SureBet March 2015

MARCH 2015 路 VOL.9 NO.3

2

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

reBet uRACING NEWS NE EWS N EWS

S

CONTENTS MARCH 2015

PUBLISHER: eugene HeatHman Cell: 575.937.9330 publisher@surebetracingnews.com BILLING/ACCOUNTING: anna FuQua Cell: 575.937.6849 billing@surebetracingnews.com AD SALES: Joe moRRIs Cell: 520.490.4401 joeyamae6.jm@gmail.com

submIt neWs:

575.937.9330 surebetnm@gmail.com E D I T O R I A L S TA F F : todd FuQua editor@surebetracingnews.com maRtHa cLaussen mclaussen50@yahoo.com mIcHaeL cuRRan se7en@beyondbb.com mIcHaeL cusoRteLLI oaktown_c@hotmail.com tom daWson tvtom@aol.com RobeRt geLLeR leoboar59@gmail.com tY WYant ty_wyant@yahoo.com DESIGN DIREC TOR: katHeRIne kIeFeR production@surebetracingnews.com

VOL. 9 NO. 3

Photo courtesy ©Benoit Photo

PUBLISHED BY:

PO Box 7261 • Ruidoso, NM 88355 www.surebetracingnews.com

•

Shared Belief, Mike Smith up, wins the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap March 8

Cover Stories: Heavily favored Shared Belief cruises to a win in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Top Derby prospect Dortmund powers to a win in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

Feature Stories: $3 million All American Futurity: Which races to run beforehand?

by Michael Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7

Six decades in the making

by Ty Wyant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Weekend Race Insider: The Ocean King surfaces

by Ty Wyant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 News

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Former top jockey Jerry Lambert passes at age 74; Santa Anita’s leading rider in 1968, Lambert forever linked with great Native Diver; Emerald Downs announces $1.62 million stakes schedule; Fair Grounds to increase overnight purses 10 percent for remainder of the meet; Jones reaches 300-stakes win milestone at Los Alamitos; Oaklawn approved to add two days to racing season; Oaklawn announces second purse increase; A look back at the 2014-15 Portland Meadows season; Ruidoso Downs’ Zia Derby up 42 percent, shows continued purse strength for older horses; Mike Luzzi wins 65th Annual Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey award, popular Delaware native elected by nationwide vote of his peers; Santa Anita spring stakes schedule announced; six Grade 1 stakes, headed by $500,000 Gold Cup on June 27, highlight 38-day meet which runs from April 25 through June 28; Wiener dog races return to Turf Paradise March 14

Race Recaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Quarter Horse & Thoroughbred results from Oaklawn Park, Golden Gate Fields; Los Alamitos Race Course; Santa Anita Race Park; Hialeah Park, Delta Downs; Fair Grounds Race Course; Sunland Park; Remington Park; Sam Houston Race Park

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 3

Heavily favored shared belief cruises to 4¼ length win in 78th running of Grade 1

1 million santa anita Handicap $

March 8, 2015 • santa anita Race Park • Arcadia, CA

By Beth Harris, AP Racing Writer

feel bad to say this, but I was trying to not win by so far. As they say, don’t squeeze a urns out the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap wasn’t much of a challenge lemon if you don’t have to.”

Shared Belief’s only blemish is a loss in for prohibitive favorite Shared Belief. the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic after a The 5-year-old dark bay gelding colmessy start last fall at Santa Anita. He finlared pacesetter Moreno on the turn for ished fourth, losing by 3 3/4 lengths. Hall home and went on to win by 4 1/4 lengths of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer marvels Saturday, improving to 10-1 in his career. at his gelding’s consistency.

Shared Belief ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.67 “Horses get ups and downs and he and paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10 as the 1-5 just stays the same and he does whatever favorite of 26,134 fans. we ask him to do,” he said. “He seems very Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith earned a record third consecutive Big `Cap victory, happy and enthusiastic about it.”

Moreno returned $4.80 and $4.20 in having won the previous two years aboard his first start since Game On Dude. He had Shared getting slammed Belief in the middle of the pack hard out of the startmuch of the way before they ing gate in the BC went four horses wide to take the Classic, while Catch lead into the stretch. a Flight was another “Not to take anything away head back in third from the competition, but I and paid $4.20 to geared him down a few times and show. Hard Aces was he still won like that,” Smith said. “I fourth and Bronzo was watching the (infield) TV from the quarter-pole to the wire and I fifth.

Hall of Famer Shared Belief, Mike Smith up, Gary Stevens, aboard wins the $1 million Santa Anita Catch a Flight, fell beHandicap, March 8. yond the finish line.

“He just tripped Photos courtesy of ©Benoit Photo

T

4 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

with me,” Stevens said. “He started to go down head-first and he caught himself.

When he did, it shot me straight up in the air. I tried to tuck and I landed on my back.

It knocked the wind out of me. I’m OK.” Co-owned by sports talk host Jim Rome, Shared Belief was coming off a victory over reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome in the San Antonio Invitational exactly a month ago. The gelding is based in the San Francisco Bay area, so Rome doesn’t see him often.

“It’s like he shows up every single time – he always runs big, is always tough and just has a lot of grit, a lot of heart,” Rome said. “He never disappoints.”

Hollendorfer earned his second Big ’Cap win, and first since 2008. He is another of the gelding’s co-owners.

“I’m just so grateful to have a horse like this,” he said. “I’m very pleased to have this horse and hope that we can keep him racing well like he has been.”

Crimson Giant, a 6-year-old gelding, finished last in the 13-horse field in his virtually unheard of 67th career start. He has just one win to his credit.

The victory, worth $600,000, increased Shared Belief’s career earnings to $2,932,200.

COVER STORIES

Top Derby prospect dortmund powers to 1¼ length win in Grade 2

400,000 san Felipe stakes $

March 7, 2015 • santa anita Race Park • Arcadia, CA

By Beth Harris, AP Racing Writer

“I don’t think there will be any difference for him when we add more distance,” ob Baffert is holding a pair of aces Garcia said. “He can go any distance. It less than two months before the won’t be a problem for him.”

Kentucky Derby.

Dortmund earned 50 points under the The Hall of Fame trainer boasts two system used by Churchill Downs to detertop 3-year-olds in his barn, and Dortmund mine the 20-horse field for the Kentucky stamped himself as a major threat for the Derby on May 2. He has a total of 70 points, first Saturday in May with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at five behind leader El Kabeir, who won the Gotham Stakes on Saturday. American Santa Anita.

The strapping chestnut colt improved Pharoah has 10 points, good for 17th on the Derby leaderboard. to 5-0 and gave Baffert a record fifth San Prospect Park returned $3.80 and Felipe win Saturday.

“I don’t worry about stuff like that,” Baf- $3.40, and jockey Kent Desormeaux wasn’t willing to give an inch. Prospect Park could fert said about the winning streak. “We’re meet Dortmund next in the Santa Anita just worried about keeping him healthy.”

Derby on April 4.

And don’t try to pin Baffert down “They got the battle,” he said. “We’ll about which of his colts he favors: Dortwin the war.” mund or American Pharoah.

Bolo was another half-length back in “It’s like asking which kid I love more,” third and paid $4.60 to show. he said. “They’re two different horses.”

“Dortmund is a great horse, no doubt Ridden by Martin Garcia, Dortmund about it,” said Victor Espinoza, who rode led all the way in running 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.65 and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20 as Bolo. “Just for a moment there at the top of the stretch I thought we could beat him, the 4-5 favorite in a field of 10.

“It looks easy because he’s such a good but he’s too tough.”

Ocho Ocho Ocho lost for the first time horse,” Garcia said. “I’m always confident after winning his first three races, including because I know how good he is.” the $1 million Delta Jackpot. He finished Dortmund’s pedigree suggests he eighth. could handle the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Baffert learned more Dortmund in his Derby distance. His father, Big Brown, won previous start, the Robert B. Lewis on Feb. the 2008 Derby and Preakness before fail7, when the colt looked beaten with a furing to finish in the Belmont, dashing his long to go. Instead, he rallied again along hopes of sweeping the Triple Crown.

B

Dortmund, Martin Garcia up, wins the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Race Park, March 7.

Photos courtesy of ©Benoit Photo

the rail and won by a head over Firing Line.

“He’s starting to fill out, get stronger,” said Baffert, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner. “He’s so big the worst thing they can do is take him back and get him behind a wall of horses. He was doing it pretty easily.”

Baffert’s other entry, Lord Nelson, was fourth. The Gomper was fifth, followed by Pulmarack, Pain and Misery, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Sir Samson and Kenjisstorm.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 5

THE ROAD TO KENTUCKY

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

www.sunland-park.com PLAY RESPONSIBLY. HELPLINE 1-800-572-1142.

6 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

I-10 to Sunland Park Exit

F E AT U R E S T O R Y

R U I D O S O

D O W N S

R A C E

T R A C K

3 million All American Futurity:

$

Which races to run beforehand?

I

By Michael Curran

n the first running of the All American Futurity in 1959, the purse was a record-setting $129,686 for Quarter Horses. In 1978 it became the first horse race in the world to offer a then-staggering $1 million purse.

This year, the purse has moved up to $3 million (est.) compared to the $2.6 million total in 2014 and is now recognized as the largest purse for any 2-year-old horse race in the world.

It has increased 57 percent in the last five years. By comparison, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds each have a total purse of $2 million.

This year, the winning horse will earn one-half of the $3 million (est.) purse. And with that will come added responsibilities for Ruidoso Downs Race Track. The record-setting purse increase for the 440-yard, Labor Day race will carry with it more stringent security measures and “super testing” for illegal drugs in horses competing at Ruidoso Downs for this year’s meet, which begins May 22.

With last year’s record-setting Labor Day attendance of 24,778 fans, one might expect more than that number for the 2015 All American Futurity. Besides Ruidoso Downs Race Track, the village of Ruidoso should benefit monetarily from the influx of visitors to the prestigious race weekend.

With this year’s increase to the $3 million mark you might also expect a different game plan for some of the trainers of high-end horses who show great promise.

What some of the trainers are considering for prepping potential qualifiers for the 2015 All American Futurity: • Trainer Blane Wood – “It might be beneficial not to run some horses early on who show promise for the All American Futurity. You might want to save them for bigger things. It might be five months from the time you first start training them and/or 100 days from the beginning of the meet until you know what you’ve got. Some don’t mature as quickly as others.

“You want them good aspects be mentally prepared. On the other hand you want them to be fresh and not played out. It might mean picking and choosing what races you’ll run your All American Futurity prospects more carefully this year.”

• Trainer Paul Jones – “We will most likely keep it the same as our overall training procedure previous to the 2015 meet regarding All American Futurity runners. We intend to be careful and train the same as we always have.”

• Trainer Russell Harris – “Well, I think you can’t do all the big races beforehand in regards to the All American Futurity. They only have so many races in them. And that’s why I

•

•

•

•

•

•

don’t think we’ll see a Triple Crown winner anytime soon.

“They have to have something left within them for the All American and that may mean skipping a big race like the Rainbow Futurity. Everybody (trainers) will have a different strategy. I believe that’s a healthy thing. Now, many will have to pick their spots wisely. If you run a good prospect too much you could use the horse up to the point where it will never come back.”

Crystal Springs farm manager Tommy Goncharoff – “A lot of thought and strategy will go into races this year. If you have a worthy horse do you run at Remington Park or Sunland Park before the Ruidoso Downs meet? And then, might you skip the Ruidoso or Rainbow Futurity? You might be inclined to skip some big races earlier on if you thought you may have a special two year old.”

Trainer Cliff Lambert – “If you could determine you had a top-notch runner you might not run it early in the season.

You might even stay out of the early big races.”

Trainer Mike Joiner – “I don’t believe we’ll change our previous training regimen just because the All American Futurity is up to $3 million.”

Trainer Clay Sparks – “I believe a lot of trainers and owners will save their horses and maybe skip a big race like the Rainbow Futurity. That way they will go into the All American Futurity trials with a fresher and sounder horse.”

Trainer Fred Danley – “Just because the All American Futurity is up to $3 million doesn’t mean most people will change their previous philosophy. After all, whether it’s $2 million or $3 million, if you don’t have the horse you’re not going to get any money anyway.”

Trainer Jackie Riddle – As for the $3 million All American Futurity purse, it might make some people run differently and maybe skip the Rainbow Futurity.

So now you may be the judge of how trainers and owners might run their horses differently because of the $3 million (est.), if at all.

A former sports editor for the Ruidoso News, Michael Curran moved to Ruidoso from his native Pittsburgh having never seen a horse race, yet has become an enthusiastic supporter and writer about the Sport of Kings. The sometime political writer likes nothing more than spending time on the backside of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 7

2015 HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITY MAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S MOST LUCRATIVE RACE GRADE II - ELEVENTH RUNNING

400 Yards

Futurity Trials September 26, 2015

Futurity Final October 11, 2015

122 lbs

PAYMENT OPTIONS

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS (Include all fees to date)

1st Payment $100 due April 1, 2015 2nd Payment $450 due June 3, 2015 3rd Payment $550 due August 5, 2015

July 1st Supplement $1,000 August 20nd Supplement $2,500

Time of Entry Payment $1,000

Time of Entry Supplement $7,500

$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $300,000 O PE N T O ALL F OA L S OF 2013 HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITY NOMINATION FORM

Name of Horse

Sex

Sire

Dam

Owner: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Telephone:

Credit Card: (Cirlce one)

Card Number:

Discover VISA

Fax:

MasterCar d American Express

Expiration Date:

Zip Code: E-Mail: Make check to the order of: 2015 Hobbs America Futurity 3901 W. Millen Drive, Hobbs, NM 88240 (575) 492-7000

I hereby agree to be bound by all rules, regulations and conditions of Zia Park; and further agree to be bound by all rules regulations and conditions of the New Mexico State Racing Commission; and further agree to be bound by the Laws of the State of New Mexico. Subject to approval by the New Mexico State Racing Commission.

Signature of recorded owner, lessee or authorized agent 8 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Date

It’s in the blood

By Ty Wyant

Six decades in the making

By Ty Wyant

stone Bay. The stakes winner started his breeding career in New Mexico hen New Mexico-bred Rcj – hence Rcj Major Storm is a New Major Storm sped down the Mexico-bred – and now stands in inside rail at Sunland Park Indiana. He also sired champion to win the Grade 1, $350,000 The and 2009 Grade 1, $1.9 million All Championship at Sunland Park and American Futurity winner Runnning score his third-straight stakes victory Brook Gal. it was yet another important win Additionally, Brookstone Bay for iconic breeders R.C. “Punch” and sired stakes winner and $132,543 Suzanne Jones. earner Pakea Bay, who is out of Rcj Rcj Major Storm beat, arguably, Major Storm’s second dam Pakea Kai. the deepest field of older runners The stallion is also the sire of stakes assembled in 2014. That especially winner and $198,352 earner Pk Bay, strong lineup probably was due to who is out of a daughter of Pakea the cancellation of the Champion of Rcj Major Storm winning The Championship at Kai. Champions at Los Alamitos, sendSunland Park, Dec. 28, 2014.

Rcj Major Storm, Pk Bay and ing top Grade 1 horses to Sunland Photo courtesy of Coady Photography Pakea Bay are three of the top-seven Park. Following him under the wire were Hes Relentless, Stimulus, Jrc Callas First, Too Flash For You, money earners sired by Brookstone Bay. Rcj Major Storm’s dam Major Kia, a daughter Major Rime, Foose Cash Sr, Testing The Ice, Jesscuzican, Bon Accord and A has also produced stakes winners Kia Won and Incoho Tes. Toss Up. Kia Won, sired by champion Ketel Won, is racing and was An argument could be made for any horse winning The second in the 2014 Restricted Grade 2, $207,482 New Mexico Championship at Sunland Park, however Rcj Major Storm got Classic Derby and then third behind Rcj Major Storm in the Jess the job done.

In his previous two starts he handled New Mexico-breds in Burner Handicap.

Incoho Tess, a daughter of Rabbits Rainbow, is also still Restricted Grade 1, $170,480 Namehimastreaker New Mexico Classic Championship and then the Restricted Grade 1, $85,000 active and has recently been racing in the allowance and highpriced optional-claiming divisions. She posted her stakes win Jess Burner Handicap. when she took the 2013 $65,000 Four Coroners Senora Stakes While it took him :19.140 seconds to cover the 400 yards over New Mexico-bred females. in The Championship at Sunland Park, it was six generations One of the most important members of Maroon’s family is in the making. It dates back to the early 1950s when the Jones Rcj Major Storm’s third dam Rule The Deck, a daughter of the were married and Suzanne had a thoroughbred mare named thoroughbred Scout Leader.

Maroon, who Punch had wanted to purchase. She was one of Rule The Deck earned $522,165 with wins in the Rainbow those thoroughbred mares who beat the best quarter horses in the top stakes and set track records at Ruidoso Downs and dur- Silver Cup at Ruidoso Downs, the 440 Ranch Derby and the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby. She was also second in the All ing the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque. Then, when she was between racing seasons, she went back to the Jones Ranch American Gold Cup and third in the All American Derby.

The leading offspring out of Rule The Deck is Kuhi Kuhi, a west of Tatum, New Mexico and participated in ranch work.

She had a memorable personality. Punch recalls: “I never daughter of Ronas Ryon. She earned $159,925 and won five could get that mare to tie up. She was never tied up her entire stakes, including the Mr Jet Moore Stakes at Ruidoso Downs. life. But, you could ground tie her and she would stay there for The Jones breeding program, which has also been adhours.” vanced by their son Dirk, and their steadfast dedication to To this day, every Jones-bred horse traces to Maroon Maroon and her offspring will influence quarter horse racing through her female descendants. The strategy must have through many more generations. Punch worked because the Joneses are members of the Ruidoso and Suzanne are legends and horsemen Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame and are the only couple to be of the highest order. individually inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.

Rcj Major Storm’s dam is Major Kia. Her dam is Pakea Kai. Ty Wyant has been covering racing since Her dam is Rule The Deck. Her dam is Mar Deck. Her dam is Ma1976. He is currently the media relations rooneo. Her dam is Maroon, who was born in 1949. Every one director for Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park, of those mares, except Maroon, is a Jones-bred. and the curator of the Ruidoso Downs Rcj Major Storm’s sire is the First Down Dash son BrookRacehorse Hall of Fame.

