OCTOBER 2014 路 VOL.8 NO.10
Jrc Callas First wins Refrigerator Handicap pg. 5
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SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
reBet uRACING NEWS NE EWS N EWS
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CONTENTS O C TO B E R 2014 • VO L. 8 N O. 10 Cover photo by Dustin Orona Photography Jrc Callas First, Damien Martinez up, kicked in another gear near the halfway point and rocketed by the others to win the Grade 1 Refrigerator Handicap by a length.
Cover Story: Jrc Callas First wins Refrigerator Handicap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Top Racing Story: Northwest star BF Farm Boss takes PCQHRA Breeders Futurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Feature Stories: Los Alamitos Equine Sale enjoys strong opening session, average yearling sale price up 38% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Horse owners make a racetrack work by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Meet the new boss, same as the old boss? by Ty Wyant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The contribution of grooms to racing by Mike Curran. . . . 11 It’s in the blood by Ty Wyant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Top Mare Makes ‘Significant’ Poll Move; Introducing the official logo of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland; Outstanding Heat headlines Wild West Futurity trials; Record payout of $83,261 in Pick Four at Los Alamitos; Valiant Hero colt sells for $200,000 to top Heritage Place QH Yearling Sale; Long On Value Wins $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on final day; Stryker Phd 2014 Horse of Meeting; 15 stakes races worth more than $2.5 million highlight 2014 Fall Meeting of Champions; Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico Racing Commission announce super testing and extensive video surveillance Race Recaps: Quarter Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Results from Los Alamitos Race Course; The Downs at Albuquerque; Zia Park Thoroughbred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Results from The Downs at Albuquerque; Remington Park; Emerald Downs; Santa Anita Race Park
SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 3
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SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
COVER STORY
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Jrc Callas First wins Refrigerator Handicap at Lone Star Park October 4 • Lone Star Park • grand Prairie, tX
ana L. and Brian Stroud’s Jrc Callas First, trained by Brian Stroud claimed the victory in the 18th renewal of the $75,000 Grade 1 Refrigerator Handicap Lone Star
Park. Ridden by red hot Damien Martinez, the four-year-old gelding by Winners Award out of Calla Missy Jane, by Dirty Coup kicked in another gear near the halfway point and rocketed by the others to win the Grade 1 Refrigerator by a length over Pure D Spit. It was another length back to Rocketair in third. Final time for the 440 yard Handicap was 21.207 over a fast track. Speed index was 99. With the win, Jrc Callas First upped his bankroll to $102,164 and now has nine wins from 15 career starts with one second and two third place finishes. Tonight’s win was his sixth from seven starts this year. Mutuels for Jrc Callas First were $9.60, $3.40 and $3.60. Pure D Spit returned $3.60 and $2.80 for place and Rocketair paid $9.20 for the show. Fdd Going Grand, Somethin Like This, Llano Cartel, Rockin Disco, Loves Brown Sugar, Jody Pops Zoomer and Sparrow Contender completed the order of finish.
Rusty returned $4.60 and $3.80 for place. Ec Cartel returned $2.60 for show. Lethal Volt, Jess Twice Cash, Dublin Down and Kudos for Quick Dash completed the order of finish. The Field Cricket is owned by Claud R. Denson and trained by Jesse Yoakum. Carrizales came right back and won the next race of the night, the 5th running of the Merial Distaff Challenge aboard Six Time Special. The three-year-old filly by Streakin Sixes out of Shesa Wicked Gypsy, by Strawfly Special broke in the air and was off a bit slowly, but gave a game effort to prove best. Final time for the 400 yard Merial Distaff Challenge was 19.762. Speed index was 90. Owned by Nancy Carrizales and trained by Edelmiro Carrizales, Six Time Special returned $9.20, $5.20 and $3.80. Lindsayshawdowdancer was second and returned $9.60 and $6. Third place went to Katelliac and she returned $3.80. String Bikini, One Quick Jess, Kirklyns Dynasty, Big Visions, Track Forty Four, Flyin High Secret and Isa Paratus completed the order of finish.
Jockey santos carrizales sweeps both undercard challenge stakes
It was a stakes double tonight for jockey Santos Carrizales winning both the Red Cell Distance Challenge and the Merial Distaff Challenge at the Grand Prairie track. Aboard The Field Cricket in the 5th running of the Red Cell Distance Challenge, Carrizales went straight to an early lead, drew clear and held for a one and one half length win over Jessa Little Rusty in the 870 yard contest. It was another one and one quarter lengths back to Ec Cartel in third. Final time for the Red Cell Distance Challenge was 45.252 over a fast track. Speed index was 101. The Field Cricket, a six-year-old gelding by Lead the Field out of Quick Lil Cricket, by Royal Quick Dash increased his career earnings to $128,141 from 32 career starts. It was his ninth career victory. Mutuel payoffs were $7.20, $4.40 and $3. Jessa Little
At top, Jrc Callas First, Damien Martinez up, winning the Refrigerator Handicap at Lone Star Park; above, winning connections. Photos Dustin Orona Photography SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 5
TOP RACING STORY
Northwest star BF Farm Boss takes PCQHRA Breeders Futurity BF Farm Boss, Ramon Sanchez up.
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Photo courtesy of Scott Martinez
october 4 Los Alamitos Race Course • Cypress, CA
he “Boss” was bred in the USA, Oregon to be exact, and a part of the country that has now produced two of the most impressive freshman sprinters competing at Los Alamitos Race Course this season. Owned by Don and Peggy Boyle of Madras, Oregon, BF Farm Boss outdueled A Goddess Thru Fire by a head to win the $365,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity at 350 yards on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The 3-5 favorite for this race after posting the fastest qualifying time, BF Farm Boss covered the 350 yards in :17.519 while earning his fifth win in seven starts this season. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez and trained by Paul Jones, he previously won trials to the All American Futurity and Ed Burke Million Futurity and also finished fourth in the Ed Burke Million final. For the connections of BF Farm Boss, the victory represents a good moment for the Quarter Horse industry in the Northwest. “It’s great for the Northwest breeders,” said Don Boyle, whose farm is a major producer of hybrid carrot seeds and also grass seeds used for golf courses. “It’s an inspiration to keep working at it and it shows that we can do it.” BF Farm Boss follows on the steps of S-Quarter K LLC’s Washington homebred Heza Dasha Fire, the unbeaten winner of the Ed Burke Million Futurity earlier this season. S-Quarter K LLC’s is made up of Kathy and Don Meneely and their son, Shawn, of Kennewick, Washington. “We’ve been racing against the Meneelys in Kennewick for more than 10 years,” Boyle said. “I remember babysitting one of my horses before a race and Kathy was on the other side of the barn doing the same thing with her horse. Heza Dasha Fire is an awesome horse. It would be fun to run against him again.” BF Farm Boss might get another chance to face the Ed Burke winner in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. He is eligible to run in the Golden State Million trials on October 19, which figure to feature Heza Dasha Fire, but BF Farm Boss will instead enjoy some time off and wait for the Two Million trials to be held on Sunday, Nove. 23. “He’s been going hard since the All American Futurity trials,” Boyle added. “I think he’ll benefit from the rest and it will help him to continue to mature.” 6 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Big and powerful, BF Farm Boss comes from a long line of stakes winners. His mother is the blue-hen producer Shirleys Strawfly, now the dam of seven stakes winners. “Jimmy Glenn found Shirleys Strawfly for us,” Boyle said. “He knew that I was a looking for a filly Strawfly Special and he came across this mare. The McGregors from Klamath Falls, Oregon were having a dispersal sale and this filly was among the horses that they owned. Jimmy brought her Salem and I purchased her. She had talent, but had very little patience. She ended up chipping so we retired her. That was okay because we mainly wanted her to breed.” In Hawkinson, Shirleys Strawfly found a perfect mate. In addition to BF Farm Boss, the cross between Hawkinson and Shirleys Strawfly has also produced the champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Strawkins and also the major Grade 1 finalist BF Farm Boy. “This horse looks a lot like his brother Strawkins,” Boyle added. “I’ve had some of the other siblings from this family, but BF Farm Boss is the one that reminds me the most of Strawkins,” Jones said. “Shirleys Strawfly lives in our house, but every spring we bring her to southern California to visit Burns Ranch for breeding. Right now we have a couple of First Down Dash colts, a No Secrets Here and a Favorite Cartel. This year we bred her to Stel Corona.” The Boyle factory of impressive runners figures to continue thanks to Shirleys Strawfly. But for now, it’s BF Farm Boss that is the star following his come-from-behind victory. “He stumbled a little at the start,” Sanchez said. “He was about ¾ lengths behind (Old Girl). I just tried to keep him straight. Once I straightened him out he started rolling. In the last 50 yards of this race he was flying.” BF Farm Boss earned $153,300 for the win to take his career earnings to $231,005. Also saddled by Jones for owner Abigail Kawananakoa, A Goddess Thru Fire earned $62,050 for her solid second place finish. Sired by Walk Thru Fire, A Goddess Thru Fire came into the final after a strong half-;length trial win. Oscar Peinado was Continued on next page
Yearling colt by Walk Thru Fire tops Los Alamitos Equine Sale Sale enjoys strong opening session, median yearling sale price up 35%
