connections of the legendary New win in the $85,000 Peppers Pride Stakes Mexico-bred champion mare Peppers at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Pride who is also owned by H. Joseph Saturday.

Allen of Abilene, Texas. The 2-1 favorite Well handled by jockey Enrique fought valiantly and finished a half-length Garcia, Western Way took some time to in front of Don’t Ask Ghost. That 38-1 long heat up but found her best strides in the shot sparked a $1 trifecta worth $221.40. second half of the one mile race for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. Western Way commenced a bold rally on the second turn and was in front of her nine Sunland Park, NM rivals by the upper stretch. The grey mare

by The Way Home was in full flight for the Justin Evans juggernaut continues as Jaycito wins $50,000 Curribot wire and the pace setters had no answer for her late kick. Western Way and Garcia Handicap went on to win the rich stakes race by 2 The Justin Evans juggernaut conand ¼ lengths in a time of 1:38.80. tinued at Sunland Park Racetrack and Western Way by Doubletree Farm, Casino as Jaycito came rumbling through LLC’s The Way Home, is owned by sixthe stretch to take a driving win in the teen year-old Juan Carlos Gutierrez who $50,000 Curribot Handicap at one and claimed the mare for $10,000 two years one sixteenth miles. ago at SunRay Park in Farmington, New The former Breeders’ Cup and KenMexico. Western Way earned $51,000 for tucky Derby hopeful ran big for the naher Peppers Pride triumph. She has 5 wins, tion’s leading training in wins and earned 8 second and 5 thirds from 25 career outs. an impressive score in the route feature.

Jose A. Gonzalez trains the newly crowned Under leading jockey Ry Eikeberry, Jaycito stakes winner. Western Way paid $8.80 to responded with a bold wide move down win. the backstretch and loomed large with a Western Way was coming off a strong quarter mile left in the race. It was clear Jaycito meant business when he tackled third place effort behind Lady of Luck at Sunland Park on Feb. 1 against open com- Winsham Lad winner Smack Ridge at the

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top of the stretch and took a short lead.

Jaycito responded brilliantly to Eikleberry direction and found plenty of staying power while drawing clear from a late closing Dry Summer. The 6-yearold Victory Gallop stallion won by two and one-half lengths and earned his first victory since winning a Hollywood Park allowance race on Dec. 1, 2012.

Evans performed a masterful job getting Jaycito back to the winner’s circle for owner Tony Pennington of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Pennington also owns Riley Allison Futurity winner Rebranded and KHEY Country Sprint Stakes winner Alsono. Jaycito earned $30,000 for winner the Curribot title. His fourth career win pushed his bankroll past the $427,000.

The 3-1 shot paid $8.60 on a $2 win ticket.

The winning time was a sharp 1:42.93.

Evans has saddled a record seven stakes winners so far in the Sunland Park season. The 32-year-old conditioner also won Saturday’s $50,000 El Diario Handicap with African Rose.

Dry Summer produced a good looking rally in the final furlongs but could not muster enough to threaten the winner. The 2013 Mine That Bird Derby winner swept past pace setting Smack Ridge in the final 50 yards to earn second place honors under jockey Carlos Madeira. The Joel Marr trainee was also finished second in last month’s Winsham Lad Handicap.

The son of Any Given Saturday raced as the 7-5 favorite.

Smack Ridge fought gallantly to earn third place, over 2 lengths in front of $856,000 multiple stakes winner Red Lead.

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Triumph and Song

African Rose

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, TX Triumph and Song wins the $50,000 Bucharest Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park

was marvelous. We are so pleased.”

Defending champion Solar Charge, ran a game second under jockey Lindey Wade.

Breeder Carolyn Barnett co-owns the 7-year-old son of Authenticate with David Alford. Trained by Ellen Williams, he ran a The $50,000 Bucharest Stakes, for respectable second to Triumph and Song accredited Texas-breds at five-furlongs in the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes here over the Connally Turf Course, featured an on January 18, and made a solid run, but impressive performance by Triumph and could match strides with the winner.

Song who was making his turf debut and “He tried hard and gave a good effort,” won in commanding fashion. said Wade.