W

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 9

2015 HOBBS AMERICA DERBY

MAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S PREMIER RACE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS GRADE III - ELEVENTH RUNNING

Derby Trials

Derby Final

440 Yards

September 27, 2015

122 lbs

PAYMENT OPTIONS

October 11, 2015

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS (Include all fees to date)

1st Payment $200 due April 1, 2015 2nd Payment $350 due June 3, 2015 3rd Payment $450 due August 5, 2015

July 1st Supplement $1,000 August 20nd Supplement $2,500

Time of Entry Payment $1,000

Time of Entry Supplement $7,500

$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $200,000 OPE N T O ALL F OA L S OF 2012 HOBBS AMERICA DERBY NOMINATION FORM

Name of Horse

Sex

Sire

Dam

Owner: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Telephone:

Credit Card: (Cirlce one)

Fax:

Discover VISA

MasterCard

American Express

Card Number: Expiration Date:

Zip Code: E-Mail: Make check to the order of: 2015 Hobbs America Derby 3901 W. Millen Drive, Hobbs, NM 88240 (575) 492-7000

I hereby agree to be bound by all rules, regulations and conditions of Zia Park; and further agree to be bound by all rules regulations and conditions of the New Mexico State Racing Commission; and further agree to be bound by the Laws of the State of New Mexico. Subject to approval by the New Mexico State Racing Commission.

Signature of recorded owner, lessee or authorized agent

10 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Date

Arcadia, CA February 25 Former top jockey Jerry Lambert passes at age 74; Santa Anita’s leading rider in 1968, Lambert forever linked with great Native Diver

Lambert, who was also Del Mar’s leading rider in 1967, was an integral part of one of American Racing’s all-time greatest match races, which pitted trainer A.T. “Tommy” Doyle’s Typecast against trainer Willard Proctor’s Convenience at a mile and one eighth on June 17, 1972 at Hollywood Park.

Jerry Lambert, one of CaliTypecast, who was ridden fornia’s leading jockeys through by Bill Shoemaker, was favored the 1960s and ‘70s was found over Convenience, but Lamdead Monday morning at his bert, in the opinion of many place of employment, Magali observers, rode a race for the Farms in Santa Ynez, Calif., by Jerry Lambert; below, Lambert ages, enabling Convenience to his daughter, Lacey, who is also aboard Native Diver. prevail by a head in a $250,000 employed at the farm.

Courtesy photos winner-take-all thriller witBorn in Clyde, Kansas, on nessed by an on-track crowd of Dec. 27, 1940, Lambert, 74, 53,575. was best known as the regular “Not too many people outrider of the jet-black Hall of rode Shoemaker, but Jerry had Fame gelding Native Diver, him in his hip pocket that day,” with whom Lambert won three said trainer Tom Proctor, who consecutive Hollywood Gold was a 16-year-old groom at the Cups in 1965, ’66 and ’67. “The time. “He had Shoe in a bad Black Horse” as Lambert often spot going into the first turn referred to him, had a keen and again when they turned for temperament and front-runhome. He had Shoe where he ning style that was perfectly wanted him and he drifted out, complemented by Lambert’s so Shoe had to come inside. I deft touch. never saw my dad get nervous, “He was a great rider,” said but he was that day. There retired Hall of Fame jockey blessed with light hands and were 53,000 ‘paid’ there and Donald Pierce. “I rode with a cool demeanor, Lambert’s from the time the horses came him from the time he came to career was often stymied by his into the old paddock in front California in 1961 until I retired love of the outdoors, which reof the grandstand, I don’t think (early 1984). Anytime he was sulted in a number of protractanyone sat down.

Jerry was a in a race, you had to deal with ed absences from the saddle. horse-backer and that was a him because he didn’t make “I think maybe the best big win for Glen Hill Farm. ” mistakes. He was very quiet, indication of how good he was, Lambert enjoyed a career very low key and he’d come was that every time he came resurgence in 1987, riding at and beat you when you’d least back, he had a lot of business,” Bay Meadows and Golden Gate expect it. He was a lot like Shoe. said Pierce. “Buster Millerick Fields for trainers such as Jack He was very quiet to be around (trainer of Native Diver) loved Arterburn and Jerry Dutton, and to ride with.” him and whenever Jerry would but his roll was derailed when Santa Anita’s leading come back to ride, Buster put he sustained a life-threatening Winter/Spring Meet rider in him on horses which was very spill going into the far turn at 1967-’68 with 77 winners in 72 unusual then, ’cause those Pleasanton in July, ’87, which days of racing, “Clyde” as he was older guys didn’t like it when known to his contemporaries, you took off and were gone for resulted in a broken cheekwas also leading rider at Santa a while. Most of the time, when bone, broken ankle and colAnita’s Oak Tree Meeting in you took off, those horses went lapsed lung.

Commenting on the 1972 with 30 winners. Known to other jocks and that’s the incident in a Los Angeles Times as a great judge of pace and way it was.”

article on Feb. 1, 1988, veteran turf writer and handicapper Gordon Jones said, “Too bad.

Jerry Lambert was riding as well as I’ve ever seen him ride, and then for that to happen…”

Lambert was a winner of the 1995 Darley Award, given annually to America’s top Arabian-bred jockey and he finished up his riding career at Los Alamitos, where he dominated the track’s Arabian-bred standings from 1994-1998.

“Jerry may’ve had the best set of hands I’ve ever seen,” said Los Al track announcer, Ed Burgart. “He sat a horse perfect and he never abused his mounts.

They ran out of their minds for Jerry, he just had that magic touch.”

A winner of Santa Anita’s George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1971, Lambert, who broke his maiden on a half-mile bullring in Shelby, Montana, in 1958, won 2,535 Thoroughbred races and retired with 42 stakes wins at Santa Anita, 54 at Hollywood Park and 30 stakes triumphs at Del Mar.

Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA February 25 emerald downs announces $1.62 million stakes schedule

A 29-race stakes schedule featuring the 80th renewal of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3), three stakes doubleheaders and Washington Cup XIII has been announced for the 2015 season at Emerald Downs.

Beginning with the SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 11

BACK SEAT ROLL ($276,114) FOUR TIME STAKES WINNER Never off the board in eight career starts!

SIRE OF NEW MEXICO’S 2014 CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY UNDEFEATED TWIXY ROLL ($205,328) 17% Blacktype stakes horses from starters, including: LAKEHOUSE FUN ($258,717), HENNESEY SMASH ($252,006), KISS MY HENNESSEY ($246,592), ROLL OUT THE BAND ($231,008), etc.

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

2015 Fee: $3,500

12 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 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

N E W M E X I C O ’ S T O P T H O R O U G H B R E D S TA L L I O N F O R 2 0 1 4

Nationally Ranked Among North America’s Top 10 Third Crop Sires by Cumulative Earnings, #2 by Blacktype Winners (6), Co-third by Blacktype Horses (10) Led ALL NORTH AMERICAN SIRES by 2YO Stakes Winners in 2014 with 6 Sire of leading stakes winners: THAT’S THE IDEA ($291,275), LIBERTY LOVER ($282,861, to 3, 2015), MAYS OR MANTLE, MUY RAPIDO, HUMARUMBA, RAIDER RED, etc.

DIABOLICAL artax - bonnie byerly, by dayjur

Adam Coglianese

2015 Fee: $6,000

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

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 13

#1 NEW MEXICO SIRE IN 2015



2015 PEPPER’S PRIDE EXACTA



1ST RENEWED VOWS 2014 NM Champion 3YO Filly



2ND LITTLE VIDALIA 2014 NM Champion Older Mare



19 Blacktype horses, 10 Blacktype winners, including: THERMAL ($333,465, multiple stakes winner, multiple stakes placed at 2, 3 & 4); LITTLE VIDALIA ($315,364, multiple stakes winner), REAPER ($307,460, four time stakes winner), RENEWED VOWS ($264,644, multiple stakes winner, winner of last five starts), HUSH’S STORM ($263,821, multiple stakes winner), etc.

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

2015 Fee: $3,000

14 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 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

A LEADING SECOND CROP SIRE IN NA

SOUTHWESTERN HEAT GONE WEST - XTRA HEAT, BY DIXIELAND HEAT

2015 Fee: $2,500

NEW MEXICO’S CHAMPION FIRST CROP SIRE 2014 

Sire of 2015 Stakes Winner SOUTHERN FIRE Winner of Sunland’s Pepsi Cola S.

  

21% Stakes Horses from Starters



Top 24 Second Crop Sire by Cumulative Earnings Sire of more stakes horses than second crop sires ESKENDEREYA, SUMMER BIRD, HOLD ME BACK, TALE OF EKATI, etc.

Sire of juvenile stakes horses Baby Vamp and Gator Heat

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 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 15

$50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares Sunday, May 10, and ending with a stakes double-header for 2-year-olds on closing day, Sunday, Sept. 27, a total of $1.62 million is offered in stakes money this season.

Twenty-five stakes are scheduled on Sundays including the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) on Sunday, Aug. 16. The Grade 3 Mile – among the Northwest’s most enduring and iconic sporting events – anchors a stakes double-header

featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares at 1-1/8 miles.

According to Emerald Downs Vice President Jack Hodge and Director of Racing Bret Anderson, the 2015 stakes schedule allows ample opportunities for all divisions of horses, and designed for horses to peak for the bigger races in August and September.

The schedule features 12 stakes events for older horses, eight races for 3-year-olds, eight events for 2-year-olds and

one race for Quarter Horses.

The road to the Longacres Mile begins Sunday, May 17 with the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap for 3-year-olds andup at 6-½ furlongs and continues Sunday, June 14 with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. The $50,000 Mt. Rainer Handicap on Sunday, July 19 serves as the final local prep, and 2014 Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd D used the 1-1/16-mile event as a perfect tune-up for his brilliant victory in the Longacres Mile.

Annually attracting several of the nation’s fastest middle-distance runners, The Mile culminates a tremendous two-week 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, August 8 and 3-yearolds square off in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Sunday, Aug. 9.

The 2-year-old divisions tilt heavily toward the latter

Weekend Race Insider: surebetracingnews.com

The Ocean King surfaces

By Ty Wyant

That record was broken by Runaway Wave, the dam of The Ocean King.

When the entries for the final Runaway Wave has produced weekend of racing at Hialeah 38 foals and they have earned more Park – last weekend – came than $3.6 million. She was the 2005 out, I was anxious to see in which broodmare of the year. race The Ocean King would compete.

Runaway Wave is known as the His name was nowhere to be dam of millionaires Ocean Runaway found. He has the finest Quarter and Wave Carver.

Horse breeding on the planet being Champion Ocean Runaway,

by Corona Cartel and out Runaway who earned $1,642,498, and was the Wave (more on that later) so I thought champion 2-year-old, 2-year-old colt The Ocean King, Shanley Jackson up, continued the 4-year-old may be headed to in 2004 and returned the next year his stakes race dominance with a smart score breeding shed. After all, he had won to be honored as champion 3-yearthree straight minor stakes at Hialeah, the Roble Rojo Stakes at Hialeah Park, Feb. 15. old colt.

He has sired the earners of so he had some black type and has Photo courtesy of Coady Photography more than $7 million, headed by that sensational pedigree. champion American Runaway.

Wrong.

350-yard Eastex.

Wave Carver was the 2006 world And glad I was wrong. Frankly, I The distance of the Eastex should champion and earned $1,005,946 in his would have done what his owners – not be a problem. In his latest two racing career.

He has sired the earners of Ocean King Syndicate – did. starts, both at Hialeah, he won the City more than $6.2 million.

I finally found The Ocean King this of Hialeah Stakes at 400 yards and then The Ocean King is a horse to watch weekend when he surfaced in the Grade won over about half of that distance, 220 this year.

He has the breeding, is a stakes 2, $50,000 Eastex Stakes at Remington yards, in the Roble Rojo Stakes. He was winner and is now taking on graded Park. It is the first graded stakes durnot facing the competition he will face in stakes horses. ing the Remington Park season. It also the Eastex, but that is still eye-catching.

R

offers the winner a spot in the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship on May 30. This gives the winner’s connections the advantage of being able to point at the Remington Park Championship throughout the meet.

The Ocean King is stepping up in class and is now in the Sleepy Gilbreath stable. Cody Joiner has the mount in the

16 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Then there is that pedigree.

His sire, Corona Cartel, has sired the earners of $47 million with 141 stakes winners. He is the sire of 24 grade 1 winners, headed by world champion Blues Girl Too. Corona Cartel is out of champion Corona Chick, who held the title of the leading dam of money earners for 13 years.

Ty Wyant has been covering racing since 1976. He is currently the media relations director for Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park, and the curator of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame.

half of the meeting, capped by a closing day doubleheader Sunday, September 27 featuring the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1-1/16 miles and the $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes at six furlongs.

Washington Cup XIII – six races exclusively for Washington-breds worth an aggregate $310,000 – is Sunday, September 13 with the $60,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for older horses anchoring the daylong stakes extravaganza. A pair of 6-½ furlong events – the $50,000 Comcast SportsNet Stakes for older fillies & mares and the $50,000 Chinook Pass Sprint Stakes for older males – provides older horses of both sexes the option of either sprinting or routing on WA Cup day.

Quarter Horses are featured Sunday, Sept. 6, with the fifth running of the $60,000 Bank of American Emerald Downs Championship Challenge at 440 yards.

The 70-day season, the 20th at Emerald Downs, begins Saturday, April 18.

Live racing is offered every Saturday and Sunday through April, with Fridays added to the schedule beginning May 1. Post time is 6:45 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. weekends.

Exceptions are 1 p.m., Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 2, and 4:30 p.m. for the Fireworks Spectacular, Friday, July 3.

Holiday racing is offered Monday, May 25, Saturday, July 4, and Monday, Sept. 7.

The stable area, which opened Feb. 1, already houses 573 horses, an increase of 69 horses from the same day last year.

Scat Daddybaby and Disruption, who both ran in the 2014 Longacres Mile, each worked three furlongs Monday while 2014 Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd is expected to defend his Longacres Mile title in 2015.

2015 Emerald Downs Stakes Schedule

29 Races: $1.62 million Purses May 10 $50,000 Hastings Handicap (3&UP F&M) 6F May 17 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap (3&UP) 6-½ F May 24 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO C&G) 6-½ F May 31 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F) 6-½ F June 7 $50,000 WA State Legislators Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6-½ F June 14 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap (3&UP) 1M June 21 $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap (3YO C&G) 1M June 28 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO F)

July 5 July 12 July 18 July 19 July 19 July 26 Aug 8 Aug 9 Aug 15 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 16 Sept 6

1M $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 (Grade 3) (3&UP) 1M $60,000 Bank of America Chmp Challenge*(3&UP) 440 Y

WA Cup XIII Sep 13 $50,000 Northwest Farms Stakes (2YO F WA) 6F Sep 13 $50,000 Captain Condo Stakes (2YO C&G WA) 6F Sep 13 $50,000 Comcast SportsNet Stakes (3&UP F&M WA) 6-½ F Sep 13 $50,000 Chinook Pass Sprint Stakes (3&UP WA) 6-½ F Sep 13 $50,000 Pegasus Training Center (3&UP F&M WA) 1-1/16M Sep 13 $60,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (3&UP WA) 1-1/16M Sep 27 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1-1/16M Sep 27 $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes (2YO) 6F *Quarter Horse

Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA March 4 Fair Grounds to increase overnight purses 10 percent for remainder of the meet

As a result of an increase in parimutuel handle and increased slots and video poker revenue in 2015, Fair Grounds SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 17

Race Course & Slots has announced a 10 percent increase in overnight purses for the remainder of the 143rd thoroughbred racing season.

“I am pleased to announce this purse increase,” said Fair Grounds Track President Tim Bryant. “We are appreciative of all of our owners and horsemen for the help they have given us to produce an attractive live racing product to which bettors and racing fans have responded positively.”

The 10 percent purse increase went into effect on Saturday, March 7.

AQHA champion trainer award after that victory and I’ve been champion trainer every year since then.”

Jones’ first stakes win ever came in the California Sires Cup Derby with Beinbetter on July 25, 1993 at Los Alamitos. His first ever futurity win was not at the Orange County oval. Instead it came in the Northern California Fairs Futurity with Hitarun on September 1, 1997. Hitarun, which Paul owned and trained, would give him a derby win at Los Alamitos in the 1998 PCQHRA Breeders Derby. Like Whosleavingwho, both of those horses and victories are very special to the trainer.

“I still have Hitarun,” Jones said. “He’s at my ranch in Temecula. I kept Beinbetter at my New Mexico ranch after his racing was over. He stayed there until he passed away about four or five years ago.

Los Alamitos Race My biggest goal in racing now is to do as Course, Cypress, CA much as we can with our 2-year-olds. I also February 28 hope that we can keep winning chamJones reaches 300-stakes win pion trainer awards, but each year it gets milestone at Los alamitos tougher and tougher. It was hard to get Paul Jones became only the second there (champion trainer) and it’s harder trainer to win 300 stakes races at Los to stay there. There’s good Quarter Horse Alamitos after Zigfield Follies posted a half racing all over the country now. You can length victory in the $15,000 Elan Again win big races for good money in a lot of Handicap. The victory takes Jones to a different places nowadays. milestone level that only the legendary “I’ve also been fortunate as a breeder,” Hall of Fame Quarter Horse trainer Blane Jones said. “We bred an AQHA champion Schvaneveldt had previously reached at in Foose and bred (in partnership with Los Alamitos. Schvaneveldt is the all-time Thompson Racing) Favorite Cartel, who leader in stakes wins here with 387. also had an outstanding racing career.

For Jones, the win is another great moment in a career filled with many. He is Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leader in money earned with more than $76.4 million and second in victories with 3,838. Of those wins, 3,325 have come at Los Alamitos, including many of his most memorable stakes victories.

“I think the most special stakes win for me is my first Champion of Champions with Whosleavingwho in 2002,” Jones said. “I feel like it was the start Paul Jones wins 300th stakes race after Zigfield Follies took of all the success that the Elan Again Handicap at Los Alamitos Feb. 28.

I’ve had. I won my first Photo courtesy of Los Alamitos Race Course 18 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

We’ve been pretty lucky breeding horses considering that we have a small number of mares.”

Having won virtually every major race in the sport, Jones still dreams of the ultimate accomplishment in racing.

“That would be winning either the Quarter Horse racing Triple Crown at Los Alamitos (Ed Burke Million Futurity, Golden State Million Futurity, and Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity) or the Triple Crown in Ruidoso (Ruidoso Futurity, Rainbow Futurity, and All American Futurity). Winning a Triple Crown is the biggest thing you can do in this business.”