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ree Swinger, a yearling colt by the Three head sold for $100,000 or more First Down Dash stallion Walk Thru and seven sold for between $60,000Fire consigned by Edward Allred, $99,999. sold for $220,000 to top this year’s Los Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos Alamitos Equine Sale, held Oct. 4-5 at Los Racecourse and a 12-time champion Alamitos Race Course. AQHA breeder, was the sale’s leadAbigail K. Kawananakoa signed the ing consignor with 43 head selling for ticket for Free Swinger (Hip No. 226), $1,157,100. Burns Ranch, agent, was the whose dam, Chickasis, is a winning consignor of 40 head who sold for a gross 21-year-old daughter of Chicks Beduino of $1,004,700. who ran third in Costal Classic’s 1995 Mr Jess Perry was the sale’s leading California Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG3) at Los sire of yearlings (by average, minimum of Alamitos. Free Swinger is a full brother to two sold) with three head selling for an Hot Hitter, the winner of the 2011 Goveraverage of $75,833. Walk Thru Fire was Free Swinger. the leading sire of total yearlings with nor’s Cup Derby (RG1), and he is a half to two-time Restricted Grade 1 winner Hard Photo courtesy of Los Alamitos 27, four more than the Favorite Trick (TB) Hitting, Grade 3 winner Lassen County, stallion Favorite Cartel. multiple stakes winner Freaking, and Chickasecret, the dam of For more information on the sale, including complete ’09 AQHA world champion Freaky. results, visit www.losalamitosequinesale.com. Carlos E. Raynal paid $200,000 for The Cartels Crown (Hip No. 184), a Corona Cartel colt consigned by Burns Ranch for Balgo Racing Team Inc. The Cartels Crown is out of A Reason To Run, a winning 9-year-old mare by Mr Eye Opener and a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Mongoose Effort. The colt is a half brother to Feature Malinche, a Grade 2-placed daughter of Feature Mr Jess and the winner of last year’s La Pacifica Handicap (Grade 3) at Los Alamitos. Raynal, the sale’s leading buyer, also paid $175,000 for the third-highest seller and highest-selling yearling filly, Perry Sweetheart (Hip No. 43). Consigned by Burns Ranch, agent, Perry Sweetheart is a sorrel daughter of champion Mr Jess Perry and One Sweet Dash, an 18-year-old Grade 3-winning daughter of all-time leading sire First Down Dash. The filly is a full sister to 2010 Golden State Million Futurity (Grade 1) winner One Sweet Jess, and she is a half to 2012 world champion and All American Futurity (Grade 1) winner One Dashing Eagle. Overall, 257 of the 378 head offered in the sale sold for a gross of $4,696,100. The sale average of $18,273 marked a 20-percent increase over last year’s average of $15,201, and this year’s median of $11,500 represented a 35-percent increase over the 2013 median of $8,500. BF Farm Boss, from pg. 6
aboard the filly. Jose Arturo Flores’ Kindergarten winner Old Girl broke quickly from post four, but she had to settle for third place and a check for $43,800. Cruz Mendez piloted her for trainer Lindolfo Diaz. Kickin Your Can, Run By You, James First Affair, Myoceanmemory, Hrh Walkonfire, Off Beat, and Captain Planet completed the field. SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 7
Horse owners make a racetrack work
Successful business people sometimes gravitate to horseracing and occasionally are rewarded for their expensive gambles
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By Michael Curran
ou might wonder sometimes why horse owners would wager so heavily on owning a racehorse. But if you stop and think about it, these individuals started risking everything when most of these selfmade entrepreneurs first set out to make their living. That trait, by its very nature, ingrains them to withstanding the hardships and hurdles that initially befall them and sometimes track them periodically. Farmer, Randy Coleman, is a good case in point. Coleman “Horseracing gives us something to escape to from the rigors raises peanuts and cotton around Morton, Texas, and it is his ilk of our professions,” Coleman explained. that feed and clothe the people in the U.S. Coleman and his partner/wife Sandy only buy and race Farmers constantly face such weather difficulties as drought, Quarter Horses. heat, cold, wind, snow and even too much rain. They are – by “We have probably owned 30-40 head of racehorses,” Coletheir very nature – gamblers by habit. man revealed. “We buy all fillies and started a breeding operation Coleman has been farming since he was 16 years old and you around Morton. That way we can make mares and have more could say he’s grown up with it. control. We have a strict feeding program to try to develop the “We farmers learn to play the cards that are dealt to us,” he said. “We adapt. Fortunately, we are presented with better tools to grow crops. Farming is gambling.” As a farmer, Coleman was accustomed to being around horses from early on. “I’ve always been around horses, starting with 4-H, roping and rodeos,” he said. “I’ve been friends with trainer Blane Wood since our days at South Plains College and about 10 years ago at Ruidoso Downs I ran into Blane and told him to buy a racehorse for me. He purchased an 870 claimer and we had more darn fun than the law allows. We didn’t win races but we could run second with the best of them. One thing led to another and before Coleman knew it he was hooked. “We then went to the New Mexico-bred Sale and bought a couple of Dash To Fame fillies that Above, peanut and cotton farmer Randy Coleman attends to business while watching over two of his horses on his farm at Morton, Texas. At top, horseowner Coleman sits in didn’t cost too much,” he said. the paddock of Ruidoso Downs on the day of the All American Futurity. Coleman’s wife Sandy is a banker and is also accustomed to high stress. Photos courtesy of Michael Curran 8 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
At right, Coleman looks over the All American Futurity proceedings in the paddock of Ruidoso Downs. Photo courtesy of Michael Curran
bodies of the babies.” Randy Coleman is to the point when he said, “Owners pay the bills – trainers, vets and feed. There are large substantial payments to enter futurities or a derby. You have to win or go home.” If he were given the opportunity would Coleman be involved in horseracing again? “I would definitely do it again,” he said. “This venue is hard to be successful in. It’s infectious and there are some wonderful people in this industry. Blane Wood’s clients are basically one big family with few jealousy issues who root for one another.” Although the Colemans have never won a Grade 1 race they did win the Kool Kue Baby Handicap at Lone Star in 2009 with the filly, Lake View Dream and have qualified for all major races except the All American races. Stay tuned, however, farmers are gamblers and don’t be surprised to see a Coleman-owned horse in the All American Futurity or Derby. Michael Curran has spent the past seven years as sports editor for the Ruidoso News. A Pittsburgh native, Curran moved to Ruidoso having never seen a horse race, yet has become an enthusiastic supporter and writer about the Sport of Kings. The sometime political writer likes nothing more than spending time on the backside of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by. Email: se7en@beyondbb.com.
SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 9
Weekend Race Insider: surebetracingnews.com
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?
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By Ty Wyant
t was good to be Paul Jones during the trials to the $375,000 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity (Grade 2). The Breeders’ Futurity is part of “PCQHRA weekend” at Los Alamitos. The $166,000 PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby (Grade 3) is on Friday night and the Los Alamitos Equine Sale is held on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a enticing weekend to be at Los Alamitos, especially if you’re a local named Jones. Jones won five of the nine trials to the Breeders’ Futurity and will saddle six of the 10 qualifiers. Trainers never forget. He remembers having eight horses in the 2004 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Be A Bono, not one of his entrants, won. However, he also recalls the previous year when he had seven horses in the Winter Derby and finished one-two with Lock To Load and Dealadash. These are the good old days, in more ways than one. Donald and Peggy Boyle’s homebred BF Farm Boss easily tops the qualifier’s list to the Breeders’ Futurity and reminds Jones of his full brother Strawkins, also bred and raced by the Boyles. Strawkins never got the credit he deserved. Racing from 2005 through 2007, he was one of the best horses of his decade. Perhaps it is because of his two-year-old season. That year, 2005, he raced in Canada until showing up at Los Alamitos in the Jones barn to finish in a dead heat for the win in the $27,000 Holiday Handicap on Dec. 27. Folks were more
concerned about leftovers than the Holiday Handicap. Before going to Canada he set a track record while winning the $33,400 Pot O Gold Futurity at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Washington. The gelding then continued in Canada to win the $86,000 Canada Cup Futurity (RG3) and the $31,000 John Deere Grand Prairie Juvenile Challenge. This was the same year when Leading Spirit was winning everything in New Mexico before Teller Cartel pulled off the muddy upset in the All American Futurity and Higher Fire was amazing at Los Alamitos. They got the Grade 1 wins, money and the championships. And the attention. Strawkins got even the next summer at Ruidoso Downs. The son of Hawkinson and Shirleys Strawfly won four-straight races. He made a big charge in the 400-yard Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge (Grade 3) to win by an expanding neck. By the time the $269,817 Rainbow Derby (Grade 1) came around in July, everyone knew about Strawkins. He was the 7-5 prompt favorite with a oneand-three-quarter-length demolition in the finals. He raced the 440 yards in :20.736 to set a track record that still stands on The Mountain. He closed out his summer with a troubled third, at 2-1 odds, in the Grade 1, $406,299 All American Derby. He was named champion three-year-old gelding Strawkins went out as a Grade 1 horse in 2007. The four-year-old Strawkins won the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship in his
second to last start. In his last start, he was fourth to world champion Blue Girl Too in the Champion of Champions. BF Farm Boss is receiving more attention as a two-year-old than Strawkins did as a juvenile. The colt has won four of five starts, since running third in his debut. His only setback since then was a fourthplace finish in the Grade 1, $945,000 Ed Burke Futurity. He won his All American Futurity trial by one-and-one-quarter lengths while facing a 14-mile-per-hour headwind and his time was not fast enough to qualify for the finals. Jones believes BF Farm Boss would have been dangerous in the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity. He could get a chance at redemption since he is eligible to the Grade 1, $2.2 million (est.) All American Derby next summer. BF Farm Boss stood out in the PCQHRA Futurity trials. He won the second of nine trials by two-and-onequarter lengths and his time of :17.417 for the 350 yards was the equivalent of one-and-one-half lengths faster than second-fastest qualifier Run By You. Is BF Farm Boss in the same class as his very classy older brother? Time will tell. 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.