Jockey Junior Chacaltana guided the Ishararuler with Glen Murphy in the 5-year-old son of leading 2013 Texas stakes irons, ran third for trainer Brent Davidson sire, My Golden Song to victory, breaking followed by Wagson under current leading alertly from the rail and never relinquishrider, Deshawn Parker. ing the lead. The final time of the five The Bucharest Stakes is named for furlong turf sprint over a firm turf course the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, was :57.55. owned by Israel Flores and trained by This was the second consecutive Amos Laborde, who set track records at stakes for Triumph and Song, who was a Sam Houston Race Park for the distance of game winner of the $50,000 Spirit of Texas five and one-half, six and seven furlongs.

Stakes here on January 18. He is trained by His lightning fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 Karl Broberg and owned by H & H Ranch. on May 11, 1994, will no doubt stand the Broberg claimed the sprinter for test of time. Flores was here this evening to $40,000 at Fair Grounds, and had no present the trophy. qualms about testing his charge on the lawn.

“For $50,000 in a Texas-bred stakes, Sunland Park, NM you have to take a shot,” said Broberg. “I African Rose wins $50,000 El think he proved he’s okay on the turf” It was an astute claim for Broberg, who Diario Handicap gave credit to his “really smart owners”, as The well-decorated stakes winner Triumph and Song has earned $60,000 in African Rose produced a vintage run to win his last two starts. Sent off as the favorite, the $50,000 El Diario Handicap at Sunland he returned $3.20 for the win.

Park Racetrack and Casino.

“It was so much fun to watch,” said The 2013 Harry Henson Handicap owner Carolyn Hanek who spoke on behalf heroine was at the top of her game for of the ownership group. “He has a beautitraining juggernaut Justin Evans, and the ful stride and is a magnificent Texas-bred. mare propelled to a convincing 2-length Junior was instructed to send him and he win at a surprising 9-2 odds. Under jockey

FEB. 8, 2014

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 one-half 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 five-year-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 nation’s trainers in wins this year.

Cottagecupcake ran a splendid race under jockey Carlos Madeira. The Dallas Barton trainee was seeking her fourth straight win in as many starts. She was locked in battle with the winner for much of the El Diario but could not find enough in deep stretch. The four-year-old daughter of Stormello wound up in second place, a half-length in front of favored Wine Thief.

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Blingo benefits from torrid pace duel and takes Grade 2 San Antonio under Gryder; favored Game On Dude off board

With a hot pace to shoot at, longshot Blingo, with Aaron Gryder aboard, wheeled four-deep turning for home and out-gamed fellow longshot Imperative inside the sixteenth pole to take the Grade SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 51

Blingo

2, $300,000 San Antonio Stakes by a half length, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.95.

As expected, Blueskiesnrainbows, who broke from post position three, and 1-5 favorite Game On Dude, with Mike Smith up from post five, engaged one another into the Club House turn and from there, the gauntlet was irrevocably thrown down, resulting in splits of 22.75, 46.26, 1:10.17 and 1:35.23.

“I was hoping for a hot pace today and I was real happy with the first eighth of a mile,” said Gryder. “By the time we had gone three-sixteenths, I could tell we had established a fast pace and I just wanted my horse to settle…I just knew the only chance we would have would be if we settled. When we got to the five-eighths pole, I knew he was running his race. He was traveling so well.

Off at 15-1, Blingo, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by turf star Artie Schiller, was taken in-hand by Gryder and sat fifth, eight lengths off the dueling leaders past the half mile pole and sling-shotted past Game On Dude at the top of the lane.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, Blingo paid $33.80, $11.40 and $27.20. With the winner’s share of $180,000, Blingo increased his earnings to $364,408. He now has four wins from 11 starts.

“That was great, watching those two guys (Game On Dude and Blueskiesnrainbows) go after each other,” said Jerry Moss.

“It seems like this horse is still growing, but we’re real happy with the way he’s developed. John Shirreffs has just done an amazing job with this horse. The time he’s put into him is really amazing. He got the 52 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

Wild Dude

horse right, dealing with all his idiosyncrasies.”

Off at 26-1 in a field of seven, Imperative, with Kent Desormeaux up, found room at the rail going to the far turn and turned the heat up on the pacesetters, putting a head in front leaving the quarter pole and after dispatching Game On Dude, battled gamely the final three sixteenths of mile with the winner, putting a head in front again inside the sixteenth pole.

Second by 4 ¼ lengths to late finishing American Blend, Imperative paid $12.20 and $22.40. (The show prices were greatly inflated due to the fact Game On Dude finished out of the money).