Ridden by Cesar De Alba, Zigfield Follies was second at the start of the Elan Again before pulling away to a halflength victory over Ed Allred’s Girls Can Fly. An allowance winner in her last start, Zigfield Follies earned $8,250 for winning the Elan Again. The 4-year-old mare by One Famous Eagle ran in the Grade 1 Southern California Derby last year. A winner of four of 10 starts, she’s earned $32,516 in her career. Girls Can Fly earned $3,375 for running second. Bearing A Secret, Mrs Pickens, Ronas Runner, and California Gurl completed the field.

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR February 28 Oaklawn approved to add two days to racing season The Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved a request by Oaklawn Saturday to add two Wednesdays to its 2015 Racing Season – March 18 and March 25 – to compensate for days lost to weather.

“We are simply trying to

make the best of a bad situation,” Oaklawn General Manager, Eric Jackson said. “The last two weeks have been hard on everyone – racing fans, horsemen, jockeys, employees, Oaklawn itself – as well as local businesses. The two additional days means we will essentially be racing five days a week for the last month of our season.

That is not ideal, but under these stressful circumstances, we believe it is the best option.”

Oaklawn management presented the additional dates idea to horsemen Saturday morning, and after their receiving full support, made the request to the Racing Commission at an already scheduled meeting. Management and horsemen also agreed to bring back the $75,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes, Friday, March 6, and the $75,000 Nodouble Stakes Sunday, March 8.

Steve Hobby, a top trainer at Oaklawn, who has been meeting with track officials daily this past week, said the horsemen recognize what Oaklawn is trying to do.

“They’ve been on the track night and day for almost two weeks now, trying to save racing,” said Hobby. Offering to come up with two additional race days is really appreciated, and reflects on the great working relationship horsemen have with Oaklawn management.”

The two additional days will result in a 53-day race season if there are no additional cancellations.

The 2015 live season continues through Saturday, April 11 when it culminates with the $1 million Arkansas Derby (Grade 1) and three other stakes.

February 22 oaklawn announces second purse increase

For the second time this race meet, Oaklawn will

increase all overnight purses between $1,000 and $3,000 starting Thursday, Feb. 26.

Maiden Special Weights and Allowances races are increasing by $3,000, bringing maidens to $64,000 and Allowances to as high as $69,000.

Oaklawn, which has among the highest average field size in the country currently with 9.6 horses per race through Feb. 21, has enjoyed increases in off-track wagering as well as strong business in its newly expanded game room despite losing four race days to winter weather. A meet high 24,000 turned out for the races Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 “Despite some unfortunate winter weather, I wouldn’t trade places with any other racing secretary right now,” said Racing Secretary Pat Pope. “We appreciate the support of our horsemen and the cooperation they showed in having to reschedule such an important 3-year-old prep race as the Southwest Stakes. I’m really excited about our racing program heading into the later part of the season.”

The 2015 Oaklawn season continues through Saturday, April 11 when it culminates with the $1 million Arkansas Derby (Grade 1).

Meadows. The 38-day meet got underway Oct. 12 and Opening Day saw a huge throng of fans show up to see racing return to the Rose City. Spot of Salt ran his local record to 4 for 4 when he won the $9,800 Frog Lake Handicap for jockey Jose Zunino who had three winners on the Opening Day program.

Jockey Leonel CamachoFlores won two races on Opening Day and didn’t stop there. The 31-year-old native of Zacatecas, Mexico cruised to a big win in the Thoroughbred jockey standings this season scoring 70 winners, 30 more than Javier Matias who finished second with 40 winners. Jockey Jennifer Whitaker finished up third with 36 wins, hitting a very solid 25 percent clip.

November might have brought the rainy season, but it also brought trainer Sylvea Gregory and jockey Sahin Civaci to Portland Meadows for the first time. They showed up with two year old Oh Derek who dominated the $20,000 Willamette River Stakes and Lady Henrietta who scored in the $21,700 Mt. St. Helens Stakes on November 2nd. Gregory would bring Oh Derek back on Nov. 30 to win the Foster Lake Handicap and he would finish second on New Year’s Day in the East Lake Handicap.

In mid-November Portland Meadows would change the racing schedule by moving Wednesday racing to Tuesdays and the move would show immediate benefits as the first Tuesday card handled $686,155, the highest handle of Portland Meadows, the meet to that point.

Portland, OR Many handicappers made march 2 lots of money betting on the A look back at the 2014- races, but some even took 15 Portland meadows home huge prizes through free season contests from Portland MeadWhen Run Atom and Jenni- ows. Dan Camoro of Tigard, fer Whitaker crossed the finish Oregon took home $3,200 by line in front in the 9th race on winning Portland Meadows Tuesday, it capped off the 68th Sunday Football Challenge season of live racing at Portland Contests on Nov. 23 by correctSureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 19

Above left, Memphis Mobster and Spot of Salt finish the Detroit Lake Handicap in a dead-heat, November 2014; above right, Sportive takes the Portland Mile through heavy fog, January 2015.

Photo courtesy of Portland Meadows

ly picking 4 race winners and 3 football game winners. Just a few weeks later, Jamey Harris of Portland, Oregon outlasted 1,201 players to win the $4,500 top prize in the Portland Meadows ShowVivor Contest.

November ended with one of the most exciting finishes of the year as Memphis Mobster and Spot of Salt dead-heated for the win in the $9,700 Detroit Lake Handicap. The two were nose and nose the entire way down the stretch and when they hit the wire, even a digital picture couldn’t separate them and both shared in the top honors. Memphis Mobster was trained by Rigoberto Velasquez who ran away with the training title this season, scoring 43 wins and hitting at a remarkable 34 percent. He nearly tripled his competition in earnings as he racked up $213,371 in

20 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

total earnings from his horses.

Velasquez’ Rancho Viejo Stables along with his partner Lisa Baze were the leading owners with nine wins from 17 starts.

December brought along one of the best days in Oregon racing each year, Oregon Championship Day, which was carded on December 14th. It’s a day where the Oregon-bred shines and thousands of fans poured in to watch the races and also partake in the annual Oregon Craft Beer Fest. Oregon Championship Day proved to be a memorable one for jockey Kassie Guglielmino who scored a victory in the $33,900 Baxter Andruss Futurity aboard Lil Touch of Dixie. Jockey Raymundo Torres was initially listed as the rider but couldn’t make it to the track that day. So Guglielmino picked up the mount on a horse she’d never ridden

before and scored the biggest win of her young career.

Kozzy’s Kitkat took home the top honors in the $13,000 Janet Wineberg Stakes for the fillies on Oregon Championship Day while Hornfel won the $13,000 Wineberg Stakes for the colts and geldings. Suddenly Adele went wire to wire to score in the $11,000 Oregon Hers Stakes for 3-year-old fillies while Stoney River turned in a big run to win the $11,000 Oregon His Stakes for three year-old colts and geldings. Carl Command bested his rivals in taking the $11,000 Lethal Grande Oregon Sprint Championship.

As the holidays passed and New Year’s approached, Portland Meadows welcomed a new voice to the track as Travis Demers took over the role as track announcer. Demers took over for Jason Beem who left after eight and half seasons as the voice of Portland Meadows to announce at Louisiana Downs.

The New Year started out with a bang as the Jan. 1, 2015 card was loaded with stakes events and was a preview of what we’d see on Portland Mile Day. Sportive scored a big 22/1 upset to win the $9,800 Crater Lake Handicap, which served as the local prep for the Portland Mile. Society Girl had a very strong season this year

at Portland Meadows including a pair of stakes wins. She took home the $9,600 Crescent Lake Handicap on New Year’s Day and had the third most earnings of any horse at the track this season with $23,670.

The $37,400 Portland Mile is Portland Meadows Signature Event and this year Sportive won the race, but under most unusual circumstances. A massive layer of January fog settled in over Portland Meadows on Portland Mile Day, making it nearly impossible for fans to see much beyond a hundred feet or so. So when the gates popped open, the crowd roared and then the horses immediately ran into the fog. For the next minute or so, everyone waited with anticipation for the horses to arrive into the stretch. As they came inside the final furlong and came out of the haze, it was the blue and yellow silks of Sportive who were in front.

Sportive led all horses at the track this year with $26,811 in earnings for owner/trainer Jackie Smith.

As the season came to its final week in early February, the newly turned three year olds took center stage with the $20,000 Oregon Derby on February 8th. Three Sixteen and Matt Hagerty went wire to

wire to win the Oregon Derby for trainer Debora Fergason.

The other big news of closing weekend was the launch of Instant Racing at the Colt Club. One hundred and fifty Instant Racing terminals are available at the Colt Club joining Off Track Betting as your ways to play daily at Portland Meadows until the next live race meet.

cently retired Rosie Napravnik.

Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award is one of the most highly coveted honors in all of racing as it recognizes million (est.) purse. The Ruidoso those riders whose careers Derby has an $800,000 (est.) and personal character earn purse. esteem for both the individual In conjunction with these and the sport of Thoroughderbies are three $100,000 bred racing. stakes: the Mr Jess Perry, the Born Oct. 27, 1969, Corona Cartel and the First Luzzi was raised in-part by Down Dash. his grandfather, legendary The All American Gold trainer Buddy Raines, who also Cup will again have a $200,000 trained one of Luzzi’s biggest purse. It was raised from early stakes winners–Timely $40,000 to $200,000 last year Warning, with whom Luzzi Mike Luzzi and awarded Grade 1 status.

Photo courtesy of ©Benoit Photo won the 1991 Maryland MilThe Zia Derby offers one of the lion Classic at Pimlico and Ruidoso Downs, NM largest purses during Zia FestiGrade I Brooklyn Handicap at prentice jockey in 1989, has February 24 val weekend, July 25 and 26.

Aqueduct. Luzzi was also the been named the winner of Ruidoso Downs’ Zia The Zia Festival combines winner of New York’s prestiNew Mexico-bred racing with a the 2015 Santa Anita George gious Mike Venezia Memorial Derby up 42 percent, Woolf Memorial Jockey Award Jockey Award in 2001. grandstand fi lled with vendors shows continued purse by a nationwide vote of his With 26,540 career strength for older horses selling southwestern wares. The peers.

Zia Festival weekend has grown mounts, Luzzi has won 3,420

by Ty Wyant A 45-year-old native of into one of the most popular races and his mounts have The continued strength Wilmington, Delaware, Luzzi weekends of the summer generated purse earnings of in the older horse division at has stood the test of time and $108,218,039. season.

Ruidoso Downs includes New has enjoyed a highly successLuzzi and his wife Tania Mexico-breds with the 2015 Zia ful career riding primarily reside in Floral Park, New York, For complete Ruidoso Downs’ Derby up 42 percent through in the Mid-Atlantic region, and they have a daughter, information, go to www.racthe most recent payment.

Maryland and New York. It is Larue, 14, and son, Lane, 16, eruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso The Zia Derby projects to expected that Luzzi will travel who is preparing to become a Downs Race Track and Casino pay the all-time record purse of west to Santa Anita to accept jockey.

Facebook page and follow the $170,000. The previous stanthe award in either March or The Woof Award was Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPresdard was $140,143 set in 2012.

April. created to honor and memosBox) on Twitter.

“The Zia Derby purse is Sidelined due to a broken rialize the legendary jockey another example of how the leg and fractured pelvis susGeorge “the Iceman” Woolf, strength and depth of our tained in a paddock accident who was regarded as one stakes program for older horses at Aqueduct on Nov. 2, Luzzi of the greatest big money continues to have a positive outpolled four other finalists; riders of his time. Woolf died impact on Ruidoso Downs and James Graham, Leslie Mawing, following a spill, which has quarter horse racing,” said RuCorey Nakatani and the reoften been attributed to the idoso Downs General Manager Santa Anita Race Park, Shaun Hubbard. “It also shows Arcadia, CA our dedication to the growth of New Mexico-bred racing. Of February 24 Mike Luzzi wins 65th course, none of this happens uqua Tax and without the owners’ and breed- annual santa anita Financial Management ers’ participation.”

George Woolf Memorial The record-setting Zia Anna Fuqua Jockey award, popular Enrolled Agent Derby joins the superlative Delaware native elected anna.fuqua@hotmail.com numbers for the Grade 1 open derbies this summer at Ruidoso by nationwide vote of Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 • 575-937-6849 Downs. The All American Derby his peers Tax Preparation • Bookkeeping Mike Luzzi, America’s has a $2.3 million (est.) purse.

Business Startup • Payroll Services Eclipse Award-winning apThe Rainbow Derby has a $1

F

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 21

effects of diabetes, on Santa Anita’s Club House turn Jan. 3, 1946. The Woolf trophy is a replica of the full-size statue of the late jockey which adorns Santa Anita’s Paddock Gardens area.

The inaugural Woolf Award winner, which was determined by a vote of the Racing Press, was Gordon Glisson. Last year’s Woolf Award was won by Corey Lanerie.

February 20 Santa Anita spring stakes schedule announced; six Grade 1 stakes, headed by $500,000 Gold Cup on June 27, highlight 38day meet which runs from April 25 through June 28

Santa Anita Park has announced its 2015 Spring Stakes schedule, which will run from April 25 through June 28 and be highlighted by six Grade I events, including the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27.

In addition to its impressive roster of Grade I stakes, Santa Anita will present 15 Grade 2 or Grade 3 events and a total of 35 stakes over the course of the 38-day Spring stand.

As a result of the closure of Hollywood Park in December, 2013, Santa Anita will be conducting its second Spring Meeting, which comes on the heels of the completion of its current Winter Meet, which

runs through April 19.

Along with the mile and a quarter Gold Cup at Santa Anita for three year olds and up, the track will offer the following Grade 1 events: The $300,000 Vanity Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on May 9; the $300,000 Gamely Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 25; the $400,000 American Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 ¼ miles on turf May 30; the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (turf ) for three year olds and up June 13, and the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes, for three year olds and up at seven furlongs June 27.

Long run as Santa Anita’s traditional closing day feature, the Grade 3, 1 ¾ miles (turf ) San Juan Capistrano Stakes will highlight the Spring Meet’s closing day June 28.

In order to view the complete 2015 Spring Meet stakes schedule, please visit santaanita.com/stakes-schedule.

Turf Paradise, Phoenix, AZ February 16 Wiener dog races return to Turf Paradise March 14

They may not run as fast as the Thoroughbreds at Turf

With as much heart as the Thorougbreds, these Wiener dogs put on quite a show for the fans.

Photo courtesy of Turf Paradise

Paradise but they have heart.

Wiener Mania returns to Turf Paradise Saturday March 14. Sponsored by Arizona Adopt a Greyhound, the event features Wiener Dog races from noon to 5 p.m. Hundreds of dogs and their owners are entering what is becoming a premiere race in the Wiener Dog circuit That’s in addition to a full card of live horse racing. The day also features $2 hot dogs and $2 beer, live music and bounce inflatables for the kids.

Just before the Wiener Dog races there will be a “Parade of Wieners” in which the Wiener Dogs will walk down the stretch on the horse track.

There is also a Wiener Dog Costume Contest Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said,

“These Wiener dogs have heart and an impressive following. I just hope the horses don’t get jealous.”

Sunday, March 15 is Dollar Day. Grandstand admission is a dollar. So are programs, hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream and sodas. There will also be live music and $2 beer.

On March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, fans can wear a little green and save a lot of green.

Grandstand admission is free and draft beer is $2. Turf Paradise will also be offering a corned beef and cabbage special in the Clubhouse and Turf Club.

Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956 and has operated at the same location (19th Avenue and Bell) ever since making it Arizona’s first sports franchise.

Providing Multimedia, Advertising, Marketing and Design Services P.O. Box 7261  Ruidoso, NM 88355 575.937.9330  By appointment only 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB PHOTO CREDITS: ARIZONA: Turf Paradise: Coady Photography aRkansas: Oaklawn Park: Coady Photography caLIFoRnIa: Del Mar: © Benoit Photo Golden Gate Fields: Vassar Photography Los Alamitos Race Course: Scott Martinez Santa Anita Race Park: © Benoit Photo coLoRado: Arapahoe Park: Coady Photography FLoRIda: Hialeah Park: Coady Photography IoWa: Prairie Meadows Racetrack: Jack Coady/ Coady Photography LouIsIana: Delta Downs: Nicole Walker/Coady Photography Evangeline Downs Racetrack: Courtesy of Evangeline Downs Fair Grounds: Hodges Photography Louisiana Downs: Natalie Glyshaw/ Hodges Photography mInnesota: Canterbury Park: Coady Photography neW meXIco: Ruidoso Downs Race Track: Ty Wyant/ Roberta Harris/Todd Fuqua Sunland Park: Coady Photography SunRay Park: Coady Photography The Downs at Albuquerque: Coady Photography Zia Park: Coady Photography okLaHoma: Remington Park: Dustin Orona Photography Will Rogers Downs: Courtesy of Will Rogers Downs oRegon: Portland Meadows: Courtesy of Portland Meadows teXas: Lone Star Park: Dustin Orona Photography Retama Park: Courtesy of Retama Park Sam Houston Race Park: Coady Photography WasHIngton: Emerald Downs: Courtesy of Emerald Downs

We Be Stormin

ARKANSAS

victories. “The last race, I won on the horse, and I know the horse doesn’t like to be too much on the inside. I knew the horse was much better moved to the outside.”

We Be Stormin and Rock City Roadhog matched strides throughout much of the stretch. The 2-1 favorite held a narrow advantage on the inside in the final furlong, Oaklawn Park, but We Be Storminbattled back to get up in Hot Springs, AR the final stride.

Rock City Roadhog finished a length march 8 in front of Best of Birdstone, who was folWe be stormin captures lowed, in order, by Uneven Score, Bumpy Nodouble Cat, Mallard’s Bro, Rattlesnake Holler, Bud We Be Stormin caught favored Rock City Roadhog on the outside in the shadow Ro, He Is a Roadster and Dancing Stone.

We Be Stormin, the 3-1 second choice, of the wire to win the $75,000 Nodouble paid $8.60, $4.60 and $3.20. Rock City Breeders’ Stakes by a nose on a rainy SunRoadhog paid $4.40 and $3.60. Best of day afternoon at Oaklawn.

Birdstone paid $11.60.

The 6-furlong Nodouble was originally We Be Stormin ran 6 furlongs over a scheduled to be run Feb. 28, but postsloppy track in 1:12.20 and increased his poned because of severe winter weather. career earnings to $97,300. It was his third The Nodouble was restricted to Arkansasvictory in four starts. bred colts and geldings, 3-year-olds and The gelding is trained by Al Cates and upward. races for the Arkansas-based Hogwild We Be Stormin represented the secStables. ond winner on the card for jockey Ramon Vazquez, who also guided the Storm and march 7 a Half gelding to a one-length victory against state-bred allowance company Jan. sarah sis tastes sweetness in 25.