Providing Multimedia, Advertising, Marketing and Design Services P.O. Box 7261 Ruidoso, NM 88355 575.937.9330 By appointment only 10 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Racetrack life: The contribution of grooms to racing Different occupational facets, such as grooms, contribute to the common supply of the overall success of horse racing By Michael Curran
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rainers, owners, exercise riders, etc., are allimportant factors and share in the prosperity of any given racetrack. And grooms are no less consequential. Take the story of Sharline “Charley” Robinson for instance – for she epitomizes the usefulness of her profession to the sport of kings. Robinson’s destiny was foretold when she was just two days old, for that was when was photographed in a horse racing win photo. At 14-years-old Charley became a groom for trainer Robert Cappallucci in Raton – responsible for some or all aspects Groom and assistant trainer Sharline “Charley” Robinson stands beside Down Side Magician who qualified for the of the management 2014 All American Derby. of racehorses and/or Photo courtesy of Michael Curran the care of the stables themselves. For 17 years she worked for Bill Leech in Ruidoso, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma as a groom and assistant trainer for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Subsequently, trainer Mike Joiner employed her for five-and-ahalf years with his Quarter Horses. “Mike taught me a lot,” Robinson said. “He secured babies from sales, broke them, started them and trained and raced them. Believe me, it’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get one to a race – seven days a week, 365 days a year.” Robinson takes her responsibilities seriously. SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 11
“These horses depend on us to take care of them,” she explained. “I love my horses and I’m attached to them. They’re like my children. I can’t wait to see their faces early in the morning.” Since working for the highly successful Joiner, Robinson has worked for the past two years for storied trainer, Sleepy Gilbreath. In dual roles – as assistant trainer and groom – Charley was responsible for six horses in the Gilbreath stable and in these roles she was charged with making sure all jobs in her venue were accomplished including talking to vets, farriers and keeping all charts up to date daily. So, what is it about her responsibilities she likes? “I love my job working with horses “Charley” Robinson is a groom and assistant trainer for the outside and it’s fun legendary “Sleeoy” Gilbreath. to see them get to be Photo courtesy of Michael Curran winners,” she said. Gilbreath is a strong voice of confidence when he said, “She’s a pretty darn good girl. I miss her when she’s gone. She’s the equal of any man. She’s a working gal. Charley is good at her craft and as hard a worker as you’ll ever meet.” Robinson sees her part of the piece of the racetrack puzzle in mature, intelligent terms. “Everyone at the barn is an important part that forms a successful team and contributes to the progress of a given meet,” she said. “It takes all these jobs to have a profitable meet. Sleepy’s stable is a quiet and happy barn. He’s a legend. What more can I say about working for Mr. Gilbreath.” Racing “families” stay together from track to track. From Ruidoso Downs, Charley will travel with the Gilbreath employees to Sunland Park in early December. And after the conclusion of that meet, it’s back to Ruidoso to try to win All American Futurity and/or Derby one more time. Michael Curran has spent the past seven years as sports editor for the Ruidoso News. A Pittsburgh native, Curran moved to Ruidoso having never seen a horse race, yet has become an enthusiastic supporter and writer about the Sport of Kings. The sometime political writer likes nothing more than spending time on the backside of a track, digging up stories that might pass others by. Email: se7en@beyondbb.com. 12 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Let’s go to the Fair
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It’s in the blood
By Ty Wyant
By Ty Wyant
et’s go to the fair, the New Mexico State Fair. We can ride the rides, eat chile on or in anything and take in the races that run for 17-straight days. The State Fair dates are now part of a 31-day meet at The Downs at Albuquerque that began Aug. 2 and runs through Oct. 26. The first part of the season (through Sept. 1) goes against Ruidoso Downs and the rest of the season competes with Zia Park. The New Mexico State Fair has a long and proud tradition. In 1946, Pelican won the first running of the New Mexico State Fair Futurity. In 1948, Maddon’s Bright Eyes won the New Mexico State Fair Futurity. In 1950, Blob Jr. won the New Mexico State Fair Stallion Stakes in 22.2 seconds for 440 yards, equaling the quarter-mile world record for 3-year-olds held by Maddon’s Bright Eyes. In 1951, Black Easter Bunny, the dam of Bunny’s Bar Maid, won the New Mexico State Fair Futurity. In 1954, Josie’s Bar set a record of 14-consecutive wins when she won the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby. In 1958, Mr Bar None won the Shue Fly Stakes and Lena’s Bar (TB), the dam of Easy Jet, took the Buttons and Bows Stakes against quarter horses. In 1959, Miss Louton beat Lena’s Bar in the Shue Fly. In 1976, Dash For Cash won the New Mexico State Fair Handicap. The three-year-old then won the first of two Champion of Champions and world championship titles. You get the idea. Many of the all-time greats have raced at the New Mexico State Fair. How many of the above races would you have liked to witness? I’ll join you. The State Fair highlights New Mexico-bred racing and breeding. New Mexico legends and hall of famers Punch and Suzanne Jones won the New Mexico State Fair Futurity with Marooned (1962), Good Catch (1976) and A Roon (1978). They are members of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame and are the only husband and wife to be individually inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame. The New Mexico State Fair Futurity became a sex-segregated race in 1991 and now runs as the Senor Futurity for males and the Senorita Futurity for fillies. If we’re going to the fair, we got to go with the kids. Here’s a peek at this year’s Senor Futurity and Senorita Futurity, each run this Saturday over 400 yards. We’re selecting the fastest qualifiers to step forward in
Jess Bordeaux winning the New Mexico State Fair Senor Futurity. Below, Montauk impresses as second-fastest qualifier for the Senorita Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque. Photos courtesy of Coady Photography
each race. In the Senor Futurity, Gary Thompson’s Jess Bordeaux, bred by the respected New Mexico breeders MJ Farms, battled to a nose win in his trial over secondfastest qualifier Blazin Version. Jess Bordeaux was timed in 19.678 while Blazin Version was clocked in 19.682. The Jesse James Jr-sired Jess Bordeaux finished fourth in the Restricted Grade 1 $392,000 Zia Futurity in late July and did not start again until the Senor trials. The trial win should add to his fitness for the finals. In the Senorita Futurity, Diamond Racing Stables LLC’s Regal First Moon put on an amazing display in her trial. The First Moonflash filly won her trial by seven-and-one-half lengths. Yes, you read that correctly. Seven-and-one-half lengths. Her time was 19.394 and the second-fastest qualifier, Montauk, was clocked in 19.729. It just may be the most elementary handicapping: She’s the fastest filly in the race. Regal First Moon was also coming off a layoff and won her maiden when she won her trial. Last spring at SunRay Park, she made two starts with two runner-up efforts. She was second to Pretty Woody Jesse in their trial to the Restricted Grade 3, $130,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity and they duplicated that one-two finish in the futurity. Ty Wyant has been covering racing since 1976. He is currently the media relations director for Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park, and the curator of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame. SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 13
Top mare makes ‘significant’ poll move
NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS & OLDER 1. BON ACCORD (105) American Quarter Horse 2. TOO FLASH FOR YOU (96) Association 3. HOUDINI (79) Abigail Kawananakoa’s Sig4. MOONIST (70) nificant Heart forged her way 5. NELLIE DELANEY (48) into this week’s AQHA Racing6. DM STREAKN THRU FIRE Horseplayernow.com National (39) Poll for 3-year-olds and older 7. FAR NIENTE (34) following her victory in Sun8. VIVA MI CORAZON (27) day’s $150,000 Mildred Vessels 9. SIGNIFICANT HEART (24) Memorial Handicap (Grade 1) at 10. ROCK YOU (22) Los Alamitos. Five Bar Cartel (21), Llano Cartel The two-time stakes win(10), One Valiant Hero (7), Last ner on the season advanced to To Fire (5), Jody Pops Zoomer (4), No. 9 in the poll, which was led Feature Mr Who (3), Jesscuzican once again this week by Bon (3), TF Featured Effort (2), Wahoo Accord. Significant Heart was (2), Zoomin Away (2), This Dude the only newcomer to the rankCan Fly (1) ings for the older horses. There were no changes to The 11 voters are: the national rankings for the Ed Burgart (Los Alamitos an2-year-olds, where a razor-thin nouncer/handicapper) consensus sees All American Martha Claussen (Q-Racing Futurity (Grade 1) winner JM Ace, writer/handicapper) Miracle the narrowest of leaders, 97-96, over Ruidoso Futurity (Grade 1) hero Kiss My Hocks. NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS 1. JM MIRACLE (97) 2. KISS MY HOCKS (96) 3. HEZA DASHA FIRE (85) 4. TRENDI (83) 5. LOVETHEWAYYOULIE (55) 6. MAD ABOUT THE MOON (45) 7. PAINT ME PERRY (35) 8. OLD GIRL (33) 9. BODACIOUS EAGLE (22) 10. SAM CROW (17) BF Farm Boss (8), Gotta Run Miss (5), Apollitical Blood (5), Game (3), PYB Place Your Bet (4), BV Travelin Soldier (4), Hezadashinbye (3), Exquisite Stride (2), Boi George (2), Eagle On The Fly (2), Hemps Jumpn Lajolla (1), Count De Monet (1), AJs High (1) 14 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Mike Cusortelli (writer/handicapper) Tom Dawson (Network television producer) Dale Day (Remington Park announcer/handicapper) Ben Hudson (TRACK Magazine Owner/Publisher) Mike Joyce (TVG analyst) Jeremy Plonk (Night School co-founder/host) Jerry Shottenkirk (Horseplayernow.com, handicapper/ oddsmaker) Terry Turrell (Horseplayernow. com handicapper) Ty Wyant (writer, Daily Racing Form and AQHA)
Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA Outstanding Heat headlines Wild West Futurity trials
Headed by Kindergarten Futurity finalist Perryczech and the undefeated KT Turtle Move, arguably the best trial in the history of the Wild West Futurity will headline Sunday’s ninerace program at Los Alamitos. Thirty-six 2-year-olds will be in action in the 350-yard AQHA News and information is a trials to the $141,800 Wild West service of the American Quarter Futurity. Four trials will be conHorse Association. For more tested with the horses with the news and information, follow @ 10 fastest times moving on to AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the Wild West final on Sunday, the AQHA Racing Newscast and Oct. 26. The second trial of the visit www.aqharacing.com. night is the main event, as the nine juveniles in action include many of the best young runners to have raced in the Intermountain region this season. Leading the way will be KT Turtle Moves, a gelding by Maknmoves which has been anything but a turtle this year. Fast as a hare, KT Turtle Moves will come in with a perfect record of four wins in as many starts with a daylight win in the $67,000 Western States Breeders’ FuCourtesy image turity at Sweetwater Downs Lexington, KY in Rock Springs, Wyoming Introducing the official logo of the 2015 Breeders’ his most important victory to date. KT Turtle Moves has Cup at Keeneland left with the leaders in all The Breeders’ Cup is proud to unveil the official logo of the of his races and has been 2015 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. on the lead by the halfway On Oct. 30 and 31, 2015, the Breeders’ Cup World Championpoint. A Utah homebred ships will make its very first stop at historic and awe-inspiring for Korry Trapp of Spanish Keeneland. You won’t want to miss the Breeders’ Cup’s return Fork, Utah, KT Turtle Moves to the Bluegrass State, the cradle of the breeding industry and has amassed earnings of where the very idea of the Breeders’ Cup was conceived. $30,570. His dam is Proud The best is yet to come! Mellenna, winner of the
2002 Utah Classic Futurity and the 2004 Shiprock Handicap. To be ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Paul Jones, KR Turtle Moves will need every bit of his acceleration on Sunday against the likes of Perryczech, the fourth place finisher to Old Girl in the $261,000 Kindergarten. Following that nice effort, Perryczcech traveled to Les Bois Park in early summer and was a solid runner-up in the prestigious $150,000 Bitterroot Futurity. Sired by Corona Czech, the homebred filly returned Orange County to post a dominant allowance victory at 330 yards. Yanet Rodriguez will saddle the homebred runner from post number four. This outstanding trial heat will also feature Idaho Cup Futurity winner One Prompt JJ, Utah Bred Futurity winner BK Katniss, Dixie Downs Futurity runner-up CR Proud Prince, and AQRA Spring Futurity runner-up Money Too Burn to just mention a few of the top competitors in this race. Bryce Moosman’s BK Katniss is another one to watch in the star-studded second trial to the Wild West. The filly, a daughter of multiple Los Alamitos stakes winner Hard Hitting, showed her talent in the Utah Bred Futurity with a half-length victory on Independence Day weekend at Wyoming Downs She did struggle in a pair of races at Sweetwater Downs, but she’s a good finisher and lands in the high percentage barn of trainer Justin Clark. Jorge Navarro’s One Prompt JJ is used to high level competition. The Jessie James Jr filly qualified to three futurities at Les Bois Park this year and was dominant in her victory in the Idaho Cup. Previously trained by Monty Arrosa, the Mark and Peggy Brown-bred runner will be saddled by Dean Frey in this Wild West trial. The opening trial will
feature some nice competitors in the form of Los Alamitos maiden race winner Steinway Ivory, who ran third in both the Bitterroot Futurity and John Deere Northwest Juvenile Challenge. Birrell Farms’ BF Apoliticalfanatic was second to the KT Turtle Moves in the Western States final, while Steve Berry’s Gunnin For Doe won an $18,000 stakes race at Laurel Brown and Bob and Scott Giltner’s As Needed was second in a $40,000 futurity at Les Bois Park. The trial will be headed by Moonshine Racing’s Juicy Walk, who ran second to eventual Governor’s Cup Futurity winner Discontent in a trial to that race in mid-July. Moonshine Racing love the Wild West after their runner, All Guns Firing, won last year’s final for trainer Cody Joiner. The latter will saddle Juicy Walk in this race. Bitterroot finalists Zoomin For Cash and Barn Babe are a pair of horses to watch in this trial. The Five Barkers Inc’s Intermountain Futurity winner FIve Bar Sassy is the marquee name in the fourth and final trial. The Hard Hitting filly was a daylight winner in the $28,000 Elko race and earlier this year she broke her maiden in Wyoming by 1 1/4 lengths. While still a maiden, Five Bar Sassy was second in the $34,000 Ed Giles Futurity. Five Bar Sassy ran second to BF Apoliticalfanatic in their Ed Giles trial.
Record payout of $83,261 in Pick Four at Los Alamitos
Sept. 28th’s nine-race program at Los Alamitos Race Course featured an all-time track record payout in the Pick Four of $83,621 for a $1 wager. The figure eclipses the previous record of $72,792 paid on December 11, 2004. The new record payout occurred in the early Pick
Four which consisted of races one through four on Sunday night. The main reason for the monster payout came in the opening race, which was won by 41-1 longshot Primistal Peak in the 4 ½ furlong test for Thoroughbred. The final leg of the Pick Four featured another upset, this time with Jesus Jose Sanchez’s Foose Shadow. The gray filly sired by Foose was sent off at odds of 32-1. In between the two longshots, Oscar Andrade’s Bf Outlandishversion paid $8 to win in the second race and Noel Ayala’s Nate Dawg paid $5.60 for the win as the heavy favorite in the third race. Ridden by Victor Navarro for trainer Kelly Castaneda, Primistal Peak paid $84.40 for a $2 win bet. The win payout was the highest win payout of the meet. For more info, please call 714-820-2690.