Off at 19-1, American Blend, with Joe Talamo up, was next-to-last early and finished a head in front of Majestic Harbor, paying $25.80 to show.

Game On Dude, trained by Bob Baffert, was seeking an unprecedented third consecutive win in the San Antonio, final major prep to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8, but faded to finish fifth.

The second choice at 7-2, Blueskiesnrainbows also tired badly, finishing sixth, a length in front of last-place finisher Willyconker.

FEB. 2, 2014 Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Longshot Wild Dude rallies to win Grade 2 Palos Verdes

One of three runners trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, longshot Wild Dude rallied late to beat 1-2 favorite Secret Circle by a neck in the Grade 2, $200,000 Palos Verdes

Stakes, getting six furlongs in 1:08.09.

As expected, the Bob Baffert-trained Secret Circle, who broke from the four post with Martin Garcia and was making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 2, showed good speed away from the gate and was pressured at the rail by another Hollendorfer runner, Moonshine Bay, who broke from the outside post in a field of five with Gary Stevens.

Moonshine Bay was lapped on Secret Circle throughout and the two of them carved out splits of 21.95, 44.27 and 55.97.

Passing the sixteenth pole, Secret Circle shook loose of Moonshine Bay and opened up a half length advantage with a hundred yards to run, only to be overtaken in the shadow of the wire by the winner. Next to last turning for home, Wild Dude switched off the rail late and surged wide-out right on the money with leading rider Rafael Bejarano.

“I knew with three horses in the race for Mr. Hollendorfer, I knew Gary (Stevens) was going to send Moonshine Bay to put a little pressure on the favorite,” said Bejarano, who was able to angle off the rail just as Secret Circle made the lead. “I saved ground around the turn and waited for the stretch. I just had to wait for the right moment, the right time.

“My horse loves coming from behind so the only change was I didn’t want to leave too much for him to do at the end so I kept him a little closer today.”

For his part, Hollendorfer, who is head and head with Baffert this winter, downplayed any prospect of a rivalry between the two Hall of Fame conditioners.

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Homerun Berti

quarter mile in 23 3/5, moved into second before a half mile in 49 and drew off from her rival to win by 1 ½ lengths after gaining the lead at the top of the stretch. The Aragorn Ami winner drifted in slightly late, but the “It’s not a rivalry,” said Hollendorfer. stewards found no reason for disqualifica“Actually, I’m a fan of a lot of the good tion. She completed the one mile in 1:41 trainers down here and I’m one of Bob’s over a fast track. fans…Our horse (Wild Dude) got lucky to “He (Arroyo) came down a little; get out of the one (path) and that’s why enough to stop my filly’s forward momenwe got the win. I just told (Bejarano) to be tum,” said Euphrosyne’s jockey Channing where he wanted to be comfortable. We Hill. “It was just the greenness of the two knew the horse had some tactical speed… fillies.”

Gary wouldn’t have gone quite so hard if “I did what I was told to do and laid (his) horse didn’t break as good as he did, right off the pace,” said Arroyo. “I worked but he was right out there…” this filly three times in the morning so I reOwned by Hollendorfer and Green ally got to know her.”

B. Smith, Jr., Wild Dude was off at 8-1 and Ireland, the $2.60-to-1 second choice, paid $19.20, $5 and $3.20. rallied from ninth to finish third. She was followed by Cow Catcher, Redgrass Cat, Cheerful Contender, $2.50-to-1 favorite Kiss Moon, Xray Vision, Racing Holiday and Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR Street Story.

Aragorn Ami pulls mild Martha Aragorn Ami was the second starter and first winner this meet for trainer Josie Washington upset Carroll, who has a string in Hot Springs for Ivan Dalos’ Aragorn Ami, making just the first time. She returned $28.80, $11.20 her second career start, survived a rider’s and $7 at odds of 13-1. objection to earn her first career stakes “For her first time on that track, I victory in the $100,000 Martha Washington thought it was an extremely good perforStakes. mance,” said Carroll, who had to pull over With leading rider Norberto Arroyo her car to watch the race on her way to Hot Jr. in the irons, Aragorn Ami assumed a stalking position in third behind the front- Springs from her Canadian base. “It’s a little bit of a tiring track, and I thought for her to running Euphrosyne through an opening

FEB. 1, 2014

win in that company first time on that track really showed her class. This filly from the start has done everything right and I didn’t see any reason not to go in there.”