Honeybee Although We Be Stormin was caught This girl named “Sarah” finally had a seven-wide turning for home in the Noreason to smile. double, Vazquez said he believed the geldJoe Ragsdale’s Sarah Sis notched ing was more comfortable being outside her first career stakes victory, holding horses. off Oceanwave by a half-length in the “A little wide,” said Vazquez, Oaklawn’s $150,000 Honeybee (Grade 3) for 3-yearsecond-leading rider this year with 25 old fillies Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 23

24 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Sarah Sis

Sarah Sis had teased trainer Ingrid Mason in three previous stakes attempts, including two at Oaklawn, when she was beaten a neck by unbeaten Promise Me Silver in the $100,000 Dixie Belle Jan. 15, and, in her two-turn debut, a head by champion Take Charge Brandi in the $100,000 Martha Washington Jan. 31.

But Sarah Sis broke through in the Honeybee, inheriting the lead from a legweary Super Saks turning for home under Julio Felix.

Oceanwave, who ran greenly in the stretch, closed strongly to finish second, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Pangburn.

Oceanwave was the actual betting favorite, although the top three finishers all went off 5-2.

Purr, Bootsy’s Girl, Desert Valley, Indian Annie and Super Saks completed the order of finish. Promise Me Silver was scratched.

Sarah Sis paid $7.80, $3.60 and $2.80. Oceanwave paid $4.40 and $3. Pangburn paid $2.40.

Sarah Sis, who carried 117 pounds, ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:46.94.

Mason and Felix said the race unfolded exactly the way they believed it would, with the ultra-fast Super Saks setting blazing early fractions.

Gentlemen’s Bet

“When I knew that filly would be long gone, I thought she’d (drop) anchor, and I thought we would have a good spot to track her,” Mason said.

Super Saks, exiting a frontrunning 11-length maiden victory sprinting, opened a seven-length advantage after running the first quarter in :22.92. Super Saks’ lead was six lengths after a half-mile in :46.36, but she began to tire on the second turn.

Sarah Sis, six lengths behind after a half-mile, began to reel in Super Saks on the outside on the second turn and took command in the upper stretch.

Sarah Sis was five lengths clear in midstretch and held Oceanwave safe in the final yards.

“I wasn’t worried about her,” Felix said, referring to Super Saks. “I knew she was going too fast up there, because my filly broke like a rocket. When she opened up on me, my filly kind of got off the pace and I was pretty happy at that point.”

Sarah Sis increased her career earnings to $203,000 following her third victory from six lifetime starts. The daughter of Sharp Humor also ran second in last fall’s $100,000 ArlingtonWashington Lassie Stakes at Arlington. Mason said Sarah Sis

Gentlemen’s Bet ran third in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) in November 2013, but didn’t start last year The “Gent” is back because of a foot problem.

After missing 2014 with The 6-year-old son of Half an injury, Gentlemen’s Bet Ours finished third, beaten returned to the winner’s circle a half-length, in his Feb. 14 for the first time in almost comeback race against allow21 months in the $100,000 ance foes. Gentlemen’s Bet Hot Springs Stakes for older weakened late after setting the sprinters Saturday afternoon at pace that day. But he was able Oaklawn. to successfully track the frontUnder Ramon Vazquez, runner Saturday.

Gentlemen’s Bet outlasted 3-5 Ivan Fallunovalot carved favorite Ivan Fallunovalot in a out blistering fractions of :21.61 stretch-long duel to win the for a quarter-mile and :44.58 for Hot Springs by 1 ¼ lengths. a half-mile.Gentlemen’s Bet en“Today was a class check gaged Ivan Fallunovalot on the more than it was a time check,” outside turning for home and winning trainer Ron Moquett wore down the front-runner in said. the final furlong.

Ivan Fallunovalot, who “He’s a nice horse,” Vazquez made the lead after a sharp said. “I asked him to settle break under Hall of Fame behind the pace and he did it jockey Calvin Borel, finished 5 ¼ perfectly. lengths ahead of Apprehender.

When we turned for home, Unbridled’s Note, Heaven’s I asked him to run and he dug Runway, Zee Bros and Louies in and ran for me. He’s a really Flower completed the order great horse, and I’m glad he got of finish. Carrying 115 pounds this win today.”

– seven less than Ivan FalluThe Hot Springs moved novalot – Gentlemen’s Bet ran the career record of Gentle6 furlongs over a fast track in men’s Bet to 7-0-4 in 12 starts 1:09.67. and increased his earnings The Hot Springs marked to $543,200. Moquett said he the first victory for Gentlewould confer with owner Harry men’s Bet since the $125,000 Rosenblum of Little Rock, Ark., Iowa Sprint Handicap June on his next start but that the 28, 2013, at Prairie Meadows. $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint

“very possibly” will make her next start in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (Grade 3) April 4.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 25

Pistolpackinpenny

Handicap (Grade 3) April 9 is under consideration.

Gentlemen’s Bet ran third in the 2013 Count Fleet, his first loss in four lifetime starts.

Moquett also saddled Far Right, co-owned by Rosenblum, to win the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 19 and the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (Grade 3) Feb. 22. Far Right is scheduled to make his next start in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (Grade 1) April 11.

March 6 Favored Fires’ family filly sweeps to Oaklawn Stakes victory

Trainer Jinks Fires and wife Penny had another reason to celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary Friday.

Favored Pistolpackinpenny swept to the lead with a sixwide move turning for home en route to a record-breaking victory in the $75,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes before an announced crowd at Oaklawn.

The 6-furlong race – restricted to Arkansas-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward – was originally scheduled to be run Saturday, Feb. 28, but was postponed six days because of severe winter weather.

Under Jon Court, the Fires’ 26 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Far Right

son-in-law, Pistolpackinpenny finished 6 ¾ lengths ahead of front-running Miss Beautiful, who nosed out Easter Shoes for the place. It was the largest margin of victory in the history of the Downthedustyroad, first run in 2010.

“We were looking for this win today for more reasons than one,” Court said. “But it really puts icing on that cake.”

The slight 2-1 favorite over Jan’s Perfect Star, Pistolpackinpennypaid $6.40, $4 and $2.60.

Miss Beautiful paid $7.60 and $3.60. Easter Shoes paid $2.20.

Easter Indy, Jan’s Perfect Star, Pink Flash, Sweet Ruby Kate and Little Miss Flurry completed the order of finish Be My Caroline, Faith Rising, Huggins and Kissin, Miss Addicate and Sugar Run Wild were late scratches.

Under 117 pounds, Pistolpackinpenny ran 6 furlongs over a good-rated track in 1:11.70.

Court said the race unfolded perfectly for Pistolpackinpenny, who was coming off a strong runner-up finish in state-bred allowance company at a mile Feb. 19. Following a sharp break from post 8, Court took Pistolpackinpenny off the demanding pace set by byMiss Beautiful (:45.97 half-mile).

Pistolpackinpenny began ad-

the final turn, dropped to the inside nearing the furlong marker and dug in gamely to prevail by three-quarters of a length over longshot The Truth Or Else, who came from last to nose out Mr. Z for second. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:47 2/5 over a sloppy track.

The graded stakes-placed Bold Conquest, making his 3-year-old debut was fourth.

Hillbilly Royalty, Majestico, Private Prospect, Bayerd, Phenomenal Phoenix, Kantune and Bold February 22 Animaux completed the order Far Right wins again in of finish.

Southwest Stakes Winning owner Harry It was déjà vu for the Rosenblum, who co-owns the connections of Far Right as Notional colt with Robert Lathey watched their colt repeat Penta, said he and trainer Ron the same performance that Moquett would let Far Right tell won him the Jan. 19 Smarty them when his next race would Jones Stakes by ducking to be, but felt it was likely they the inside and coming up the would skip the $750,000 Rebel rail to prevail in the $300,000 Stakes (Grade 2) March 14 and Southwest Stakes (Grade 3). point instead toward the $1 The win earned Far Right 10 million Arkansas Derby (Grade points towards Kentucky Derby 1) April 11. The Rebel Stakes eligibility and moved him up to is now 20 days away after the sixth-place on the leaderboard. Southwest had to be postRidden for the second poned six days due to winter straight race by Hall of Famer weather.

Mike Smith, Far Right settled Far Right has now imtoward the back of the field as proved his record to 3-2-2 in slight favorite Mr. Z led the field eight career starts and has through opening fractions of earned $425,766. He returned :23 3/5 and :47 4/5 for the first $7.40, $3.40 and $2.80 as half mile. The winner angled the 5-2 second choice in the out four wide midway around 11-horse field. vancing on the leaders six-wide late on the turn and quickly turned a 3 ¼ deficit entering the stretch into a commanding advantage in the final furlong.

A 5-year-old daughter of Portobello Road, Pistolpackinpennyincreased her career earnings to $165,203 following her fourth victory from 20 starts. The Downthedustyroad was Pistolpackinpenny’s third career victory at Oaklawn.

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Spring Included

Mufajaah

We sat off them and she did her 3). Thanks in part to Grade 1 February 20 Favored Spring Included thing. She really likes competi- winners Don’t Tell Sophia and tion and I thought if anybody Tiz Miz Sue, the 2013 runnerwins Spring Fever

race that the plans are to retire Mufajaah to Shadwell Farm’s broodmare band. However, he was flying late, that was the up, the Bayakoa carried graded wouldn’t be disappointed if It may not have felt much only way they would beat her. status for the first time this year. those plans changed. like Spring on the track, but it If one of them were to inch up “Sheikh Hamdan’s been a Mufajaah raced in last place certainly didn’t bother the aptly to her, she would feel them and as Call Pat led through opengreat client for me,” said Peitz. named Spring Included who respond. Late (in the race), I “I’m just happy that we could ing fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 made winning her first career just made her see that horse to 3/5 for the first half mile. Gold win a graded stake with this stakes race look easy when the outside of her and she kept Medal Dancer assumed the lead filly. I know she loves Oaklawn. she prevailed in the $100,000 on. She’s a fun one to ride and Maybe the general manager, as the field rounded the turn Spring Fever Stakes by 1 ¾ really tries for you.”

Rick Nichols, will have a little for home, but at the same time, lengths. Sent off as the 5-2 “It went exactly the way talk with ‘The Boss’ and see if the winner was finding her favorite off a runner-up effort the way it was supposed to,” best stride and dug in willingly we can talk him into leaving last out in the American Beauty added trainer Steve Hobby, her here and letting us run her to win by a neck over Flashy Stakes, the winner returned who said the filly would now through the year. Just with the American. Gold Medal Dancer $7.20, $4 and $2.80. be pointed for the $100,000 held on for third. The final time Azeri and Apple Blossom here, Spring Included was Carousel Stakes April 8 at six it would be great if we could was 1:45 over a fast track. the first out of the gate, but furlongs. “We’re going to keep run in all four of these races.”

“I knew we had the right succeed the lead to longshot her sprinting. She’ll do about Mufajaah has now won kind of pace, at least an honGratzie for an opening quarter anything and run over anyfive of 12 starts and has earned est pace,” said winning trainer mile in :22 2/5. She began to $237,140.

The 4-year-old Tapit thing, but we’re just going to Danny Peitz. “It was definitely a take control around the turn filly returned $5, $3.20 and keep her sprinting.” little deeper field. There was a and once the field straightened $2.60 as the 3-2 favorite in the Owned by Alex Lieblong, little more quality in this race. out for the run to the wire, field of 10.

Spring Included, a 4-year-old She was still able to do her job.” she drew well clear to win in Include filly, improved her re“She broke towards the rail a final time of 1:04 4/5 for 5 ½ cord to 4-3-1 in 11 career starts a little bit at the start, but I just February 14 furlongs over a sloppy track. and has now earned $240,097. got her to relax and she started Golden Lad returns Heykittykittykitty, who broke picking up the bit on her own,” to Oaklawn a winner poorly and was last early, made February 18 added winning rider Manny in Essex a wide move around the turn Golden Lad, winless since to get within striking distance, Mufajaah scores second Esquivel. “I went wide in the straight win in Bayakoa second turn but she took care the Razorback Handicap (Grade but had to settle for second, of me. As soon as she changed 3) last March, returned to Following in the footsteps holding off the late charging leads she started picking it up of Don’t Tell Sophia, who won Oaklawn from his South Florida Haveyougoneaway by a nose. down the lane and was game both the Pippin and Bayakoa base and was equally impres“She did great,” said Stakes in 2013 and ’14, Shadwell for the win. She never gave up sive in winning the $100,000 winning rider Joe Rocco Jr. and galloped out great. She’s Farms’ Mufajaah repeated her “We thought we would go to Essex Handicap by 1 ¾ lengths an exciting filly to ride and I’m Pippin performance with an the lead, but the one horse over 4-5 favorite Ride On Curlin. thankful for the chance.” equally impressive win in the (Gratzie) did like I thought she Before an estimated crowd of Peitz had said before the might and we just sat off of her. $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (Grade 24,000, the winner completed SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 27

Golden Lad

the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:44 over a fast track. He returned $10, $4 and $3.40 at odds of 4-1.

Golden Lad, breaking from the outside post under leading rider Ricardo Santana Jr., quickly settled behind the first flight of horses as Rocket Time led through fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 3/5 for the first half mile. He began to gain momentum turning for home and easily passed Ride On Curlin late for the win. Longshot I Got It All, who had broken through the gate before the start, closed well to take third by a nose over For Greater Glory.

Jockey Jon Court, aboard Ride On Curlin, lodged an objection against Santana Jr., alleging interference at the start of the race, but it was not allowed by the stewards and the results stood.

Golden Lad, who races for E. Paul Robsham Stable LLC, has now won 6 of 11 starts and has earned $327,420. The 5-yearold Medaglia d’Oro was coming off a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 Hal’s Hope Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park, his first start since running eighth in the $300,000 Pimlico Special (Grade 3) May 16.

“We were disappointed in his first race back,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher via phone.

“He may have been a little 28 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

fresh off the layoff. We thought coming back here to Oaklawn would be a good idea.”

Pletcher said a return to Oaklawn is likely for Golden Lad. The $250,000 Razorback is March 14 and the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (Grade 2) is April 11.

CALIFORNIA

Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CA march 5 Baze breaks out of slump with riding double

Leading jockey Russell Baze, who notched just two wins from 19 mounts last week, kicked off this week’s racing at Golden Gate Fields with a riding double Thursday, March 5.

Baze had a case of “seconditis” last week as he finished as the runner-up in eight races.

The Hall of Famer wasted no time getting in the winner’s circle Thursday as he won the first race with Ninnavee ($3.40).

Baze sat out the second race, finished second aboard

Walloping Lula in the third race, and then captured the fourth race with Quetta’s Toy ($3.60).

Baze ended the afternoon 2-for-4 after finishing fifth aboard Romancemediscretly in the fifth race.

Jockey Carson Sullivan, who had a riding hat trick last Sunday, also had a riding double Thursday. Sullivan scored in back-to-back races, taking the fifth with Star Image ($4.20) and the sixth with Kakini ($28.80).

Trainer Ed Moger, Jr., saddled two winners Thursday – Sandy’s Journey ($13) in the third race and Kakini.

Moody ($8.60), and the seventh with I Will Follow ($11).

February 28 toruk makto takes wide route to winner’s circle

Toruk Makto covered more real estate than his six rivals but still managed to pull off a gutsy victory in the $31,994 allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields.

Toruk Makto broke from post seven in the 1 1/16-mile race for older horses and was forced to race wide around both the club house turn and the far turn. Once straightened away for the stretch drive, Toruk Makto outran his rivals to the march 1 wire to score by a head over Eagle Screams.

Moonshine Bay Tribal Jewel finished third, dominates in sprint a length behind the runner-up. feature Jockey Pedro Terrero rode The classy veteran Moonthe Jerry Hollendorfer-trained shine Bay led from start to Toruk Makto, who clocked a finish in dominating five rivals in the $31,541 sprint feature at time of 1:44.06 while earning his third victory in 15 career Golden Gate Fields.

Ridden by Ricardo Gonza- starts. Made the 9-5 favorite lez, Moonshine Bay immediate- by handicappers, Toruk Makto ly opened up a clear advantage paid $5.60.

Toruk Makto earned and never let his opponents $17,400 for the win and has get within a length while runbanked $133,915 in his 15 outning six furlongs in 1:10.70. A ings.

The 6-year-old gelding is Toast to You finished second, 1 owned in partnership

by Kevin 1/4 lengths behind Moonshine Nish, William Strauss, Skyline Bay and a nose in front of Fly Stables, Jason Litt and Alex Boy Roy. Solis II. Moonshine Bay was the Jockey Juan Hernandez third choice in the betting capitalized on some very live and paid $7.20 after collecting mounts to record a riding triple his 17th career victory. A very Saturday.

Hernandez captured consistent 7-year-old gelding, the third race with Pure ThunMoonshine Bay has finished in der ($4), the fourth with Madiba the money in 39 of his 48 career ($3.60), and the sixth with starts and Sunday’s $17,400 Jacksons a Bobcat ($3.40). payday increased his earnings to $411,177.

February 27 Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer trains Moonshine Bay $100,000 colt gets and owns the horse in partner- second win at golden gate Fields ship with Marvin Kirsner, Al Midnight Destiny, a KenMorrison, and George Todaro. tucky-bred colt who was purJockey Carson Sullivan chased as yearling for $100,000, had a riding hat trick Sunday.

Sullivan took the first race with notched his second career victory at Golden Gate Fields.

Kuuipo ($5.40), the third with

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Amber Bock

Midnight Destiny came from a few lengths off the pace to win the featured one-mile allowance race for 3-year-olds by three-quarters of a length over Senna, who was disqualified from second and placed fourth for drifting out and interfering with Many Routes in midstretch.

The disqualification elevated Private Joke from third-place to second and Many Routes from fourth-place to third.

Jockey Dennis Carr rode Midnight Destiny, who had finished sixth at odds of 42-1 in the California Derby in his previous outing on Jan. 17. Midnight Destiny dueled on the lead for the opening six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile Cal Derby before throwing in the towel.

Midnight Destiny, a son of Midnight Lute, entered the Cal Derby off a front-running victory in a one-mile maiden allowance contest. Changing to off-the-pace tactics Friday, Midnight Destiny completed his mile in 1:40.17 and paid $5 as the 3-2 favorite.