Remington Park, Oklahoma City, OK Valiant Hero colt sells for $200,000 to top Heritage Place QH Yearling Sale Suthern Impact, a colt by the Grade 1-winning First Down Dash stallion Valiant Hero consigned by Steve Holt, agent, sold for $200,000 to top the three-day Heritage Place September Yearling Sale, held September 18-20 in Oklahoma City. Toby Keeton, agent, signed the ticket for Suthern Impact (Hip No. 471). A sorrel colt, Suthern Impact is out of Sheza Neon Rose, a 16-year-old daughter of champion Takin On The Cash who won the 2000 Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Futurity (RG3) at
Fair Meadows at Tulsa. Suthern Impact is a half brother to two stakes winners, including Photo Smart, a gelded son of First Smart Money who won the ’09 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2) at Zia Park. Eyes Blue Byou (Hip No. 549), the second-highest seller, was acquired for $155,000 by Gold Buckle Enterprises from consignor Sunflower Supply Co. of Galena, Kansas. A gray son of 2002 AQHA champion aged stallion Jess Louisiana Blue and ’03 Speedhorse Futurity (RG2) winner Miss Racy Eyes, the colt is a half brother to Racy La Jolla, a daughter of Streakin La Jolla who won the 2010 Blane Schvaneveldt Futurity at Laurel Brown Racetrack near Salt Lake City. Lady Perry On Fire (Hip No. 592) brought $145,000 and was the third-highest seller and highest-selling yearling filly. A sorrel daughter of Walk Thru Fire and the stakes-winning and Grade 1-placed Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Sass Me, Lady Perry On Fire is a half sister to stakes winners Jess Being Valiant and Valiant Jess. The filly was consigned by Lazy E Ranch LLC, agent for Speed LLC, and she was acquired by McColee Land and Livestock of Springville, Utah. Eight yearlings sold for $100,000 or more. All told, 679 of the 837 yearlings offered sold for a aggregate sum of $10,945,200, an increase of 23 percent over the 2013 total of $8,890,500 for 659 head. The three-day average of $16,120 per yearling marked a 19-percent increase over last year’s three-day average of $13,491. This year’s median price of $10,000 was up 19 percent over the 2013 median of $8,400. Ramon E. Vega was the sale’s leading buyer with 22 head for $307,400, while Bobby D. Cox led all consignors with 26 yearlings selling for a total SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 15
of $540,900. Two fillies from the Cox consignment, No Entitlements (Hip No. 665) and Runaway Concerto (Hip No. 749), sold for $60,000 each. Corona Cartel was the leading sire (by average with two or more head sold) with 10 yearlings selling for an average of $48,600 per head. American Runaway, a son of twotime AQHA champion Ocean Runaway and the champion 2-year-old in 2010, was the leading first-crop sire with five head selling for an average of $29,800.
jockey Dean Butler set the early pace with wagering favorite General Jack racing just off their heels. DeCarlo kept Long On Value well behind the leaders, gaining ground on the far turn. As General Jack passed Chairman Crooks in midstretch, Long On Value made a strong move on the outside, passing that pair en route to a 1 3/4 length win. Long On Value, owned by Wachtel Stables and George Kerr, returned $7.40 to win. General Jack was second and Chairman Crooks finished third. Final time for the onemile turf race was 1:34.58. Robertino Diodoro toppled perennial training champ Mac Robertson, who has held the title for the past nine seasons, Canterbury Park, by winning five races on the 12Shakopee, MN race program and recording six Long On Value Wins wins including a dead heat in $200,000 Mystic Lake the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile Stakes with Native American Derby on final day and Grand Full Moon, both Robertino Diodoro wins owned by Mercedes Stables. training title; Ry Eikleberry Diodoro concluded the season, top jockey Long On Value, a 3-year-old winning his first training title at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack, colt trained by Bill Mott, won with 50 wins, four more than the richest race of the season Robertson. on the final day of the 68-day In another first, jockey Ry Canterbury Park race meet Eikleberry won the riding title Saturday when he drew off to by winning 64 races, one more victory in the $200,000 Mystic than Butler and Alex Lake Derby with jockey Chris Canchari. DeCarlo aboard. Eikleberry won at a Chairman Crooks and
Long On Value, Chris DeCarlo up. At right top, a dead heat in the Shakopee Stakes with Native American and Grand Full Moon. At bottom, a rider takes part in the Indian Relay on the final day at Canterbury Park. Photos courtesy of Coady Photography 16 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
20 percent rate and his mounts earned more than $1.1 million in purses. Al and Bill Ulwelling of Elk River, Minn. were the leading thoroughbred owners for the third time in five seasons. Their horses made 123 starts and won 23 races. Sky and Sea was named Horse of the Meet. The 3-yearold filly is owned by Scott Rake of Elko, Minn. and is trained by Bernell Rhone. Sky and Sea won four of five starts this summer, including the Frances Genter Stakes, the Minnesota Oaks, and the Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship. Ed Ross Hardy won the Quarter Horse training title. Hardy finished with 17 wins, one more than defending champion Stacy Charette-Hill, claiming his 11th title. Stormy Smith won the Quarter Horse riding title. His 16 victories were one better than last year’s winner Jorge Torres. Bob and Julie Petersen of Cokato, Minn. were the leading Quarter Horse owners with eight wins. The Petersen’s 3-year-old homebred filly Dirt Road Queen was named Quarter Horse
of the Meet. She won four of five starts with victories in the Minnesota Stallion Breeders’/ North Central Derby, the Bob Morehouse Stakes, and the Cash Caravan Stakes. She also finished second in the Minnesota Derby.
Canterbury’s 2014 divisional champions: • Horse of the Year – Sky and Sea (owner: Rake Farms LLC; trainer: Bernell Rhone) • Sprinter – Sky and Sea (owner: Rake Farms LLC; trainer: Bernell Rhone) • Older Horse – Bourbon County (owner: Rake Farms LLC; trainer: Bernell Rhone) • Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Speed is Life (Ez-Az Thoroughbreds LLP; trainer: Doug Oliver) • Three-Year-Old Filly – Sky and Sea (owner: Rake Farms, LLC; trainer: Bernell Rhone) • Grass Horse – Dear Fay (owner: Bo Vujovich; trainer: Mac Robertson) • Older Filly or Mare – Talkin Bout (owner: Camelia Casby; trainer; Gary Scherer) • Two-Year-Old – Hold for More (owner: Dale Schenian; trainer: Francisco Bravo) • Claimer – Terice (owner: Canterbury Racing Club 2014; trainer: Clay Brinson) • Quarter Horse – Dirt Road Queen (owner: Bob and Julie Petersen; trainer: William Harris)
Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA Stryker Phd 2014 Horse of Meeting
Jim and Mona Hour’s Stryker Phd was voted Horse of the Meeting, Top Older Horse and Top Washington-bred Sunday as
Emerald Downs announced its 2014 season honors on closing day of the track’s 19th season. A 5-year-old Washingtonbred gelding, Stryker Phd was unbeaten in three starts including a smashing last-tofirst victory in the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3), and also set stakes records while winning the one-mile Budweiser Handicap and 1 1/16mile Mt. Rainier Handicap. The Larry Ross-trained bay led the meet in earnings, $165,000, and made amends for a runner-up finish in the 2013 Longacres Mile with a stunning five-wide move in the August 24 Mile, rallying from 12th place to win going away in 1:33.67. Stryker Phd has never been out of the money in 12 starts at Emerald Downs, racking up $272,046 in earnings, and was the first Washington-bred to win The Mile since Noosa Beach in 2010. Jockey Leslie Mawing, who scored his first Longacres Mile victory with a perfectly-timed ride on Stryker Phd, won his second Emerald Downs riding title with 102 wins, and was voted Top Riding Achievement for his sensational 11-for-24 mark in stakes races. Horse of the Meeting was hotly contested as Stopshoppingdebbie and Trackattacker also received votes for the track’s top award. Northwest Farms’ Stopshoppingdebbie was a unanimous choice for Top Older Filly or Mare, after compiling an unprecedented second straight division sweep. The 4-year-old Curlin filly ripped off four straight wins topped by a victory in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff, and improved her career mark to 9-for-9. Tom Wenzel received Top Training Achievement for his work with Stopshoppingdebbie, orchestrating the superstar filly to eight consecutive stakes wins in 2013-14.