I’ll talk to Mr. Dalos about the Honeybee (Stakes March 8), but right now he’s just over the moon. He’s so happy because it’s four generations of his breeding which is especially nice. But, I’d say there’s a very good possibility we’d go in the series there.”

Sunland Park, NM Homerun Berti powers home in $50,000 Budweiser Handicap

Homerun Berti powered home an easy winner in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

The expert sprinter trained by leading trainer Justin Evans showed no signs of strain while defeating a good group of sprinters going 5 furlongs. Under Ry Eikleberry, Homerun Berti zipped through the distance in a fast 56.45 seconds and beat a game City Sage by over 2 lengths in a dynamic performance. The eight-yearold Forestry gelding posted his fourth win in a row and his third consecutive stakes triumph. The big favorite was coming off a bold win locally in the KLAQ Handicap on opening weekend.

Homerun Berti picked up a $30,000 paycheck for the SEJ Stables, Inc. Sunland’s top sprinter holds an enviable record of 14 wins from 30 starts with a bankroll worth nearly $380,000. The 2-5 public choice paid $2.80.

The Budweiser performance punctuated another tremendous week for Justin Evans at Sunland Park. He currently is the SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 53

Fashion Plate

number one trainer in the country for races won in 2014.

City Sage fought valiantly after pressing the pace and finished second. The runner-up ridden by Dusty Shepherd finished four lengths in front of Grand Move.

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA Fashion Plate dictates pace throughout and wins Las Virgenes by half length A maiden winner on Dec. 29, Fashion Plate, ridden by Gary Stevens, was sent to the front and controlled the pace throughout in winning the Grade 1, $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a half length, getting one mile on Santa Anita’s main track in 1:37.22.

On a personal level, Stevens allowed, “This was pretty-much the hardest I’ve had to work this meet.”

The third choice in a field of seven at 9-2, Fashion Plate paid $11.40, $4.40 and $3.80. Trained by Simon Callaghan and owned by Arnold Zetcher, LLC and Michael Tabor, Fashion Plate was pursued throughout by Taste Like Candy and shook loose of her leaving the quarter pole only to be immediately engaged by even money favorite Streaming from the top of the lane home.

“When they came to her, she really dug in and tried real hard,” said Callaghan.

“She’s a special filly. It means a lot to win this race. Gary put up a great ride. She went nice fractions (23.19, 46.26, 1:10.91, 1:23.75). She went pretty quick and I think that was a testament to her courage and 54 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

Winning Prize

ability that she was able to do that and sustain the run. We’ll look at the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade 1, April 5) and if she does well there, maybe we’ll take her to Kentucky (Oaks, May 2).”

With first money of $180,000, Fashion Plate, a Kentucky-bred filly by the Unbridled’s Song stallion Old Fashioned, ran her earnings to $219,250. The Las Virgenes was her second win from four starts.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Streaming, who came off a 1 ½ length win in the Grade 1, 1 1/16 miles Hollywood Starlet Dec. 7, sat a comfortable third around the Club House turn and down the backside and loomed ominously a sixteenth out, but couldn’t get on terms with the winner, finishing second, three quarters of a length in front of late closer Arethusa.

“Turning for home, I thought we had it,” said Baffert. “That’s why he’s (Gary Stevens) the best though, he’s tough.”

Streaming paid $2.80 and $2.40.

Far back early, Arethusa, with Corey Nakatani up, was off at 10-1 and paid $4.60 to show. She finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of a tiring Taste Like Candy.

1 1/16 miles Citation Handicap on Nov. 29, but tired to finish third, beaten three quarters of a length.

Off as the narrow second choice at 5-2, Winning Prize paid $7.40, $4.60 and $3.

A 5-year-old horse by the Storm Cat stallion Pure Prize, Winning Prize is owned

by David Heerensperger and Jose Nelson.

He collected $120,000 for the win, boosting his earnings to $400,840. He now has seven wins from 12 starts.

A comfortable third throughout, Tom’s Tribute found his best stride late and overtook Regally Ready late to finish second by a neck under Gary Stevens.

Off at 8-1, Tom’s Tribute paid $8.00 and $5.40.