Midnight Destiny has two wins, a second and three thirds in eight career starts for trainer Tim McCanna. Owned by Jethorse LLC, Midnight Destiny earned $16,200 Friday and has banked $46,765 in his eight outings.

One Prompt JJ

Amber Bock has now posted three victories from 10 career starts and the $8,250 he earned in this race took his lifetime mark to $27,779. The Los Alamitos Race victory provided Flores with a great deal of optimism for Course, Cypress, CA the Steve Burns and Carroll march 1 Hooper-bred runner.

Amber Bock gets job “I think he’s going to be a done in separatist pretty good derby horse,” Flores Handicap said. “We made an equipment When Amber Bock ran in a change for this race after he trial to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos lugged out in the Winter Derby Winter Derby, the son of TR trials. He still drifted out a little Dasher led most of the way be- bit. We just need him to run fore fading to finish fifth in the straight. He has a lot of talent.

400-yard event. Juan Humberto I’m grateful that the owner Moya’s Amber Bock did not let gave me the opportunity with Sunday’s $15,000 Separatist his horses. I have a couple of Handicap become a repeat of 2-year-olds for him and some that trial race, as the colt was 3-year-olds as well. He loves first at the start once again and being a horseman and he loves continued powerfully on the his horses.” way to an impressive daylight Amber Bock covered the victory at Los Alamitos.

330 yards in :16.733.

Ridden by Cruz Mendez for Workouts for 2-year-olds trainer Jose Flores, Amber Bock will begin at Los Alamitos on enjoyed a big lead the entire the morning of Saturday, March race and eventually crossed 7 and Flores is ready to see the wire a length ahead of what the babies might have in Valentin Zamudio’s Spender. store for his racing operation.

Carvers Cold was third while “I have some babies for the 2014 Governor’s Cup Futurity Kindergarten Futurity that we’ll winner Discontent lugged in at start qualifying,” he said. “Hopethe start on the way to running fully we can do well again in fourth. First Down Tiny Man the Kindergarten.” completed the field while Los Flores saddled Old Girl to Alamitos Winter Derby finalist victory in last year’s KinderFace The Mark was scratched. garten.

“Old Girl is going to make her next start in the trials to the La Primera Del Ano Derby (on March 14),” he added. “She’ll need the start, but hopefully she can make the La Primera final.”

February 27 one Prompt JJ earns first california win in Florentine Handicap

Jorge Navarro’s One Prompt JJ, a winning machine in Idaho with five wins from her first seven career starts, enjoyed her first victory at Los Alamitos thanks to a powerful finish in the $15,000 Florentine Handicap for sophomore fillies.

Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, the daughter of Jesse James Jr was third at the start of the 330-yard race, but she took off from there on the way to a half-length victory over four-time winner Who Is Sylvia. Bred by Mark and Peggy Brown, One Prompt JJ covered the distance in :16.946 while earning her sixth win in 11 career starts.

One Prompt JJ was one of the top fillies at Les Bois Park last year. She won the $32,000 Idaho Cup Futurity and was third in the $40,000 Knight Transportation Futurity and fourth in the $150,000 Bitterroot Futurity. The filly made her way to Orange County for last SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 29

year’s trials for the Wild West Futurity. She ran second in the trials, but missed qualifying to the final. She then ran third in the Corona Chick Handicap and was fourth in a trial to the Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

“She came to my barn about seven weeks before the Winter Derby trials,” Flores said. “I wish I would have been able to run her once before the derby trials. I didn’t know much about it and she was still settling in. She got a little nervous in the paddock. She was a lot better tonight. She didn’t break that good, but she still left rolling. She finished impressively. I think she’ll get better and better and she likes the distance. We’ll run her once or twice more and hopefully in some handicap races. We’ll probably give her a break from there before bringing her back.

I think she’ll be a lot better as the year goes on.”

One Prompt JJ earned $8,250 for the win to take her lifetime earnings to $50,309.

“She behaved better tonight than (in the Winter Derby trials),” said Cruz Mendez, the track’s leading Quarter Horse jockey. “We worked a lot with her in the gates. She was a little nervous the last time, but she was a lot better tonight. She was acting nice when gates opened.”

Ed Allred’s Who Is Sylvia earned $3,375 for running second in this race. She was ridden

by Carlos Huerta for trainer Scott Willoughby. Double Bar S Ranch LLC’s Jess Cuz hit the board in her stakes debut, earning $1,875 for running third. Laters Baby, Its Tempting and The Perfect Love completed the field.

February 22 Energy Cartel enjoys a terrific Los alamitos maiden stakes victory

Parsons Family Limited Partnership’s Energy Cartel picked the perfect time to post 30 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

his first career victory, as the royally bred colt held off fastest qualifier Lucas Czech by a head to win the $100,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes.

Ridden by Tony Guymon for trainer Chris O’Dell, Energy Cartel was seventh after leaving the gate from post number five, but really took off at the midway point of the 350-yard race.

The Parsons-bred runner was all heart from there, winning for the first time in eight career starts. Energy Cartel came into the race with just $3,735 in earnings, but his sharp effort in the Maiden Stakes earned him $42,000. Sent off at 11-1 odds, Energy Cartel covered the distance in :17.709.

“That was a blast,” said R.J. Parsons, the grandson of late great Quarter Horse owners and breeders Jay and Polly Parsons. “You’ll win some and you’ll lose some in racing, but when you watch a race at Los Alamitos and there’s 10 horses flying at you and you see your horses pull to the lead and cross the wire first, you just can’t help to feel the excitement. My dad, Jay, and also John Parsons work with the horses in the ranch (in Sanger, California) and they send the horses to Chris O’Dell here at Los Alamitos. Chris does a great job getting them ready for these races. I remember coming to Los Alamitos in the early 1980s as a kid. There was no better feeling than going to the winner’s circle then and it’s the same today. We were screaming and yelling when the horse crossed the finish line. It just never gets old to win a race.”

The Parsons keep around 40 to 45 horses in Sanger, where one of the stars of the ranch is Terrific Energy. Under O’Dell’s tutelage, the mare won the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap and Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap in 2009.

“I’ve been lucky to have trained a lot of nice horses and

Energy Cartel

two of my favorite mares of all-time are Dashing Phoebe and Terrific Energy,” O’Dell said.

“They were great runner and great broodmares. I’m lucky to have their (sons and daughters) in my barn now. Terrific Energy is also the mother of Valiant Energy, who won the second race here earlier tonight.

“Energy Cartel has the license to be a decent horse.

He’s a Corona Cartel out of a nice mare like Terrific Energy and he’s still learning. I think he can still step up some more. He went to Ruidoso last year and he did not like the altitude. He bled. He came back here and it just took us a little time to get his confidence back. I’m glad for (Tony Guymon). He’s ridden this horse four times now and has won this race and piloted him to a couple of second place finishes. They make a good team.”

For Guymon, the Maiden Stakes represents his biggest victory at Los Alamitos.

“I won a claiming stakes race here,” he said. “I’ve ridden in New Mexico and Oklahoma, but I’ve always wanted to move to Los Alamitos to ride. I finally got a chance to do that.”

“Tony needed this win and so did I,” O’Dell said. “This is an important win for both of us.

He’s already won three of four races for me and hopefully we

can keep winning races together. I’m most thankful to the owners. The Parsons have stuck with me through the good times and the bad times. I’m so thankful for their support.”

Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Adriana Aceves, Lucas Czech earned $17,000 for running second for owner David Munguia. A colt by Corona Czech, the EG High Desert Farms-bred runner has finished in the top three in all four career starts. He was the second choice in the wagering at 7-2 odds. Isaias Esparza’s Cruel Ride earned $12,000 for running in third place. Tres Corona Cash, El Rey Coronas, A Mere Patron, Fire Fortune, Worth The Price, Runaway Fire and KR Showboat completed the field.

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CA march 8 Longshot Harlington’s Rose rallies from off pace under talamo to take the $100,000 Las Flores stakes

Underrated Harlington’s Rose rallied from off the pace to

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Harlington’s Rose

win Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes by three quarters of a length while covering six furlongs in 1:09.64 under Joe Talamo.

Trained by Steve Knapp, the California-bred filly by Harlington broke from the rail and lacked room while full of run into the far turn. Next to last, about three lengths off the lead at the quarter pole, she wheeled three-wide turning into the stretch to gradually inch away from runner-up Meinertzhageni inside the sixteenth pole.

“I didn’t really want the rail,” said Knapp. “As you could see, she got pinched at the three eighths pole and Joe had to stand on her. He had enough horse that he could go in between and go around, but it is what it is.

“She has developed. When she was two and three, she wanted to run off. Now, she’s learned how to relax behind horses and this has made her a much, much better horse.”

Off at 5-1 in a field of six older fillies and mares, Harlington’s Rose, who got her first graded stakes win, paid $12, $5 and $3. Owned by Thomas Halasz, Ryan Johnson, Paul Newhart and Martha Miller, she improved her overall mark to 21-4-5-2 and with the winner’s

Lost Bus

share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $371,040.

“You can put her in any spot and she’s definitely a good horse,” said Talamo, who’s ridden in her last four starts, beginning with a win in the Kalookan Queen Stakes on Dec. 28. “I was able to save some ground on the turn and she came out and just blasted off…

I was following Global Hottie (even money favorite with Victor Espinoza) and she came out at the half mile pole so I went inside and (Global Hottie) ducked back in so I had to take up a little bit, but fortunately, I had enough horse to get her momentum going again.”

Ridden by Fernando Perez, Meinertzhageni sat close into and around the far turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch while repelling a challenge to her inside from pacesetter Tribal Gal and held off Global Hottie and finished second by a head. Off at 5-1, she paid $6 and $3.

Sent from the number three post by Espinoza, Global Hottie couldn’t out-foot Track Gal early and opted to take back off the pace.

“I sent her, but we couldn’t go with Tribal Gal, so I decided to sit back and it didn’t work out,” said Espinoza. “She isn’t very aggressive when she’s in

out maiden winner at Santa behind horses.”

Trained by Bob Baffert, Anita on May 26, she notched Global Hottie paid $2.60 to show. her second win from her fourth start and with the winner’s cut March 6 of $34,800, increased her earnings to $105,400.

Lost Bus finds a way “She’s been in Florida all home and wins Dixie winter, ” said Heap. “After her last Pearl purse race at Del Mar, we took her to Although she was wide Kentucky for three weeks, we throughout, combacking Lost turned her out and just let her Bus was an impressive three run around on grass…She was quarters of a length winner of battling shins at Del Mar. She the $58,000 Dixie Pearl allowdidn’t like that track…I think ance feature as she covered six she’s going to be a mile on the furlongs in 1:10.67 under Mike grass type of horse, maybe a Smith.

Trained by Blake Heap, Lost stakes horse.”

Runner-up Easter Fever, Bus had been idle since Aug. who was a close second going 27 at Del Mar. Breaking from the outside post in a field of 10 into the far turn behind early pacesetter Grand Yodeler, took sophomore fillies, the 3-yearold California-bred daughter of command three off the fence Bring the Heat had two horses midway around the turn but beat going to the three eighths was no match for the winner late, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in pole, but was full of run while front of Alwazabridesmaid. about eight-wide around the Off at 13-1, Easter Fever paid turn and into the stretch.

“Given the trip she had, this $11.20 and $5.80.

Ridden by Corey Nakarace is a lot more impressive than the winning margin was,” tani, Alwaszabridesmaid saved ground while sixth at the quarsaid Smith. “I was really wide, really wide. I went into the turn ter pole and ran gamely for third wide and I stayed wide, I could money, paying $4.40 to show.

Jockey Martin Garcia, who never get in. It just worked out that Blake put me on a talented broke from the number six post position aboard Sheer Pleasure, horse. was unseated shortly after Owned by John R. Haagsthe break, but was uninjured. ma, Lost Bus was the second choice in the wagering and paid Sheer Pleasure, who stumbled badly leaving the gate, rallied $7.40, $5.20 and $3.60. A firstSureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 31

Heaven’s Stairway

Stellar Wind

A course specialist, the extremely wide to go under the wire by about four lengths clear Marty Jones-trained Heavens of the winner.

Stairway picked up her fifth lifetime win, all of them coming from six tries down the unique March 5 hillside layout. Off at 7-5 in a Heavily-favored field of nine older fillies and Heavens Stairway mares, she paid $4.80, $3.40 breezes down hillside and $2.80. A 5-year-old Caliturf to 3¼ length win fornia-bred mare by Decarchy, in $60,000 Santa Anita Heavens Stairway was bred by Allowance feature Joshua Litt and AJM Racing Confidently handled by and is owned by AJM Racing, Tyler Baze, heavily favored LLC and J B K Stable. In her 11th Heavens Stairway pounced on overall start, she picked up longshot pacesetter Mark of a $46,800 for the win, increasing Gem approaching the furlong her earnings to $183,560. pole and went on to an impresKool Kat sat third down sive 3 ¼ length win in Thursthe hill under a snug hold from day’s $60,000 allowance feature Santiago Gonzalez and finished at Santa Anita while covering 6 second, one length in front of a ½ furlongs down the track’s hill- fast finishing Grazenette. Off at side turf course in 1:11.98.

11-1, Kool Kat paid $9 and $6.20.

Well beaten after stumRidden by Joe Talamo, bling at the break in the Grazenette finished third, three Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare quarters of a length in front of Turf Sprint on Jan. 24, she broke pacesetting Mark of a Gem. Off sharply today and settled nicely at 12-1, Grazenette paid $5.20 behind splits of 21.67, 43.44 to show. and 1:06.25.

“She stumbled out of February 28 the gate last time (with Corey Newcomer Stellar Wind Nakatani up) and she didn’t have a very good trip that day,” best in $100,000 Santa said Baze, who is now a perfect Ysabel A one mile maiden winner three for three with her. “I had a on Dec. 18 at Laurel Park in great trip today. The pace was Maryland, Stellar Wind burst set up in front of me and I was sitting in a beautiful spot. She’s upon the Southern California racing scene at Santa Anita, as a very nice filly.”

she motored to an impressive 2 ¾ length win in the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes under Victor Espinoza. Trained

by John Sadler and owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, she swung four-wide turning for home and easily bested favored Light the City while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.16.

“John told me to come and work her so I could know her well,” said Espinoza. “I like her, she’s so smooth and the way she worked was so nice…I wanted to break and let her do whatever she wanted to do. I didn’t want to irritate her, just make her happy…They were walking up front so I had to press the pace by the threeeighths pole. She was just waiting for me to command her. I knew I could just shake the reins at her and she would just go. I think farther would be better for her.”

Breaking from the far outside in a field of seven 3-yearold fillies, Stellar Wind relaxed well but raced wide throughout behind fractions of 23.99, 48.63, 1:13.06 and 1:36.94. Off at 7-1, she paid $16.00, $8.60 and $5.20. A Virginia-bred daughter of Curlin, she got her second win in only her third career start. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she nearly tripled her earnings to $87,200.

32 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

“She’s trained really, really well,” said Sadler. “When she got here, her hair was about this long (holding his hands about four inches apart). It was so cold in Maryland, I think she was glad to get out here in this good weather.”

One of three Jerry Hollendorfer entrants, Light the City, who came off a second place finish in the Grade 1, one mile Las Virgenes on Jan. 31, sat second throughout under Kent Desormeaux at 2-1 and paid $3.60 and $2.40.

“We were similar in placement today to the Las Virgenes, but it was a completely different race,” said Desormeaux. “We were crawling today and really sprinted to the wire…She was full of run under the wire, but she had one that out-sprinted her. She’s obviously very good.”

Hollendorfer’s Glory, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, sat third into and around the far turn and was unable to improve her position, finishing third at 5-1 and returning $3.20 to show.

Hollendorfer ended up finishing two, three, four, as his Achiever’s Legacy, ridden by Gary Stevens, made a menacing move turning for home but had to settle for fourth, three quarters of a length behind Glory.

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Fantastic Style

Distinctiv Passion

Stellar Wind picked up 50 qualifying points for the Grade 1, 1 1/8 miles Kentucky Oaks (to be run May 1), while the second, third and fourth place finishers each received 20, 10 and five respectively.

gate to wire fashion, winning by 4 ¼ lengths under Edwin Maldonado while negotiating 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.33.

One of the quickest horses on the grounds, the 5-yearold Florida-bred horse by With Distinction weathered a driving rain and shook off runner-up Seeking the Sherif early through fractions of 21.58, 44.23 and 1:07.85 on a track labeled wet fast.

With no show wagering, Distinctiv Passion was off at 3-5 and paid $3.20 and $2.40.

“We were hoping this race would come off the turf,” said Maldonado. “We were hoping it would rain and then a few horses would scratch out of it. All of our prayers were answered when all the speed did scratch, so it was a nice easy pace. He was all by himself today.”

Owned by Edward J. Brown, Jr., Alan Klein and Phillip Lebherz, Distinctiv Passion, who ran a disappointing fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 2, six furlong Palos Verdes Stakes Jan. 31, improved his record to 15-7-1-4. The winner’s share of $45,480 increased his earnings to $393,660.

“He’s a very versatile horse,” said Bonde when asked whether or not he had concerns about running on an off track. “I’m not opposed to run-

too fast early on.”

Off at 1-2 in a field of six sophomore fillies, Fantastic Style, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, paid $3, $2.10 and $2.10. The winner’s share of $34,800 increased her earnings to $79,600.

February 26 The second choice at 5-2, Fantastic Style prevails Majestic Presence, who took in ‘Bean Bag’ allowance blinkers off following a fourth place run in the Grade 1 Las Virfeature; front-running genes Stakes Jan. 31, mounted filly holds off late charge a furious stretch rally from last

by Majestic Presence to and just missed while finishing win by a head 2 ¼ lengths in front of Lady Pressured early by longLake. Trained by Jerry Hollenshot Lady Lake, heavily favored dorfer, Majestic Presence paid Fantastic Style held off the late $2.80 and $2.20. charge of Majestic Presence to Ridden by Tyler Baze, Lady win Thursday’s $58,000 “Bean Lake, who pressed the winBag” allowance feature at Santa ner through splits of 22.68, Anita by a head while covering 45.75 and 1:09.73, finished 4 ¾ 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.23. Ridden lengths clear of Tall and Sweet

by Martin Garcia and trained and paid $3 to show.

by Bob Baffert, Fantastic Style followed up on a three length February 22 maiden win on Jan. 19 and Distinctiv Passion notched her second win in dominates weatherthree career starts for owner reduced Hernandez Kaleem Shah, Inc. under Maldonado “I wanted to put her in a Transferred from the stake that was longer, but this hillside turf course to the main race filled so I put her in here,” said Baffert. “I was going to run track earlier in the day, the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes her in the Santa Ysabel on Satproved to be low-hanging fruit urday, but I needed to run my other filly (Enchanting Lady)…I for trainer Jeff Bonde’s Distinctiv Passion, as he dominated think this filly will go a mile, that way she doesn’t have to go a field of four older horses in

ning him anywhere. When he’s good, then I go. He’s one of my favorite horses.”