tacker (WA) Top Juvenile Filly: Ethan’s Baby (WA) Top Claimer: Dare Me Devil (WA) Race of the Meet: Emerald Downs Derby Leading Jockey: Leslie Mawing (102 wins) Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Leslie Mawing (11 wins) Leading Trainer: Jeff Metz (49 wins) Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Doris Harwood (5 wins) Leading Owner: Saratoga West Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd’s trainer, Sharon Ross (at left) and (19 wins) owners Jim and Mona Hour. Top Riding Achievement: Courtesy photo Leslie Mawing (No. 1 in wins & stakes wins) Noosito earned honors as Top Trainer Jeff Metz also Top Training Achievement: continued his amazing success 3-Year-Old. Trained by Doris Tom Wenzel (Stopshoppingat Emerald Downs. The 47-year- Harwood, Noosa Beach’s little debbie sweeps again) brother ripped off three stakes old Californian saddled 49 Durkan Award: Alan Bozell, winners for his second straight wins and looks to be a major Doris Harwood factor next year vs. older horses. training title, joining Tim McCanna and Frank Lucarelli as the Mike and Amy Feuerborn’s Lindy Award: Eliska Kubinova only trainers with multiple titles Chu and You was voted Top at Emerald Downs. Metz (Sara3-Year-Old Filly, following a toga West) also was the meet’s campaign that saw the Robbie leading owner for the second Baze trainee net a win and two straight year with 19 wins. seconds in stakes company. It was the second straight title Lucarelli finished second Lone Star Park, with 41 wins—the 13th time in for the You and I filly, voted Top Grand Prairie, TX the last 16 seasons he’s finished 2-Year-Old Filly in 2013. This year’s 2-Year-old Filly either first or second—and 15 stakes races worth title went to Todd and Shawn also trained Trackattacker to more than $2.5 million three stakes wins and honors as Hansen’s Ethan’s Baby, who was highlight 2014 Fall 2-for-2 including an explosive 6 champion 2-Year-Old Male. Dare Me Devil, who was ¼-length triumph in the Angie Meeting of Champions The 22nd running of the racing in $4,000 claiming C Stakes. Grade 1, $1 million-estimated, races two years ago, enjoyed a Texas Classic Futurity, the resurgent campaign and was Emerald Downs 2014 richest horse race in Texas will voted both Top Sprinter and Season Honors Top Claimer. A 6-year-old Devil Horse of the Meeting: Stryker highlight Lone Star Park’s 2014 Fall Meeting of Champions for On Ice gelding trained by RigoPhd (WA) American Quarter Horses and berto Velasquez for Rancho Top WA-bred: Stryker Phd (WA) Mixed Breeds. Viejo and Jerry Carmody, Dare Top Older Horse: Stryker Phd A total of 15 stakes worth Me Devil finished the season on (WA) over $2.4 million, including a 4-1-0 tear including four wins five Grade 1 races, one Grade 2 at 6 ½ furlongs and a second in Top Sprinter: Dare Me Devil (WA) and three Grade 3 races will be the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic The Emerald Downs Derby, Top Older Filly or Mare: Stop- run during Lone Star Park’s Fall shoppingdebbie (KY) Meeting of Champions. in which Mebossman edged Top 3-year-old Male: Noosito The 26-day meeting will be Del Rio Harbor and Noosito in a (WA) conducted from Friday, Sept. 19 blanket finish, was voted Race Top 3-year-old Filly: Chu and through Saturday, Nov. 15. After of the Meeting. You (WA) opening weekend, there will be Although he was third in Top Juvenile Male: Trackatlive racing every Thursday, Frithe Derby, Last Rose Stable’s SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 17
day and Saturday night. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. First race post time is 6:35 p.m. In addition to the Texas Classic Futurity, other Grade 1 stakes include, the $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap, Saturday, Oct. 4, the $450,000-estimated Dash for Cash Futurity, Saturday, October 11 and the $400,000-estimated Texas Classic Derby, Saturday, Nov. 15. The Grade 2, $150,000-estimated Dash for Cash Derby will be run the same night as the Dash for Cash Futurity, Saturday, Oct. 11. The $1,000,000 Estimated Texas Classic Futurity – the richest horse race in Texas – for 2-year-olds and the $400,000-estimated Texas Classic Derby, for 3-year-olds, are each scheduled for closing night Saturday, Nov. 19. Fields for the finals will be determined by the 10 fastest times from trials. Trials will be held Friday, Oct. 24 for the Texas Classic Derby and Saturday, Oct. 25, for the Texas Classic Futurity. Saturday, Oct. 11, Lone Star Park will host the $450,000-estimated Dash for Cash Futurity, the $150,000-estimated Dash for Cash Derby, as well as the $45,000-estimated Dash for Cash Juvenile Stakes. Trials for the Dash for Cash Derby are set for Friday, Sept. 26 while the Dash for Cash Futurity and Juvenile Stakes trials are scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 27. In addition to Quarter Horse races, there will be stakes events for Paints & Appaloosas and Arabians. The ninth running of the $50,000-added Lone Star Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, with trials to be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 and the $10,000-added Masterpiece Challenge Paint & Appaloosa Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8. On Saturday, Oct. 18, Lone Star Park will host two divisions of the Grade 3 $20,000-Guaranteed Arabian Racing Cup 18 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
and determined to make every effort to ensure everyone plays on a level playing field,” Hubbard said. The new testing steps Ruidoso Downs and the New Mexico Racing Commission will implement include: • All testing will be ‘super testing’ as outlined in the protocol developed by the Ruidoso Downs, NM Jockey Club in Lexington, Ruidoso downs, Kentucky. new mexico Racing • At least the top-three finishcommission announce ers in every trial race will be super testing and tested. extensive video • All Triple Crown qualifiers surveillance will be subject to pre-race Ruidoso Downs Race Track testing and will be randomly and the New Mexico Racing tested at any time between Commission will employ ‘super the trials and the finals. testing’ – including pre-race • The Racing Commission will testing – for the 2015 Ruidoso work in conjunction with the Triple Crown races. New Mexico State Police to Additionally, the most ensure that all off-site testextensive surveillance camera ing throughout the year will system in quarter horse racing be done cooperatively. history will be installed in the “These new steps with the Ruidoso Downs’ stable area for Commission are in addition to the 2015 racing season to conthe track policies announced tinually monitor horses in the recently that requires all qualifitrack’s six Triple Crown races. ers to the Ruidoso Triple Crown “This is a momentous races to remain stabled on the day in Quarter Horse racing,” grounds at Ruidoso during Ruidoso chairman of the board the period between the trials R.D. Hubbard said. “It’s vitally and the finals, and the new important to work with the 24-7 surveillance equipment,” New Mexico Racing ComHubbard said. “The track polimission to make the future brighter. Now it’s brighter than cies and new standards by the it’s been in years and I’ve been Commission go hand-and-hand in tightening the noose around in racing for 50 years.” anyone who thinks they need The 2015 racing season not abide by the rules.” starts on Memorial Day weekThe new surveillance end and the impact of these changes starts on opening day system includes at least four high-quality cameras installed with the first of two days of in the stalls and shedrow of Ruidoso Futurity trials. each qualifier. The recordings “We are very pleased to will continue throughout the work with the Commission period between the trials and on developing additional and finals. Racing officials and enhanced testing that will investigators will review these further advance the Ruidoso recordings at any time. Triple Crown races as the These cameras are an most scrutinized races in the addition to the surveillance country. These six races offer a combined $8.5 million in purse equipment previously anmoney. Ruidoso Downs and the nounced. That equipment will Racing Commission are united be installed at the stable gates
Stallion Stakes – one for colts & geldings, the other for fillies & mares.
and the test barn. The New Mexico Racing Commission confirmed their support on Thursday morning. “The New Mexico Racing Commission is wholeheartedly supporting these more stringent actions at Ruidoso Downs,” said NMRC executive director Vince Mares. “Along with Ruidoso Downs and American Quarter Horse Association, we will diligently work together. Racing integrity for our fans is the highest of priorities.” Ruidoso Downs previously announced steps that included that all trial entrants must be on the race track grounds 10 days prior to trials, all qualifiers must be stabled on the grounds from the trials through the finals of the six major futurities and derbies, and all qualifiers will be subject to random “roll calls” so the identifier can ensure the finalists are on the property. “The enhanced super testing, the pre-race testing, out-ofcompetition testing and the surveillance system are each major steps that have never been taken on a major scale in quarter horse racing,” Hubbard said. “We are so grateful that the Racing Commission and AQHA are working jointly with us to ensure the highest integrity for these major races.” Ruidoso Downs was at the forefront of stricter measures announced in the past few years, working with the Racing Commission and New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez to obtain funding for additional testing and putting into place very strong penalties that have resulted in suspensions of up to 20 years and thousands of dollars in fines. “I want to add that we are not done yet,” Hubbard said. “We are working cooperatively with the Racing Commission, AQHA and Racing Free on additional steps, so stay tuned. We will not be deterred and are totally committed to this effort.”
RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE PHOTO CREDITS: aRIZona: Turf Paradise: Coady Photography aRkansas: Oaklawn Park: Coady Photography caLIFoRnIa: Del Mar: © Benoit Photo Golden Gate Fields: Vassar Photography Los Alamitos Race Course: Scott Martinez Santa Anita Race Park: © Benoit Photo coLoRado: Arapahoe Park: Coady Photography FLoRIda: Hialeah Park: Coady Photography IoWa: Prairie Meadows Racetrack: Jack Coady/ Coady Photography LouIsIana: Delta Downs: Nicole Walker/Coady Photography Evangeline Downs Racetrack: Courtesy of Evangeline Downs Fair Grounds: Hodges Photography Louisiana Downs: Natalie Glyshaw/ Hodges Photography
Bon Accord
CALIFORNIA
mInnesota: Canterbury Park: Coady Photography neW meXIco: Ruidoso Downs Race Track: Ty Wyant/ Roberta Harris/Todd Fuqua Sunland Park: Coady Photography SunRay Park: Coady Photography The Downs at Albuquerque: Coady Photography Zia Park: Coady Photography okLaHoma: Remington Park: Dustin Orona Photography Will Rogers Downs: Courtesy of Will Rogers Downs oRegon: Portland Meadows: Courtesy of Portland Meadows teXas: Lone Star Park: Dustin Orona Photography Retama Park: Courtesy of Retama Park Sam Houston Race Park: Coady Photography WasHIngton: Emerald Downs: Courtesy of Emerald Downs
Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA september 27 bon accord fires fresh in go man go Handicap
ond in the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs in September 2013. Kelly said in the winner’s circle that Bon Accord will make his next start in the $150,000 Los Alamitos Championship over 440 yards on Oct. 18, a race expected to include Last to Fire.
Bon Accord leapt to the fore of the nation’s older Quarter Horse division with a convincing win in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Cesar DeAlba, Bon Accord ($12.40) won by a half-length over Last to Fire, the 2013 World Champion. New Look finished third in the field of 10. Bon Accord ran 400 yards in a quick 19.38 seconds. The Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap was Bon Accord’s first start since a win in the Remington Park Championship on May 31. Bon Accord, 4, earned an automatic berth for the $750,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 13 with the win in the Remington Park Championship. Owned by Garvin Kelly, Nancy Yearsley and Vinewood Farms, Bon Accord is trained by Juan Aleman. The gelding has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $791,870. He was secSureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 19
Downwiththequickness
NEW MEXICO
Hes Relentless
Race Course in California.) In his 3-year-old debut this year, Hes Relentless set the 350-yard track record at Remington Park. However, he has yet to win a futurity or derby final. That could all change in the 440-yard, $175,000 Grade 3 Hobbs America Derby at The Downs at Zia Park. The 3-year-old bay Missouri-bred colt owned by Albuquerque, NM R.D. Hubbard, William and Tom September 21 Maher, and Johnny Cope and Downwiththequickness trained by Jason Olmstead gets first stakes win in was the fastest qualifier to the Hobbs America Derby in 21.268 New Mexico State Fair seconds, .141 seconds faster QH Breeders’ Derby than second-fastest Rae of Fire, Fastest qualifier and oddswhom he beat by three-quarZia Park, on favorite Downwiththequickters of a length in the second of ness scored his first career Hobbs, NM four trials on Sept. 21. stakes win in the $76,224 New October 1 “This will be his fifth final Mexico State Fair Quarter Horse Relentless pursuit of he’s made, ” Olmstead said. Breeders’ Derby (RG3). “We’re hoping this is our first stakes win in Hobbs A homebred gelding by chance to get the monkey off America Be Real Quick owned by Terry our back. ” G. Smith of Santaquin, Utah, Hes Relentless already has Cody Jensen rode Hes Downwiththequickness dean impressive list of accomRelentless for the first time in feated 35-1 longshot First Full plishments. As a 2-year-old in the trials. “I wanted to save a Pocket by one length while cov- 2013, he was one of only two little for the finals, and he threw ering his 400-yard trip in 19.552 horses to make the finals of it in neutral, ” Jensen said about seconds, earning a 93 speed three $1 million Quarter Horse Hes Relentless’ trial victory. “So index. Alonso Rivera rode the futurities – the Heritage Place I tapped him a few times, and gelding for trainer Tejay Smith, Futurity at Remington Park in he finished out real nice. He’s a the owner’s son. Oklahoma, the All American push-button-type horse. ” Downwiththequickness’ Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in The Hobbs America Derby victory was his fifth in 12 starts New Mexico, and the Texas finals will be somewhat of and fifth in six outs at AlbuClassic Futurity at Lone Star a rematch of the $1 million querque. The $38,113 winner’s Park in Texas. (The other was Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso share of the purse pushed his Five Bar Cartel in three sevenbankroll to $68,057, of which figure futurities at Los Alamitos in July where Hes Relentless 20 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
$57,602 has been earned this season. Rivera also rode Downwiththequickness to the gelding’s 2 3/4-length win in the first of two trials on September 7. Madams First Moon, King Of Pop, Rasberry Cola, Sassy Moonflash, My Coronita, Miss Tessmocker, Shez A Weda, and Mountain Kitty completed the order of finish.
took third, Rae of Fire finished fourth, and fellow finalist This Lady Is On Fire was 10th. “That looked like the toughest trial on paper of the day,” Olmstead said about winning the trial that featured all three horses. A newcomer to New Mexico, Docs First Fire made the Hobbs America Derby finals with a victory in his Land of Enchantment debut in the first trial ridden by Jose Montoya. Docs First Fire, who was trained in California by Jaime Gomez, had qualified for some of the top futurities in the Golden last year in the $1.1 million Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and the $281,000 Grade 2 Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course. Earl Armstrong said he began training Doc First Fire in January after owner Jaime Bujanda purchased him for $35,000. “I had to build his heart back up because he was burnt out,” Armstrong said. Docs First Fire had run 10 times as a 2-year-old. “We turned him out for about a month or two, and he is getting better with age,” said Armstrong, who had started Docs First Fire just twice this year in the trials and finals of the Retama Park Derby in Texas in July prior to his Hobbs America Derby trial win. Go and Get, a former
RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE
Jm Famous Master
Fire Burning
claimer in Southern California, followed up his victory in the Manuel Lujan Stakes at Albuquerque with a trial win for jockey Jensen, trainer Umberto Belloc, and owner Alberto Villanueva. Ramon Sanchez will be aboard for the finals. Pretty Little Liar won her 2014 debut in the trials ridden by Roman Chapa for trainer Joaquin Lopez.
Takiana Romanova B, qualified second-fastest in 19.455 seconds in stylishly winning her first futurity trial in four attempts.
of everything I rode [in the trials].” Eagle On the Fly, also trained by Belloc, took third in the $900,000 Grade 1 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso in July. Her Hobbs America trial was her fourth trial victory in four attempts. “She’s kind of a small filly,” said Jensen, who was aboard in the trials. “She kind of struggled with the heavier track [durExperience and uping the trials]. But she ran a really good race. She’s so solid.” and-comers in Hobbs Ramon Sanchez will be aboard America Futurity trials in the finals. The $278,000 Grade 2 Yet Jensen said that unherHobbs America Futurity will alded Dynazip, who was second feature a mix of some 2-yearolds that have already reached in his trial to Volten in just his second lifetime start, may have the highest level of Quarter the biggest upside of the four Horse racing in New Mexico 2-year-olds that he qualified for and some that are late bloomers. Fastest qualifier Jm Famous trainer Belloc. “This horse might actually Master, ridden by Cody Jensen for trainer Umberto Belloc to a end up the best of all of them,” Jensen said. “But he’s the green19.451-second clocking in the second of seven 400-yard trials est of all of them. He’s so big that it takes him a long time to on Sept.20, was third in the get moving. He’s not real quick $260,000 Grade 2 West Texas away from the gates, but once Futurity at Sunland Park in he gets moving, he finished April. He was also a finalist for the best of all of them.” Jose the $700,000 Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in Enriquez will pilot Dynazip in June. the finals. “He’s so big and strong that Belloc will also saddle the [heavy] track [in the trials] Political Report, who broke her didn’t faze him at all,” Jensen maiden in the trials and will said. “He just powered through be ridden in the finals by Ricky it like nothing. He felt the best Ramirez. Another late-bloomer,
World-class announcer visits Zia Park
Michael Wrona, who has announced some of the most prestigious horse races in the United States, Australia, and South America, will call at Zia Park this week from Saturday to Tuesday. Wrona will be filling in for Zia Park announcer Jonathan Horowitz, who will be observing Yom Kippur in California. A native of Brisbane, Australia, Wrona has announced in the United States since 1990 as the track announcer at Golden Gate Fields, Hollywood Park,
Michael Wrona
Arlington Park, and countless other tracks. He described the 2000 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, for a national radio audience. In 2012, Wrona traveled to Argentina to commentate South America’s most prestigious race, the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini at Hipódromo de San Isidro near Buenos Aires, for HRTV.