Regally Ready, who was an impressive gate to wire classified allowance winner at the distance over the course on Jan. 2, was ridden by Mike Smith and set fractions of 23.14, 46.16, 1:09.59 and 1:21.34. He had an approximate four length advantage on the winner leaving the three eighths pole, but tired late to finish third, a half length in front of stablemate Unbridled’s Note.

Regally Ready paid $4.20 to show.

Drysdale’s Winning Prize takes Arcadia Stakes going away by 1 ½ lengths under Bejarano

Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA Kiss to Remember best in Battle of New Orleans; Warm Breeze wires FG’s Happy Ticket Stakes

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Winning Prize sat a relaxed second early and pounced on pacesetter Regally Ready in deep stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Arcadia Stakes going away by 1 ½ lengths, covering one mile on turf in a rapid 1:32.89.

Trained by Neil Drysdale, Winning Prize tried front-running tactics in the Grade 2,

Maggi Moss’s Kiss to Remember prompted the pace, gained the advantage in upper stretch and drew off late for a 4 ¼-length score in Saturday’s first renewal of the $60,000 Battle of New Orleans at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED

Kiss to Remember

Trained by 10-time Fair Grounds trainer champion Tom Amoss and ridden

by Fair Grounds’ three-time defending jockey champion Rosie Napravnik who was riding her fourth winner of the afternoon, Kiss to Remember returned mutuels of $5.20, $3.20 and $2.40, toured the about 5 ½ furlongs over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated good in 1:05.80 and increased her career earnings to $59,110 with her second victory in four career starts.

“She’a grown up a little bit since we got her,” said Amoss, who claimed her for $50,000 on behalf of owner Moss. “It’s always nice to see a horse develop the way she has. She’s by Big Brown and he seems to sire a lot of good grass runners.”

Right Time Racing and Irons Stables’ Mizzen Moon, never far back, continued with good courage in the lane to gain the place, paying $7.40 and $4.60 while finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Castleton Lyons Toni’s Hollyday, who returned $2.80.

Thomas Galvin’s Adrianne G made the pace with early splits of :22.32 and :47.40 but could not sustain the bid.

In the 29th running of the $60,000 Happy Ticket Stakes, Ten Broeck Farm’s Warm Breeze made the pace through early fractions of 22.25 and 45.92 and held on for a nose victory over Brereton Jones’s Same Cross while accomplishing the six-furlong distance in 1:10.33.

Ridden by Leandro Goncalves and conditioned by Grant Forster, the daughter of Street Sense paid $9.20, $4.60 and $3.40 and increased her career earnings to $94,396 with her third win in nine lifetime starts.

Warm Breeze

“She broke really sharp and we had fast fractions but she was doing it easy and relaxed,” said Goncalves.

Same Cross closed late to easily gain the place and returned $2.80 and $2.40 while finishing 9 ¼-lengths to the good of Adele Dilschneider’s Ire, who paid $2.60.

Star Guitar was also campaigned by Brittlyn Stable Inc. (Evelyn Benoit) and retired as the all-time leading Louisiana-bred earning Thoroughbred with better than $1.7 million in his bankroll.

Sunbean is a 4-year-old gelding by Brahms, out of the Malagra mare X Strawdnair. He was bred in Louisiana by his owner.

Delta Downs, Vinton, LA Sent to the gate as the heavy 4-5 favorite in a field of nine, Sunbean returned The Bayou State’s best were in $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to action during Louisiana Premier show.

Hit the Road Lee was worth $10.20 Night to place and $5.40 to show. Populist PoliBrittlyn Stable Inc.’s Sunbean used an tics paid $4 to show. eye-catching move to gain the lead and In other action on Louisiana Premier drive on to victory in the $200,000 LouisiNight it was Cantrell Family Partnership’s ana Premier Night Championship at Delta Tensas Harbor winning the $150,000 LAPN Downs. The big race was the featured Distaff with jockey Mark Guidry in the event on another edition of Louisiana saddle.

Tensas Harbor is trained by J. Keith Premier Night, which included 10 stakes Desormeaux. races for Louisiana-bred horses and more This year’s $125,000 LAPN Prince for than $1 million in purse money.

3-year-olds was annexed by Henry Ray Sunbean, who was ridden by Richard Dunn’s Ide Be Cool, who kept his record Eramia, stalked the pace in the 1-1/16 perfect at five-for-five while winning under mile event before picking off the frontjockey Chris Rosier. runners and eventually the pacesetter Closing Report was impressive while Hit the Road Lee turning for home. When taking the $125,000 LAPN Starlet for he reached the top of the homestretch 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Closing he began to get clear before hitting the Argument was ridden to victory by Rosie finish line four lengths in front of Hit the Napravnik, who accepted the mount from Road Lee who held on to second. Poputrainer W. Bret Calhoun.