While Distinctiv Passion broke from post position two, Seeking the Sherif, with Kayla Sta up, broke from the outside and was second the entire trip, finishing 4 ¾ lengths in front of Chief Lion. Claimed out of a $62,500 win by trainer Gus Headley on Feb. 1, he was off at 5-2 and paid $2.60 to place.

February 21 Course specialist Bettys Bambino rolls to victory in $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes

Course specialist Bettys Bambino sat close to the pace and rolled to a one length victory over favored Ambitious Brew in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes as he covered 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.65.

Second, less than a length off of pacesetter Pathway to Yes crossing the dirt at the top of the lane, Bettys Bambino, who is conditioned by Peter Eurton, was caught four-wide and quickly assumed command en route to his fourth consecutive win over the course.

“I had a lot of horse when we crossed the dirt, I was really comfortable,” said Garcia, who rode the 5-year-old Unusual SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 33

Bettys Bambino

Heat gelding for the fifth consecutive time. “I wanted a clean trip. He’s a really big horse and it’s better when I put him to the outside where he can run free.

He loves the downhill.”

The second choice, narrowly, at 5-2, Bettys Bambino paid $7.80, $4 and $2.60. Bred in California by Sharon Alesia, Joe Ciaglia and Michael Mellen, Bettys Bambino is out of the High Brite mare Brite Betty and is owned by Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC. The Sensational Star, for older horses bred or sired in California, marked his fifth win from six tries down the hill and was his sixth win from 10 lifetime starts. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $318,036.

“It’s been a great ride (winning four in-a-row with Bettys Bambino)” said Eurton. “I’d like

34 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Wild in the Saddle

to see him go a one-turn mile down the road. He’s had some issue with tibias, shins, little things like that. The neatest thing about him is he puts himself in a good spot. He could go to the lead any time he wants to, but he saves himself by pacing himself. If the pace is slow, he’ll be on the lead. If it’s fast, he’s able to rate himself without being very far off the lead.”

Idle since running a close seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 1, Ambitious Brew won last year’s Sensational Star, but was second best on Saturday. The actual favorite at 5-2, the Marty Jones trainee, who was ridden

by Brice Blanc, was sixth in a field of eight after a half mile and rallied five wide turning for home to finish 1 ½ lengths in front of Boozer and paid $3.80 and $2.40.

“It was a little strange,” said Gutierrez. “I’m not sure if My Sweet Addiction, who was in front of us, wanted the lead or not and it seemed like she was waiting on us. I was in a perfect position to decide where to go. My horse was relaxed right behind her and I was able to wait and see what she was going to do so I could make my move. It was a slow pace (23.46, 47.46, 1:12.19 and 1:24.84) so I had a lot of horse at the end.

The other horses didn’t seem to fire today.”

Off at 14-1 in a field of seven older fillies and mares, Wild in the Saddle paid $30.60, $7.80 and $3.80. Owned by Anderson and Ortiz, Wild in the Saddle February 20 picked up her seventh win from Longshot Wild in the 33 starts and with the winner’s Saddle moves through share of $46,800, she increased at rail to win $60,000 her earnings to $229,318.

Santa Anita allowance Heavily favored Taste Like feature Candy, appeared full of run As well fancied My Sweet going into the far turn but Addiction lugged out going was carried wide by My Sweet to the far turn, longshot Wild Addiction and finished second, in the Saddle, ridden by Mario a neck in front of her. Ridden Gutierrez for trainer Richard

by Kent Desormeaux and Baltas, slipped through at the dispatched at 4-5, Taste Like rail to assume command en Candy paid $2.80 and $2.10. route to a 1 ½ length victory in Ridden by Mike Smith, My Friday’s $60,000 allowance fea- Sweet Addiction finished third, ture at Santa Anita. A 6-year-old 4 ¼ lengths in front of Full RanCalifornia-bred mare by Silic, som. The choice in the wagerWild in the Saddle negotiated a ing at 2-1, My Sweet Addiction flat mile in 1:38.18. paid $2.40 to show.

“I was proud of him, he ran well,” said Jones. “Bettys Bambino is pretty sharp right now and (my horse) hasn’t run in a while. He ran a good race though, he’s a nice horse.”

Boozer, ridden by Gary Stevens, was a close fifth early and appeared to be in a position to win four-wide at the top of the stretch, but was third-best. Off at 3-1, he dead heated for the show with Spirit Rules and paid $2.20 to show.

Ridden by Iggy Puglisi, Spirit Rules vied for the early lead through fractions of 22.18, 44.00 and 1:06.68. Off at 22-1, he paid $3.80 to show.

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Madmax

Premier Ethics

FLORIDA

multiple-stakes winner Daytona B to a thrilling win over rival Jessies First Down in the $100,000-guaranteed Sam Abbey Memorial Invitational, also at 440 yards. Almanza saddled both winners for owner Gregorio Garcia Garza.

At the finish line, Moonin the Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Your First Moon), the 6-5 wagering favorite in a field of 10, was 1 ¼ lengths ahead of runner-up Louisiana Legends.

Moonin the Eagle covered 440 yards in 21.438 seconds. He earned $84,052 for the victory and increased his lifetime earnings to $177,215.

In the 2nd running of the Sam Abbey Memorial InvitaMarch 1 tional, even-money favorite Daytona B (First Down DashTrainer Almanza and Jockey Sanchez get pair Dashing Pana) opened up a clear early lead and held off of major stakes wins the furious charge of runnerTrainer Rolando Almanza and jockey Ramon Sanchez had up Jessies First Down to win by a neck. Daytona B ran 440 themselves a day to rememyards in 21.399 seconds, earned ber at Hialeah Park on Sunday $60,000, and upped his career afternoon, combining to win three of the five stakes races on earnings to $261,867.

The Almanza-Sanchez the ten-race card, including two of the most important races of tandem scored its first victory of the afternoon in one of three the season.

Sanchez, riding at Hialeah other stakes races on the card when owner Wade Helton’s Park for the first time, guided Moonin the Eagle to a convinc- Sweet N Salty rallied for a halflength win in the $22,500 Beauing victory in the $200,125 tiful Prairie Stakes for threeSouth Florida Quarter Horse Derby at 440 yards and piloted year-olds and up at 250 yards.

2, shattering that mark with an all-time high of $580,372.83 on March 1, and finishing with $561,535.40 on March 2.

“It was the effort of many that helped make this meet a success. But, in the end, we must thank the betting public,” Hialeah Park, said Director of Simulcasting Hialeah, FL Peter Aiello. “They have really supported us these last couple March 3 seasons and we truly appreciHialeah Park closes ate it. We’ve tried to get the out record-setting live message out there that we Quarter Horse meet really do have a very bettingMadmax and Premier Ethics friendly product. Thanks to the score victories in final two support of TVG and the continstakes races of the meet ued support of our simulcast Iconic Hialeah Park, known partners nationwide, we have been able to get more eyes the globe over as “the world’s watching and betting our races. most beautiful race course,” And, in the end I think that’s set a number of wagering records during the sixth season what made the difference. We’d certainly like to thank everyone of live Quarter Horse racing, which concluded with a special involved for a historic season.”

On the race track closnine-race program on Tuesday ing day, a pair of 3-year-olds, March 3.

With $411,016.82 wagered Madmax (Foose-Kathryns Cartel) and Premier Ethics Tuesday, Hialeah Park ended the 2014-15 season with a total (Ethics Aside-Poker Dot Dash), of $13,913,073.27 in all-sources stole the spotlight in winning wagering for a daily average of the final two stakes races of the 2014-15 season. $347,826.83, both new highs Madmax, ridden by Yordafor a Quarter Horse meet in nis Amaro and trainer by RoSouth Florida. lando Almanza for owner Wade Hialeah Park also tallied Helton, broke alertly, took three half-million dollar allcommand early, and finished sources wagering days durstrongly in the final 200 yards ing the season, first setting a to beat Mr First Down by 1-½ record of $526,120.15 on Feb.

lengths in the $30,000-guaranteed South Florida Quarter Horse Stakes. Madmax stopped the timer in 21.974 seconds for 440 yards.

Premier Ethics, ridden by Osdany Leal and trained by Rogelio Martinez for owner Renata Lopez, turned in one of the most amazing efforts ever seen on any Quarter Horse track in taking the $61,050 Sunshine State Derby. After missing the break, spotting her rivals at least two lengths, and running last with 100 yards to go, the filly put on a furious rush and caught Easily Bono at the wire.

Premier Ethics was clocked in 19.976 seconds for 400 yards.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 35

Moonin the Eagle

The triumph earned Sweet N Salty’s connections $9,000 in additional earnings over the winner’s share of $13,500 as the champion of the 2015 Hialeah Park Sprint Series.

In the final race of the 2015 Hialeah Park Marathon Series, the $42,000 Sailfish Stakes at 1,000 yards, Roman Correa’s The Star Alert, ridden by Yordanis Amaro and trained by Ricardo Martinez, recorded his second straight victory “around the big hook” to earn $25,200 and an extra $12,000 for his connections as this year’s series champ.

For the second time this season, Hialeah Park established a new all-sources wagering handle record. Sunday’s total topped out at $580,372 for the day, $54,202 better that the previous mark of $526,170 set on Feb. 2.

February 22 Jess A Rogue wins Sparkling Tip Bonus Challenge by a neck

Daytona B

15.489 seconds while registering her second consecutive stakes score over this iconic South Florida racing strip. Three weeks ago on February 1, the daughter of Heza Fast DashMiss Jess Rogue (Mr Jess Perry) annexed the Biscayne Stakes at 250 yards.

The winner was part of a three-horse driving finish that saw her edge past Game Rita in the final yards, with the runnerup three-quarters of a length better than third-place finisher Cme Leaving You. Jess a Rogue, victorious for the fourth time in seven lifetime starts, earned the winner’s share of $13,500 and upped her career earnings to $80,647.

The official order of finish

The 3-year-old filly Jess a Rogue, ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo and trained by Judd Kearl for Triple M Farms LLC, put in a strong finish to hit the wire first by a neck over Game Rita in the $22,500 Sparkling Tip Bonus Challenge at Hialeah Park.

Jess a Rogue covered the 300 yards of the Sparkling Tip in Jess A Rogue 36 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

in the 2015 Sparkling Tip Bonus Challenge was: Jess a Rogue, Game Rita, Cme Leaving You, Hayjay, Portrait of a Hero, Aamos Moses, Aero, and Streakin Lil Chick.

LOUISIANA

Delta Downs, Vinton, LA March 7 Cat Sup hangs on for dramatic win in the Pelican Stakes, scores first stakes victory

Susan Mouton’s Cat Sup

scored a narrow victory in the $100,000 Pelican Stakes at Delta Downs as he just held off a furious late charge by race favorite Four Leaf Chief. The top two finishers were separated by only a nose in the 7-1/2 furlong test for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds.

After breaking sharply and stalking the early pace set by Sharon’s Boy, Cat Sup moved toward the lead in the upper stretch under jockey Carlos Nieto before taking command inside the sixteenth pole. But an easy win was not in the cards as Four Leaf Chief came flying from far back and just missed at the finish line. Charlie’s Affair wound up third, another 1-1/4 lengths behind the top two finishers.

Cat Sup covered the distance over a fast track in 1:34.22 The tally by Cat Sup marked the first stakes win of his career and it was his third overall venture to the winner’s circle from seven starts. The Glenn Delahoussaye trainee earned $60,000 for his effort and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $137,950.

Cat Sup is a 3-year-old bay gelding by Discreet Cat, out of the Deputy Minister mare President’s Girl. He was bred in Louisiana by Twin Creeks Farm.

Sent to the post as the narrow second choice of the

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Cat Sup

Sibling War

wagering public at odds of 1.9-1, Cat Sup paid $5.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Four Leaf Chief was worth $3 to place and $2.60 to show.

Charlie’s Affair paid $6 to show.

Course and Slots when L T B, Inc. and Hillerich Racing’s Mizz Money claimed the better of a photo-finish in the $60,000 Allen Lacombe Memorial over Tommy Ligon and Michael Pressley’s Divine Dawn for the second consecutive race.

Four weeks ago, Mizz Money led gate-to-wire and battled the length of the stretch in the local course and distance allowance prep for the Lacombe – holding off a fierce challenge from Divine Dawn by threequarters of a length after setting a leisurely pace. This time, Divine Dawn again pressed the pace, but it was Loooch Racing Stable and Chris Dunn’s Tom Amoss-trained longshot Cool Song making the run-

wet fast in a time of 1:32.77.

The victory by Sibling War was her second in a row and her third from six starts for her career. She earned $60,000 for the effort which raised her lifetime bankroll to $110,600.

Sibling War is a 3-year-old March 6 dark bay or brown filly by BrothSibling War scores er Derek, out of the Harlan mare first stakes win in the Raise Her Flag. She was bred in $100,000 Azalea at Louisiana by Brerenton C. Jones & Spanish Cross Stables, LLC. Delta Downs Sibling War was purchased by Maggi Moss’s filly Sibling War won the first stakes race of her owner for $29,000 at the Keeneland September Sale as a her career at Delta Downs as yearling in 2013. she took the $100,000 Azalea Sent to the gate at odds of for 3-year-old fillies competing 2-1 on the tote board, Sibling at 7-1/2 furlongs. Sibling War War paid $6.80 to win, $4 to was ridden to victory by vetplace and $3 to show. Forest eran jockey Gerard Melancon Lake was worth $6.20 to place who accepted the mount from and $4.40 to show.

Pacific Pink trainer Tom Amoss. paid $6.60 to show.

After breaking sharply from post position two in a field of nine, Sibling War secured a spot at the rail and saved every bit of ground while tracking pacesetter Private Promise. As the field Fair Grounds Race approached the second turn Course, New Orleans, LA Melancon call on her and she March 7 responded by taking the lead and drawing clear in the home- Mizz Money nips Divine Dawn in Lacombe stretch. Forest Lake rallied for second and was beaten by one thriller length while finishing second. It What was thought to be a was another 4-1/2 lengths back budding rivalry between two to Pacific Pink in third. talented gray 3-year-old grass Sibling War covered the fillies may have blossomed into distance over a track listed as all-out war at Fair Grounds Race

ning, while a well-placed Mizz Money stalked the frontrunners in fourth. Turning for home, Divine Dawn kicked on, but the ghostly presence of her Bernie Flint-trained adversary haunted her all the way to the line, defeating her by a head under a brilliantly timed Francisco Torres ride. Two lengths back in third was Raul Bahena’s Armando De La Cerda-trained Happy to Go, under Florent Geroux, who hit the board in a stakes for the fifth time in her seven-race career.

After Cool Song and Divine Dawn carved out fractions of :23.85, :46.79 and 1:11.23, Mizz Money finished the 7½-furlong event in 1:29.82.

Winning for the third time in her five-race career, the Ken-

Mizz Money SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 37

tucky-bred daughter of the accomplished Grand Slam broodmare Abbeyville Miss remained a perfect three-for-three on grass and banked the $36,000 winner’s share of the purse to increase her earnings to $84,434.

Sent off at 4-1, Mizz Money paid $10.20, $4.40 and $3.20. Divine Dawn, under Kerwin Clark, paid $3.20 and $2.80 at odds of 7-5, while Happy to Go paid $5.80 to show at odds of 13-1.

“The horse has really performed well for us on the grass and I believe she’s going to go on and be a really good one because we gave her enough time as a 2-year-old to develop herself, grow and get strong,” Flint said. “We own the mother and we own (stallion) Unbridled Express, who is a half-brother to her mother, and he was a great horse – and we have a 2-year-old coming up.

It’s a good family.”

Tachiello, Sweet Diva, Cardinal Girl, I’m a Looker, Indian Rocket, Royal Song Dancer, King’s Ghost and Cool Song completed the Lacombe’s order of finish.

February 28 A brassy Black Gold victory for Tuba Windy Hill Farm’s Anne Smith-trained Tuba pulled a slick one over on the $60,000 Black Gold Stakes field, going gate-to-wire over eight other 3-year-olds under Jose Riquelme at odds of 63-1. After making it to the lead with relative ease, the 3-year-old gelded son of Magna Graduate welled up with confidence, fueling splits of :24.85, :48.61 and 1:12.77, while opening up by 3½ lengths at the top of the stretch. The long-striding charge then fought gamely to hold off Rigney Racing’s even-money favorite Another Lemon Drop by a half-length in a final time of 1:30.66 for the 7½ grassy furlongs.

38 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

“It was a very good trip. I sent him to the lead and I knew he won when he was on the lead before, so I tried to do the same,” Riquelme said. “He really responded to me. I was worried a little bit; trying to slow things down, but when I turned for home he really ran.”

Smith, who won her first stakes race as a trainer, was elated. “I am relieved and excited and I very much wanted this,” she said. “I was hoping I could get a similar trip to his win out of him and a confident ride. You can see he has such a big stride, especially when he relaxes, and that’s his best asset. Even when we gallop him, when he relaxes, it’s huge. He’s a silly horse and does funny things in the stall, but I really believe in him and I’m so glad we tried.”

Tuba, an $11,500 Keeneland September Yearling Sale bargain in 2013, earned $36,000 to increase his career earnings to $49,240. The victory was his second in seven starts and comes after two consecutive losses to the well-regarded Wireless Future. In his second start of the meet, on Dec. 7, the Kentucky-bred ran a similar gate-to-wire race to break his maiden. He returned $129.40, $32 and $10.60. Another Lemon Drop, under James Graham for trainer Phil Bauer, returned $3.40 and $2.40. Whispering Oaks Farm’s Fly Friendly Sky returned $4.20 to show for trainer Steve Flint and jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. Earlier in the card, Steve Stumpf’s Corale ‘Bunky’ Richards-trained McGehee’s Mercy was a stylish winner of the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace Stakes over one mile for older Louisiana-bred turf horses.

Settling in 10th of 11 through most of the running, the 5-yearold gray son of Afleet Alex rallied resolutely outside of horses in mid-stretch under Florent Geroux to win by 2½ lengths in

Tuba

a time of 1:36.24.

McGehee’s Mercy returned $20.40, $10.40 and $5.80, while What Else Racing’s Ron Faucheux-trained Heavy On Themister returned $11.60 and $6.40. Oak Leaf T. C. LP’s Scot Tubbs-trained 3-1 favorite Benwill rounded out the top three, returning $3.20. The winner earned $36,000 to increase his career earnings to $146,862, while winning for the sixth time in 21 career attempts.

February 21 International Star a rising star in the Risen Star Unlike last year, when trainer Mike Maker brought a Kenneth and Sarah Ramseyowned winner of the Lecomte Stakes back a month later to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to contest the Grade 2

$400,000 Risen Star Stakes from an unfavorably wide post, the stars were in the veteran trainer’s favor in 2015. While Vicar’s in Trouble got himself in just that when eventually third after breaking from post 13 of 14 and suffering an arduously wide trip under Rosie Napravnik in 2014, International Star found all the seams from his outside nine-hole in this year’s edition under Miguel Mena and put on a celestial show for a jovial New Orleans crowd.

Racing in mid-pack most of the way, the New York-bred son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus was threewide on the first turn and then dropped to the rail to settle in sixth while Altamira Racing Stable and David Bernsen’s California invader St. Joe Bay carved out fractions of :23.29, :47.08 and 1:12.16 under Florent Geroux. The agile bay colt then

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

International Star

accelerated while skimming the rail inside Fox Hill Farm’s Kerwin Clark-ridden Bluff on the far turn before squeezing through a nearly impossible opening on the rail beside leader St. Joe Bay at the top of the stretch.

The multiple graded stakes winner then accelerated away from his rivals while being chased home by Loooch Racing Stable and Chris Dunn’s Tom Amoss-trained and Kent Desormeaux-ridden War Story and Donegal Racing’s Dale Romans-trained and James Graham-ridden Keen Ice to win by a length in 1:43.82. War Story was another 1¾ lengths in front of Keen Ice, who nipped St. Joe Bay by a head for third. Godolphin Racing’s morning line and 3-2 wagering favorite Imperia was another 4¾ lengths back in fifth.

The $240,000 victor’s share of the $400,000 increased International Star’s career earnings to $560,979, while the win was his fourth in eight starts and third in a graded stakes.

Bet down to third-choice at 7-2 odds, he returned $9.60, $4.60 and $3.40. War Story, who was slow from the gate for the second consecutive graded stakes, returned $4.80 and $3.40, while Keen Ice returned $4 to show.

“The post position worried me,” Mena reflected after the

Street Babe

race. “You never know if you can get to the rail, where he wants to be. I was impressed because I moved at the fivesixteenths-pole to get through and he came through a tight hole and then another one at the quarter-pole and kept running and drawing away. I think more distance will be no problem. He rates well, he loves the rail; it doesn’t matter how tight the hole is – he goes for it. When I put him on the rail, he grabs the bit and when we come up to a tight hole, he just goes for it. Not many horses do that. The more you save, the more you’re going to get. He’s not much to look at it, but he has a big heart.”

The remainder of the field for the 42nd Risen Star Stakes was completed by Bluff, Tiznow R J, Big Big Easy and Hero of Humor.

Street Babe in the driver’s seat in Mineshaft; Bet Seattle blitzes Duncan F. Kenner field Antsu Stables’ Street Babe, making his stakes debut in just his third lifetime start, pressed the pace and took control late to capture the Grade 3 $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap by three-quarters of a length Saturday as part of Louisiana

Derby Preview Day Presented

by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.

An easy winner of his career debut at Aqueduct Nov. 20, the Michael Dilger-trained 4-year-old Street Sense gelding entered the Mineshaft off a runner-up effort in allowance company at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21.

Sent off as the second-longest shot in the field at 21-1, Street Babe rewarded his backers with mutuels of $44.80, $25.00, and $12.60, completing the trip in 1:43.58. The $75,000 winner’s share boosted his career bankroll to $118,700 as he won for the second time in three lifetime starts.

Argentine-bred Mystery Train set the early splits under jockey Francisco Torres, leading through fractions of :23.18, :46.97 and 1:11.90 before succumbing late while still holding second by two and a half lengths from 8-5 favorite Red Rifle. Trained by Darrell Vienna, the 5-year old son of Not for Sale turned in his best performance in four North American starts and returned $18.60 and $8.80.

Winstar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing’s Red Rifle raced from off the pace under Rafael Bejarano and entered the stretch wide but could not reach the top pair. The

Todd Pletcher trainee returned $3.20 to show.

Cougar Ridge, Class Leader, Irish You Well, Majestic Harbor, Fordubai, Knights Nation and Nates Mineshaft completed the order of finish.

Earlier in the card, Hugh Robertson’s 5-2 second choice Bet Seattle turned back Maggi Moss’ 2-5 favorite Delaunay in the 62nd running of the $60,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes over six furlongs for older horses in an impressive 1:09.83.

Under a confident Francisco Torres, the son of Seattle Fitz popped out of the gate ahead of a trio of challengers and won by three-quarters of a length over Delaunay after setting fractions of :21.80 and :45.16. The victory was his second of the meet, following a workmanlike allowance victory on Jan. 18 at the same trip. The dark bay gelding had finished third in a muddy renewal of the $60,000 Bonapaw Stakes behind Delaunay on Jan. 3 to kick off his 6-year-old season and is now two-for-three on the year.

“They’ve been pointing this horse for this race for a while and he was sharp,” Torres said. “For as big as he is, he is light on his feet and left there running. I was just along for the ride. The mud had a lot to do with it (when he lost to DelauSureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 39

Chocolate Ride

weeks ago. Afforded a soft lead through splits of :24.26, :49.03, and 1:13.26 under jockey Florent Geroux, the now threetime winner finished robustly in 1:48.84, missing the course record by less than three-fifths of a second.

“My horse broke sharp and I just let him do his thing,” said Geroux. “No one wanted to go Bet Seattle with him, so I took advantage. I was able to slow him down and nay). My horse didn’t like it too Nates Mineshaft, Bellarmine and when I asked him down the much that day and Delaunay Jasizzle were scratched. lane he really took off. My horse seemed to enjoy it. The tables ran great.” were turned today.”

Chocolate Ride returned Chocolate Ride gets Bet Seattle won the 11th $28.20, $11.60, and $7.40, earnsweet setup in Fair race of his career from 28 starts ing $75,000 for the effort to Grounds Handicap; Eden and the $36,000 from the increase his career earnings to Prairie collects fourth winner’s portion of the purse $162,191. stakes win in Bayou increased his career earnings Andrew Stone’s Glenard, John Wentworth’s Chocoto $401,383. Purchased for by making his first North American late Ride proved a clever claim start for new trainer Graham owner/trainer Robertson for when winning the Grade 3 only $1,500 at Keeneland’s Motion, rallied stoutly under $125,000 Fair Grounds HandiJanuary Sale in 2010, the jockey James Graham to take cap on Saturday as part of Kentucky-bred annexed his ground away from the winthird stakes win from seven Louisiana Derby Preview Day ner late but fell 1¾ lengths added-money attempts.

Presented By Lamarque Ford, short under the wire. Glenard William Deckwa’s Too Dim, three months to the day from returned $7.20 and $4.60. who reared badly at the start when he was claimed for “It was his first time off and spotted the field nearly five $40,000 at Churchill Downs. the boat. He gave me a big lengths, closed resolutely to finTrained by Brad Cox, the run turning for home and then ish a good third, beaten three 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding sort of leveled off in the final lengths under Miguel Mena at was making his stakes debut sixteenth. He should be better odds of 4-1. in the 1-1/8 miles Fair Grounds next time and may want to go a The quartet of sprinters was on the Stall-Wilson turf course, mile and a half,” said Graham. completed by Roger Braugh, Jr.’s the same course and distance Bortolazzo Stable’s Pyrite Take It Like a Man, who finished over which he cleared his first- Mountain also showed late 11 lengths astern Too Dim. interest under jockey Rafael level allowance condition two 40 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Bejarano but was forced to settle for third, 2¾ lengths behind Glenard. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 5-year-old horse

by Silent Name returned $4.00.

Highball, Daddy’s Kid, Quadrivium, Dreams Cut Short, Trace Creek, Golden Soul, and 5-2 favorite Skyring completed the order of finish.

Two races earlier, Lothenbach Stables’ Eden Prairie captured the fourth stakes race of her career, all on the Fair Grounds turf course, when scoring by a comfortable 1½ lengths in the $60,000 Bayou Stakes at 1-1/16 miles.

Ridden confidently by Florent Geroux from just off splits of :22.85, :47.36 and 1:11.98 set by race favorite Istanford, the 5-year-old Mizzen Mast mare assumed command in the stretch and crossed the wire in a final time of 1:42.56, returning $7.80, $3.40 and $3.20 as the third wagering choice. With the victory, the Neil Pessin trainee has now won seven times in 22 lifetime starts and has earned $392,185 after banking today’s $36,000 winner’s share.

“I was exactly where I wanted to be,” said Geroux. “I moved after Istanford because I didn’t want her to get too far away from me.”

Ike and Dawn Thrash and Sam and Janet Alley’s Istanford,

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Eden Prairie

I’m a Chatterbox

the 2-1 favorite and one of three Bayou runners entered by trainer Mike Stidham, showed the way into the stretch but could not match strides with the winner late in her seasonal bow. She returned $3.60 and $3.60 while holding the place by a head.

Her jockey Rafael Bejarano said, “I took the lead, I was kind of relaxed, and the winner was much the best. She hadn’t run for a few months and was a little fresh.”

Samiam, ridden by Kerwin Clark for trainer William Van Meter, raced in the pocket early, angled out in mid-stretch and just missed second, returning $4.40 to show.

Stoupinator, Hung the Moon, Notte d’Oro, Nice Number and Synapse completed the order of finish.

the third time in her five-race career. Lovely Maria was second by a neck over Charles Fipke’s Forever Unbridled, under Brian Hernandez, Jr., to complete a one-two-three Fair Groundsbased sweep. The winner paid $8.60, $5.40 and $4. Lovely Maria paid $5.80 and $4.40, while Forever Unbridled paid $5.20 to show.

Completing the order of finish for the 34th running of the Rachel Alexandra were morning line favorite Shook Up, West Coast Belle, White Clover, Pleasant Tales, Harbour Island and Freudie Anne.

Unlike on Jan. 17, when she broke from the rail and skimmed it to a flashy gate-to-wire romp in the Listed $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, on Saturday afternoon the daughter of Munnings broke from the outside post 10, was forced to take back while as far astern as last-place at the half-mile pole under jockey Florent Geroux – yet still outran her competition by 2½ lengths in the end after a four-wide far turn sweep and a resolute stretch drive. An utterly classy performance, she rewarded her backers who sent her off as the tepid 3-1 favorite, gained the admiration of many for displaying such a complex arsenal and thrust herself squarely into the picture for the Kentucky Oaks.

Like a well-planned Larry Jones relay race, Jones-trained and Calumet Farm-owned I’m a Chatterbox leaves White Clover set fractions of them in silence in Rachel :23.19 and :46.98 under Jose Riquelme before handing the Alexandra baton to Brereton C. JonesIt took just over a minute owned barnmate Lovely Maria and 44 seconds on a cloudy afternoon at Fair Grounds Race under Kerwin Clark after six furCourse & Slots for Fletcher and longs in 1:12.05, who ultimately yielded it to a charging I’m a Carolyn Gray’s Larry JonesChatterbox at the eighth-pole trained I’m a Chatterbox to go – winning in a time of 1:44.10. from talented locally based The emblazoned chestnut Kenstakes winner to serious Kentucky-bred earned $105,000 tucky Oaks contender when to increase her career total to winning the Grade 3 $175,000 $228,614, while winning for Rachel Alexandra Stakes.

NEW MEXICO

Sunland Park, NM February 28 Rebranded breaks track record in $50,000 Curribot Handicap

Rebranded steamrolled to a track record setting victory in the $50,000 Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

The Justin Evans trained star marched past the top New

Mexico Handicap horses in wire to wire fashion and set a new track record for 1 and 1/16 miles in a fast 1:40.64.

Under jockey Ry Eikleberry, Rebranded quickly took control of the route feature spinning into the first turn. The ample sized colt by Tiznow opened up a 2-length and was allowed to throttle on an uncontested lead down the backstretch.

When confronted by favorite Isn’t He Clever, Rebranded had plenty left in reserve and remained clear. The 4-time stakes winner owned by Tony Pennington of Artesia, New Mexico galloped away to a strong 2 length win over Smack Ridge. Isn’t He Clever failed to make an impact and finished a neck behind in third place. Rebranded broke the former track record held by 2013 Sunland Park Oaks winner Midnight Lucky in 1:41.06.

The four-year-old colt earned $31,000, pushing his lifetime earnings to nearly $290,000.

Rebranded returned $6.20 as the 2-1 second choice.

Rebranded won the 2013 Riley Allison Futurity, the 2014 Colorado Derby and 2014 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Derby.

He has thrived in the Evans barn for over a year and is now a leading handicap router.

2014 Winsham Lad Handicap winner Smack Ridge SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 41

Rebranded

produced a strong effort to gain second place under jockey Ken Tohill. The runner-up owned by Judge Lanier Racing tried his best to make a late impact. The 7-1 shot angled in toward the rail but was no match for the winner.

Isn’t He Clever felt his first defeat since winning three straight stakes. The Downs at Albuquerque and Sunland Park Handicap champion never could get near control of the pace and it cost him. The sixyear-old Smarty Jones gelding finished third as the 6-5 favorite.

Live racing resumes on Sunday and Monday at 12:55 p.m.. The $108,300 West Texas Maturity starring millionaire Foose Cash Sr and Jess Featureme Quick is the featured 4th race at 400 yards.

out abruptly during the run into the first turn and severely impeded the progress of both Karakorum Queen and Champion Risk. Both riders were forced to steady hard and travel wide on the first turn.

Consequently, Suva Harbor was disqualified from first place and placed eighth in the key local prep race for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks to be held March 22.

Rousanne was granted the victory through disqualification with jockey Ry Eikleberry in the saddle. The daughter of Desert Party made a menacing move passing the quarter pole and engaged Suva Harbor for the lead and maintained a furious drive for much of the stretch run. The former Churchill Downs maiden February 22 winner gained her first career Rousanne wins $50,000 stakes win for the Teed Off Island Fashion Stakes Stable, LLC. The gritty bay filly through disqualification earned $30,000 for her efforts on Sunday. She was stakes Rousanne gained an implaced in the Debutante at portant win through disqualiChurchill Downs last year and fication in the $50,000 Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park the El Paso Times Handicap last month. The winner seemed Racetrack and Casino. to appreciate the added real Suva Harbor was the estate in her first test around original 2 and 3/4 length wintwo turns. Rousanne paid a ner over Rousanne in the one mile three-year-old fillies event. handsome $26 to win.

Sunland Park’s Leading But upon further examination during an inquiry, the Stewards’ trainer Justin Evans earned his second stakes triumph of deemed Suva Harbor came 42 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Rousanne

the season.

Original third place finisher Synkros was moved up to second place because of the disqualification of Suva Harbor.

The Steve Asmussen trainee showed much courage down the stretch with Casey Lambert in the saddle. The promising Tapit filly was seeking her third win in five races but had to settle for runner-up honors.

We Need Art moved up to the third place position for trainer Henry Dominguez.

Ridden by Norberto Arroyo, Jr., Suva Harbor bore out severely in the first turn and then found her way to the lead during the backstretch run. The diminutive Rockport Harbor filly battled bravely from there on and thwarted a strong bids from Rousanne and Synkros in the stretch. The Santa Anita Park export raced as the 2-5 favorite for trainer John Sadler.

OKLAHOMA

Remington Park, Oklahoma City, OK March 8 Pure D Spit adds the Eastex Stakes to Remington Park win streak

Dominant in starter allowance races last year at Remington Park, Pure D Spit won all five of his starts here.

He returned Sunday afternoon for his first 2015 event, testing local stakes company with success while posting a resounding 1-1/2 length triumph in the Grade 2, $57,120 Eastex Stakes.

Owned and trained by Rodrigo Covarrubias of Wichita,

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

Pure D Spit

Kan., Pure D Spit was ridden confidently by Jesus Salazar with a vigorous hand-ride. The 7-year-old gelding took the lead shortly after the start in the 350-yard race, then pulled clear to win in :17.763 seconds over the fast track. River Wind and The Ocean King finished in a dead-heat for second. Rocketair was fourth.

Salazar has enjoyed the bulk of success aboard Pure D Spit and explains their latest score together. “My horse got out of there and had a lead of about three-quarters of a length and I just let him do his job. If you try hit him he falls apart. I let him run and he’s got a big heart.”

Pure D Spit has won nine of his last 11 races, dating back to October 2013. He has developed into a special athlete for Covarrubias who took advantage of starter allowance conditions for Pure D Spit as long as he could.

“I felt like at the starter allowance level (last year) the money was good and I figured out that no one could beat him.

Now we have to step him up and go for the big money.”

Away at 5-2 odds, Pure D Spit paid $7.40 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. River Wind returned $3.20 to place and $4.20 to show. The Ocean

Bp Wagon Train

King paid $3 to place and $3.40 to show. One Valiant Hero was the beaten 9-5 wagering favorite, running sixth.

Bred in Oklahoma by Ray Enlow of Sapulpa, Okla., Pure D Spit is by Spit Curl Jess from the Pure D Dash mare Pure Princess. Pure D Spit has won 17 of his 40 career attempts, with the Eastex winner’s check of $34,692 moving his career earnings to $272,560.

The Eastex is named after the winner of the 1984 All American Futurity who at one time was the sport’s all-time leading money earner. He held the record for most money earned by a 2-year-old until 2008.

Mighty Deck Three Stakes

The initial Oklahomabred stakes race of the season followed the Eastex on the Sunday program. The $70,000 Mighty Deck Three Stakes at 250 yards went to BP Wagon Train who flew to victory along the rail from his inside post position.

Owned by the Alice, Texas partnership of Joel Tipton, Bobby Barnett, tommy Hays and Charles Forbes, Jr., BP Wagon Train is trained by Bobby Martinez and was ridden by Saul Ramirez, Jr. The 4-year-old horse made quick

work in the Mighty Deck Three, starting well and pulling clear to a three-quarter length win, in :13.068 seconds. This Candys Awesome was second while Win Rabbit Fly battled for third.

Away at 6-1 odds, BP Wagon Train paid $15.40 to win, $6 to place and $4.80 to show. This Candys Awesome paid $4.60 to place and $4.20 to show. Win Rabbits Fly returned $4.40 to show. Priceless Feature was the 5-2 wagering favorite.