Closing Report is list Politics rallied from well behind to be owned by Stephen R. Brown. third, another 3-3/4 lengths behind the The speedsters were out in force in top pair. the $100,000 LAPN Sprint, which was won Saddled by talented young trainer by the ultra-fast Heitai. The Karl Broberg Ron Faucheux, Sunbean finished the trainee was guided to victory by jockey distance over a fast track in 1:44.04. That Diego Saenz and he set a new five-furlong time broke the stakes record of 1:44.15 set by the great Star Guitar when he won track record of 56.69. Heitai is owned by the third of his four consecutive Louisiana Rowell Enterprises Inc. (Frank & Barbara Rowell).

Premier Night Championships in 2011.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 55

Wampas Kitty

Sittin At the Bar won her second consecutive race at Delta Downs in the $100,000 LAPN Matron for older fillies and mares. Sittin At the Bar was ridden by Colby Hernandez and is trained by Brett Brinkman. The daughter of Into Mischief is owned by P. Dale Ladner.

Maggi Moss’s Little Face was victorious in the $65,000 LAPN Ladies Starter with jockey Gerard Melancon in the saddle. Little Face is trained by Tom Amoss.

The $65,000 LAPN Gentlemen Starter was won by Awesome Bandit, who was ridden to victory by Emanuel Nieves for

56 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

trainer Dale White, Sr. Awesome Bandit is owned by Dale R. White and Carlton J. Foster.

Fifty Acres rolled to a win in the $50,000 LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter with jockey Diego Saenz aboard. Fifty Acres is trained by Karl Broberg and is owned by Broberg and Eduardo Ramirez.

And finally it was Queens Walk taking the $50,000 LAPN Bon Temps Starter for fillies and mares. Queens Walk was piloted by Richard Eramia who accepted the mount from trainer Karl Broberg. Queens Walk is owned by End Zone Athletics, Inc.

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, TX Wampas Kitty springs the upset in $50,000 Tomball Stakes

Sam Houston Race Park offered a return engagement of the very compelling rivalry between accredited Texas-bred

mares Smiles Golden Song and Vilao. The two turf stakes winners faced off for the fourth time in the $50,000 Tomball Stakes, but Wampas Kitty, at odds of 10-1, posted the upset.

Wampas Kitty, owned by Craig Harrison of Terrell, Texas, ran third in the $50,000 Star of Texas on Jan. 18. Trainer Clifford Dodson had not tested her in on the turf since Dec. 8, 2012, but decided to try her again this evening. Under jockey Alfredo Contreras, the 6-year-old mare sat off the pace set by Vilao and Mescaleress, and made her move at the top of the stretch.

She closed gamely and crossed the wire of the mile and one-sixteenth stakes over a firm Connally turf course in 1:44.37.

“In her last turf races, she tended to be too far back, so we wanted to make sure she was in striking distance when we hit the final turn,” said Dodson. “Alfredo did a great job; she ran a very good race.”

“I wasn’t sure how she would handle the turf, so I just wanted to be patient,” said Contreras. “When we turned for home, I asked her and she responded.”

Smiles Golden Song, owned by Sylvia Baird, was sent off as the favorite based on back-to-back stakes wins in the Fiesta Mile on the Retama Park turf course and an impressive score here on opening night in the San Jacinto Stakes. With apprentice David Cabrera in the irons, Smiles Golden Song mounted her bid, but could not catch the winner.

Mescaleress ran third, followed by Vilao, who was the runner-up in last year’s edition of the Tomball Stakes.

Wampas Kitty returned $23.20 to her supporters and earned $30,000 for the victory, which was the first stakes win for both Dodson and Contreras.

“It was awesome to win my first stakes,” added Dodson. “It couldn’t have happened for better connections.”

Dodson indicated that Wampas Kitty might make her next start in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes here on March 1.

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SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 57

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

Sire of 11 Stakes Horses in 2013

DIABOLICAL

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

PREMEDITATION

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

ROLL HENNESSY ROLL

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

Plus—

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accomplished QH Sire GONNA RO SHAM BO

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