He was never involved while finishing seventh.

The win is the sixth from 14 starts for BP Wagon Train, a son of PYC Paint Your Wagon from the First Down Dash mare Ladys Is First. The winner’s share of $42,000 moves the career total

for BP Wagon Train to $251,221.

He was bred in Oklahoma by Bill Price of Thackerville, Okla.

The stakes race is named after the ultra-fast Mighty Deck Three who dominated 2-yearold competition in 1980. The Oklahoma-bred was undefeated thru 10 races and posted the top qualifying time for that year’s All American Futurity. He was upset in the final, beaten just a slim nose by Higheasterjet.

Oklahoma Derby Trials

Sunday’s program led off with eight trial races to determine the field for the $268,000 Oklahoma Derby on March 21. Politicaly Correct won the second trial, crossing the 350-

Politicaly Correct SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 43

Tee Chic

yard finish in :17.459 seconds over the fast track, to post the top qualifying time. Owned by the Battle Creek, Mich. partnership of Walter Harrison and James Helzer, Politicaly Correct is trained by Helzer and was ridden by Larry Payne.

A 3-year-old gelding, Politicaly Correct is by Apollitical Jess from the Tres Seis mare Senorita Seis. He was bred in Texas by Harrison.

The remainder of the Oklahoma Derby field, with qualifying time and trial race, includes: Gold Digging Ashley, :17.497 (trial 7); First Ginlark, :17.552 (trial 2); Sixes Down, :17.633 (trial 2); Apolliticalsignature, :17.692 (trial 2); Nash Wagon Special, :17.779 (trial 3); Visual Magic, :17.804 (trial 4); Viento Negro, :17.877 (trial 1); Tres Air, :17.880 (trial 1) and Bigtime Brady, :17.943 (trial 8).

The American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season at Remington Park now moves into its regular weekly schedule of Thursday thru Sunday racing, starting March 12-15. The normal first race on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be 6pm. Sunday racing will begin at 1:30pm. The featured stakes race next weekend is the $50,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes at 550 yards on Saturday, March 14.

44 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Painted Turnpike

March 7 Tee Chic posts top time during 15 Oklahoma Futurity trials

The second night of Remington Park’s Opening Weekend for the 2015 American Quarter Horse Season featured 15 trials for the Oklahoma Futurity. Tee Chic was extremely impressive in powering to the top time in the seventh trial.

Owned and bred in Texas

by Francisco Garza of Laredo, Texas, Tee Chic is trained by Rick Robinson and was ridden

by Francisco Calderon. The gelding pulled clear easily and appeared to have plenty left at the end of 300 yards, crossing the finish line in :15.458 seconds over a fast track.

A son of Jumpn Chick from the Burrs First Down mare First Down Tee, Tee Chic never saw his time seriously threatened over the remaining eight trials.

The Grade 2, $410,000 Oklahoma Futurity, the longestrunning futurity in Quarter Horse racing, will be contested on Saturday, March 21. This will be the 74th edition of the Oklahoma Futurity, carrying the richest purse in its history.

The other nine 2-yearolds in the Oklahoma Futurity, with their qualifying times and race trial, include: Big Lew, :15.473 (trial 8); Lets Get On

Board, :15.492 (trial 8); Adelady, :15.507 (trial 5); VF Floosie, :15.515 (trial 8); The Charm Of Corona, :15.532 (trial 5); Cartel Jr, :15.540 (trial 10); Little Man Rockin, :15.555 (trial 5); Cashshae, :15.578 (trial 13) and Gon In A Flash, :15.625 (trial 13).

Trainer Eddie Willis led the way with three qualifiers to the Oklahoma Futurity as Big Lew, The Charm Of Corona and Gon In A Flash all make the final from his barn.

Trainer Rodney Reed saddled four winners on the night but managed to qualify only Adelady to the Oklahoma Futurity.

The jockey with the most wins during the Oklahoma Futurity trials was G.R. Carter with four.

March 6 Painted Turnpike impresses in Oklahoma Paint/Appaloosa trials

Remington Park started its 2015 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season with trials for the $140,000 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity leading the program.

Painted Turnpike posted the top qualifying time for the final with astounding flare.

Owned and bred in Oklahoma by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Okla., Painted

Turnpike cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory under jockey Cody Smith. The 2-year-old Paint gelding crossed the 300yard finish in :15.464 seconds over a fast track. Smith asked for the colt’s attention just a couple of times as he easily pulled away from his rivals in the fifth trial of seven.

Painted Turnpike is by PYC Paint Your Wagon (qh) from the SF Royal Quick Flash mare High Class Turnpike. Trainer Matt Whitekiller saddled the top qualifier.

The rest of the qualifiers, with their times and trial number, joining Painted Turnpike in the field of 10 for the March 21 final include: Imahotchicken, :15.701 (trial 2); WL Mr Worldwide, :15.725 (trial 3); Royal Snowman, :15.785 (trial 2); PYC Shake It Off, :15.812 (trial 5); Pikee, :15.829 (trial 3); Fashoso, :15.865 (trial 3); Royal Country Snowman, :15.942 (trial 3); MT De Boss, :15.943 (trial 2) and J Woww, :15.975 (trial 1).

Another pair of trials were conducted on Opening Night to determine the field for the $47,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby. Cant Be Caught, an Appaloosa, will lead the field of 3-year-olds in the March 21 derby final.

Owned and bred in Oklahoma

by John Diedeker of Parson, Kan., Cant Be Caught is trained

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB Texas Yellow Rose on February 21. The 4-year-old Dahess filly was saddled by Lynn Ashby, who gave a leg up to Hungarian rider Alexandra Bihari.

Sand on Fire, sent off at odds of 17-1, paid $36.60 for the win, covering seven furlongs in 1.34.93. All N All ran second and Throughleap from the barn of Jerenesto Torrez, ran third, followed by RB Frynch Broad.

A talented group of eleven colts and geldings showed their mettle in the Grade 1, Burning Fleet HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup. Betty and Joseph

by Dee Keener and was ridden hosted two prestigious Arabian Gillis’s homebred Burning Fleet won in gate-to-wire fashion unstakes, the $45,000 Sheikh Zaby Randy Wilson. yed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup – der jockey Ernesto Valdez-JimiA gelding by With Intent Amethyst Jewel and $38,500 HH nez, covering seven furlongs in from the Rare Form (qh) mare 1.33.11.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Unique Form (qh), Cant Be Trainer Jerenesto Torrez Ladies IFAHR Cup, both at a Caught handled 350 yards in conditions the 5-year-old son distance of seven furlongs. :19.918 seconds in the second of Burning Sand, who won the A field of nine Arabian trial. The other nine qualifiers, Texas Arabian Derby at Retama fillies competed in the $38,500 with their time and trial, inPark on November 14 by 20 clude: Dashin JJ, :17.998 (trial 1); HH Sheikha Fatima Bint lengths.

This was his fifth win Shezapaintyourwagon, :18.021 Mubarak Ladies World Chamfrom 14 starts, and he did it pionship IFAHR Cup. The race (trial 2); Wagon On Turnpike, with confidence. featured all female jockeys for :18.055 (trial 1); If Ur Buyn Im “This horse needs to go to Flyn, :18.066 (trial 1); Texas Silk, the fourth year in a row. the lead, ” said Torrez. “When he It was British rider, Rebecca :18.098 (trial 2); Gitter Dun Turngets in front, he does his best Smith, who guided Sand on pike, :18.152 (trial 2); Panther running. ” Quick Flash, :18.213 (trial 1); BP Fire to victory, coming off the Burning Fleet returned pace to hand All N All her first Baileys Success, :18.230 (trial $11.40 for the win. Paddys defeat. The 6-year-old daugh2) and PHQ Princess Stefanie, Day, winner of the Grade 2, ter of Burning Sand is owned :18.386 (trial 1). $30,000 Texas Six Shooter two and bred by Jane Teutsch and weeks ago, was a game second trained by Scott Powell. She for Quarter Moon Ranch LLC. was making her 29th career Jockey Kelsi Purcell had the call start, with tonight’s victory the aboard the 4-year-old Burning 6th lifetime win.

Sand colt, who has won three “Sand on Fire did great,” of his last four starts.

Quick and said Powell. “We knew she Rich was third under Paul Nolan would be tough. It was the luck of the draw with the riders, but followed by Our Princess.

Valiant Boy SbFar was Rebecca did exactly what she Sam Houston Race scratched as two flights were needed to do.” cancelled due to winter storms Park, Houston, TX “She was a little slow out and the 7-year-old Frenchof the gate, ” said Smith.

“The March 7 trainer told me to keep hustling bred stallion never made it to Sand on Fire and Houston. and she would run on for me.

Burning Fleet For the fourth year in a We had a lovely line and she impressive winners row, Sam Houston Race Park was fantastic!” in the Arabian Racing presented family-friendly exotic Cre Enterprises LLC’s All N animal racing. This year, the All returned off a gate to wire Festival at SHRP action included Zebra, Camel score in the Grade 2, $30,000 Sam Houston Race Park

texas

and Ostrich races. The promotion has been expanded to two nights, and 24,568 fans were in attendance, rooting for their favorite Camel, Zebra and Ostrich as they raced a distance of approximately 100 yards.

Four brave local celebrities will get a leg up on the eightfoot tall Camels and race 100 yards in front of the fervent crowd. On Saturday night, four ladies, Sarah Pepper, 95.7 Hot Hits; Lauren, KHMX Mix 96.5 and Marcy de Luna, Culture Map and Hayley Hernandez of KPRC-2 were the brave jockeys. Sam Houston Race Park donated $500 to the winner, Marcy de Luna’s charity of choice, Kids Meals, a lunch program serving impoverished youth in Houston.

End of the Meet Awards to be Presented on Tuesday, March 10 Just two more days remain in the 2015 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet. Live racing returns on Monday at 1:00 p.m. and the Tuesday, March 10 will be the final day.

Racing is set for 1:00 p.m. and the top horsemen will be honored.

Steve Asmussen, who has won six leading training titles at Sam Houston Race Park, has been in the lead throughout the meet and currently has 25 wins. Danny Pish has four titles here and is in second-place in the standings with 21 wins.

Last year Texas businessman Danny Keene clinched his first Sam Houston Race Park leading owner title in 2014. He is locked in a tight battle with Asmussen for this year’s title.

Deshawn Parker has dominated the jockey colony throughout the 2015 Thoroughbred meet and has 50 wins. David Cabrera, who won leading rider titles at both Lone Star Park and Retama Park in 2014, is second with 38 trips to the winner’s circle.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 45

Albano

Kitten’s Queen

February 28 Albano impressive in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park

a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred trained by Ken McPeek, who ran second last year with Frac Daddy. F J Uncle Vic, ran fourth, followed by Hattaash and Woodman’s Luck.

Albano ($2.80), earned $60,000 this evening, which sent his career earnings over the $600,000 mark. Jones is pointing Albano to the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds.

The $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park has had a rich tradition since its first running in 1994.

Past champions of the mile and one-eighth main track feature include Sir Cherokee, Valhol, Student Council and Alumni Hall. The 2014 Maxxam champion, Red Rifle went on to win the Yankee Affair Stakes at Belmont Park as well as the Grade 2, Hawthorne Gold Cup in 2014.

prominent Kentuckian, Brereton Jones.

“I knew they were in trouble after the first quarter mile,” said Clark. “I’ve always liked this colt. He was my ‘in’ to Larry Trainer Larry Jones conJones’ barn last year, so he will tinues to pick the ideal spots always have a special place in for his stakes horses, and this my heart. Larry had him ready evening at Sam Houston Race to go and, what can I say? It’s Park, he took home two more just a privilege and a pleasure trophies! to be riding for these guys.”

Jones shipped in Albano, Jones was aiming for the a 4-year-old son of Istan, bred Mineshaft last weekend, but and owned by Brereton just didn’t see the “sparkle” in Jones. As a 3-year-old, the colt Albano, and opted to ship him showed promise, winning the to Houston for the Maxxam.

Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes last “He ran very well tonight, summer at Monmouth Park but it just showed what a poor and finishing second in the training job I did on his last race,” said Jones with a smile, Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.

Jones had options for his 2015 referring to his third-place finish at Fair Grounds on Janudebut, but felt the timing of ary 17. “It’s great to see him tonight’s $100,000 Maxxam at the top of his game. I owe Gold Cup was best.

Governor Jones a lot of credit.

Albano had no trouble He doesn’t put the pressure on with the mile and one-eighth me. He tells me that when the distance of the Maxxam Gold horses are right, let’s run them.

Cup. Jockey Kerwin Clark was “It’s wonderful to be here patient with the Kentuckybred, guiding him through the with Kerwin, Larry and Albano,” first quarter-mile in :24.61 and said Brereton Jones .” The Good the half-mile in :50.41. Unpres- Lord has blessed us and we are sured throughout, he galloped grateful. I must admit that seehome in 1.52.24, with a margin ing such a nice performance of three lengths over 30-1 shot, from this homebred brought a Endurance. tear to my eye.”

It was a proud celebration Iram Diego rallied for for Clark and Jones and a first second aboard Endurance, time visit to Sam Houston by following by C J ‘s Awesome, 46 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3

Kitten’s Queen looked like royalty in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes

Trainer Mike Maker added his fourth stakes victory of the 2015 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet courtesy of Kitten’s Queen in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes.

The 5-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy did not disappoint as the favorite in the

mile and one-sixteenth turf feature for fillies and mares.

Bred and owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, Kitten’s Queen shipped to Houston off a second-place finish in the Blushing KD Stakes at Fair Grounds. Rider David Cabrera rode the mare with confidence, tracking the pacesetter One Time Only, who drew off to a five-length lead under Forest Boyce before Kitten’s Queen mounted her bid from the outside. She crossed the wire over the firm Connally Turf Course, in 1.42.71, two lengths ahead of Satin Gold.

Maker was reached via telephone following the win and was asked if he had any concerns about making up ground against a front-runner.

“I only worry when I am the one that far ahead,” quipped Maker.

It was a great highlight for Cabrera, who is second in the Sam Houston rider standings.

“I thank Mike for giving me the opportunity to ride for him,” said Cabrera. “The filly just took me there and at the top of the lane, I had plenty left.”

Lindey Wade rode runnerup Satin Gold, a 5-year-old English Channel mare, followed

by Team Block’s Compelling Case, with Florent Geroux, making his first appearance at

RACE RECAPS - QH & TB

A Day in Paradise

Ghost is Clear

Sam Houston Race Park.

Kitten’s Queen returned $5 to win and added her fourth career win in 18 starts.

Maker and the Ramseys have a strong track record in the Jersey Lilly, winning last year’s stakes with Always Kitten and the 2013 edition of the turf stakes with Artemus Kitten, another quality Kitten’s Joy filly.

Maker had no definite idea for the next start for his filly, just stating that “several options” would be considered.

Stakes and became a multiple Grade 1 winner. The Oklahomabred won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Monmouth Park and earned $3.3 million in his illustrious career.

what he was doing,” said Clark of his mount. “He never really puts his mind to running; he just thinks he is out there for fun and games. In all honesty, this horse has not even figured it out yet, but it’s going to be fun when he figures out he is a racehorse.”

Jones affectionately dubbed his winner a “knucklehead”, but was very pleased with the victory tonight.

“He’s a big horse and that’s one of the reasons he’s coming around slowly,” Jones stated.

A Day in Paradise wins his “He’ll figure it out, and we’re stakes debut in the $50,000 pretty pleased with him.”

Academy Bay ran second Texas Heritage Stakes for trainer Steve Asmussen and Trainer Larry Jones was Witt Six with Cabrera aboard, looking for a stakes opportuwas third. nity for A Day in Paradise, the Georgia resident Ligon New York-bred son of Yes It’s True. And once again, he found confirmed that A Day in the right spot at Sam Houston Paradise will be pointed to the Race Park, in the $50,000 Texas Grade 1, Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Heritage Stakes.

The Texas Heritage Stakes The one-mile event for 3-year-olds proved to be a nice has been a springboard race coming out party for the strap- for several notable champions including 2005 winner, Leaving ping bay gelding, owned by on My Mind, 2004 Texas ThorTommy G. Ligon.

The resurgent Kerwin Clark oughbred Horse of the Year as well as Departing, who won in was aboard A Day in Paradise ($3.20) for his fifth career start, 2013, then added three graded and won the stakes in gate-to- stakes and amassed earnings of $1.5 million. Perhaps the wire fashion, drawing off by close to a two length margin in most notable graduate is Kip Deville, who captured the 2006 a final time of 1.40.38. edition of the Texas Heritage “He didn’t even know

did.”

Parker noted that his mount had no difficulty making the adjustment from polytrack to the main dirt surface at Sam Houston.

“He loved it; this track is beautiful”, said the winning February 21 Ghost is Clear blazes to pilot.

Daybreak Dreamer ran secvictory in the $50,000 ond by a neck at odds of 14-1.

Sam Houston Sprint Cup The Oklahoma-bred is owned The feature at Sam Housby Gary W. Doan and trained ton Race Park on Feb. 21 was

by Kari Craddock. the $50,000 Sam Houston “He ran a great race,” said Sprint Cup Stakes. In a very jockey Lindey Wade. ”I had to exciting finish, Ghost is Clear go early; I really thought he with leading rider Deshawn could do it.”

Parker in the irons, came flying This was the 13th win from in the final furlong to take the 38 starts for Ghost is Clear, who six-furlong feature. crossed the wire in 1:10.86.

Owned and trained by Maker was not in Houston Mike Maker, the 7-year-old son this evening, but continued of Ghostzapper, the 7-year-old his solid streak with shipping son of Ghostzapper shipped to quality runners here. He won Houston in pursuit of his third the Grade 3, $200,000 Conconsecutive win. Parker was nally Cup with Coalport and aboard for his seven-length the $50,000 Jersey Village score in an optional $50,000 with Magna Breeze, earlier this claiming sprint on December meet.

20 and had tremendous confiGhost is Clear was sent off dence in his mount. as second choice in the nine“He made a really good horse field, and paid $6.80 for run tonight,” said Parker. “Last the win. 2013 Delta Jackpot time I rode him at Turfway, he winner Rise Up, made up some wanted the lead. Tonight, he ground under jockey Gerard came off the pace and had a Melancon, to finish third with really good kick. Mike told me Remington Park stakes winner last time to let him break and Johnny Whip, completing the do his thing and that’s what I superfecta.

SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2015 • Vol. 9 No. 3 47