September 27 Big upset in Lubbock Stakes
The two longest shots finished first and second in the Lubbock Stakes at Zia Park. Fire Burning won the 400-yard, $55,000 Grade 3 stakes race for fillies and mares at 23-1 odds by three-quarters of a length over 28-1 Stel Surprise. Ridden by Joel Martinez Jr. for trainer Alfredo Gomez and owner Elite Oilfield Services, Fire Burning clocked 400 yards in 19.575 seconds for her first stakes victory. After racing in Florida and Oklahoma at the beginning of the year, the 3-year-old bay filly sired by Valiant Hero out of dam Blazin Fire is now two-for-two since returning to New Mexico. She won an allowance race at Ruidoso Downs in August prior to her Lubbock Stakes victory. Courtesy photo Stel Surprise, a $2,500 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 21
Fire Burning winning connections
claim at Los Alamitos Race Course in Southern California in February, has had a new lease on life since joining the barn of trainer Uriel Delgado. The 3-year-old bay filly sired by Stel Corona out of dam Making Surprise was a 35-1 upset winner of the Rocky Mountain Bonus Challenge Championship at Arapahoe Park in Colorado in August. That victory represented the first career stakes success for jockey Alfredo Triana Jr, who was back aboard on Saturday. Zoomin Away, the 8-5 second choice in the field of seven, finished third in the Lubbock after also taking third in the $200,000 Grade 1 All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs in August. Joe Badilla Jr. piloted the Gene Burden-trainee. She is running her best races as a 6-year-old after competing in claiming races for most of her career. Pajarita Sita, a stablemate of Zoomin Away trained by Burden and owned by 21 Partnership, was fourth with Salvador Martinez aboard. Alis Jumpn, the 6-5 favorite, finished fifth, ending her four-race win streak. Send Me a Candy Tree, the defending champion in the Lubbock Stakes, had been entered but was scratched. Fire Burning was the first 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Missourian
double-digit odds winner of the Lubbock Stakes since Alibis Malady was victorious at 16-1 in the first running of the Lubbock Stakes on October 9, 2005, during Zia Park’s inaugural week of racing.
Silva and owner Salvador Aranda. Testing the Ice took third with Roberto Valero aboard for trainer Mario Sanchez. Evenmoney favorite Llano Cartel was fourth. Missourian began his career with three straight wins as a 2-year-old, including September 13 the 2010 $104,900 Heartland Return to glory for Futurity at Indiana Downs (now Missourian Indiana Grand). He also won Missourian captured the the $85,250 Iowa Double Gold James Isaac Hobbs at Zia Park for his first stakes success since Futurity at Prairie Meadows in 2010, his last victory in a he was a 2-year-old in 2010. The 350-yard, $55,000 Grade 2 stakes race prior to Saturday. Yet a seven-race losing streak contest was also the first start in 2011 and 2012 saw Missousince May 2013 for the 6-yearrian subsequently competing old gray gelding. Missourian had a new lease in claiming races. But with his on life in his New Mexico debut new connections aiming high, Missourian defeated a talented for new connections – owner field that included 2014 graded Alonso Juarez, trainer Martin Orona Jr., and jockey Jose Montoya. As an 8-1 longshot in the field of 10, the Missouri-bred sired by Sweet First Down out of dam Ally Bye Bye broke first and gutted out a neck win in 17.598 seconds. “We thought he was preparing well for this race,” said Orona Jr., who began training Missourian in May. “There was a lot of help from our jockey Jose Montoya galloping him and getting him ready.” Big Sluggo, a 22-1 longshot, finished second ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Lillian Missourian winning connections
stakes winners Llano Cartel and Testing the Ice. Llano Cartel won the Grade 1 Leo Stakes at Remington Park in March. Testing the Ice was coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Bank of America Sunland Championship Challenge at Sunland Park in April. Orona Jr. said Missourian, who has now won eight of 21 lifetime races for career earnings of $173,093, will be pointed to Zia Park’s other top stakes for older horses. The $55,000 Grade 2 Lovington Stakes will be run over 400 yards on Nov. 2. The $150,000 Grade 1 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship over 440 yards will be part of the seven stakes races that will take place on Land of Enchantment Day on Nov. 26.
RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED NEW MEXICO
The Downs at Albuquerque, NM October 4 Indys Rocket Scores First Stakes Win in UNM Handicap
Indy’s Rocket, a homebred 4-year-old son of Indy Wildcat racing for Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, earned his first career stakes victory in Saturday’s $60,000 University of New Mexico Handicap (R) for statebreds at The Downs at Albuquerque. Prepped by Ross Amestoy, Indy’s Rocket covered his 1-mile trip in 1:37.33 under jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., who was riding the gelding for the first time in his 14-race career. The $36,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed his bankroll to $77,864, of which $58,926 has been earned this year. Indy’s Rocket became the first stakes winner sired by Indy Wildcat. A 11-yearold son of the Seattle Slew stallion A.P. Indy, Indy Wildcat earned $67,112 from six outs and scored a head victory in the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park in 2006. Indy Wildcat has sired the earners of more than $173,800. The stallion is owned by the Amestoys and Mike Abraham, and he stood the 2014 season at W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farm in Bosque, New Mexico. Indy’s Rocket is also one of two winners from four Thoroughbred starters produced by the late Pocketfullapozzies, a daughter of the Full Pocket stallion Full Choke who won the 4 1/2-furlong, $124,882 Copper Top Futurity (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-year-olds at Sunland Park in 2000. Indy’s Rocket’s half sister, the Chimes Band filly Pocketfullachime, won the ’07 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs. Pocketfullapozzies was a full sister to Bethreefullpockets, a four-time stakes winner in New Mexico from 1998-99. Indy’s Rocket’s second dam, the Kentucky-bred Master Derby mare Be Mindful, was a half sister to four stakesplaced runners, including Dusty Heart, the runner-up to Outstandingly in the inaugu-
Indys Rocket
ral running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes (Grade 1) at Hollywood Park in 1984, and Win Dusty Win, a colt by Run Dusty Run who ran third in the Grade 1, $500,000 Young America Stakes at The Meadowlands in ’86. Indy’s Rocket traces back to his third dam, Name It, a daughter of the Heliopolis stallion Summer Tan who produced the multiple stakes winning and Grade 3-placed filly Clemanna. Indy’s Rocket was just three weeks removed from a wire-to-wire, 3 1/2-length victory at odds of 11-1 in a 7-furlong, $25,300 non-winners-of-three allowance for state-breds at Albuquerque. The gelding has won four races, and his resume includes a third-place finish in the 2012 George Maloof Futurity (R). Joker’s Touch finished second, one length behind Indy’s Rocket. E Bar Way, Playin Tough, Spinning Touch, 17-10 favorite Thunder Agard, Anziger, Hunting Dixie, Sapello Cantador, and Storms Surprise completed the order of finish. A homebred 4-year-old gelding by Touchdown Ky, Joker’s Touch has won four of 12 races and has earned $74,087 for his owners, Michael and Jeanne Fuhs. Unraced at 2, Joker’s Touch won the 6-furlong, $37,000 Don Juan de Onate Stakes (R) for 3-year-olds at Albuquerque in 2012, a race which represented just his second career start. E Bar Way is a homebred 5-year-old son of the Giant’s Causeway stallion The Way Home racing for C. Donnell Echols of Lamesa, Texas. The gelding has won five of
25 outs, including the 2011 New Mexico Eddy County Stakes (R) at Zia Park, and the $6,000 third-place share of the UNM Handicap purse pushed his bankroll to $205,303, of which $110,856 was earned during his 2-year-old campaign.
September 21 Isn’t He Clever Wins $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap
Leading at every call, Isn’t He Clever scored a 2 1/2-length win in the 1 1/8-mile, $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on closing day of the track’s 17-day New Mexico State Fair meet. Isn’t He Clever made his 9-furlong trip in 1:48.13 while making his first career start at the Albuquerque track. Henry Dominguez prepped and Enrique Gomez rode the 5-year-old Smarty Jones gelding for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso, Texas. Isn’t He Clever, a $45,000 buy at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was bred in Kentucky by Monticule. The gelding’s sire, Smarty Jones, is a 13-yearold son of the Gone West stallion Elusive Quality who won the first two legs of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown in 2004. Smarty Jones has sired 21 stakes winners and the earners of more than $26.1 million from 295 starters. The stallion stood the 2014 season for a $7,500 fee at Northview Stallion Station in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania. Isn’t He Clever is one of seven winners from eight starters produced by Sharp Minister, an 18-year-old daughter of SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 23
Isn’t He Clever
Deputy Minister and a full sister to Grade 2 winner Flag Down. The gelding is a half brother to two stakes winners, including Dijeerr, a colt by Danzig and a Group 3 winner in England in ’06. Campaigned in seven different states, Isn’t He Clever has won 10 of 23 races, and the $60,000 winner’s share of The Downs at Albuquerque Handicap pushed his earnings to $704,085. He has won seven stakes, including the 1 1/8-mile, $75,080 Sunland Park Handicap on April 13. Code West, the 7-5 favorite in the field of eight, finished second and was followed by Forest Mouse, Ol Winedrinker Who, Brainwash, Cainam, No It Ain’t, and Timeless Indy. A 4-year-old ridgling by Lemon Drop Kid, Code West shipped in from Oklahoma, where he won the listed 1 1/8mile, $176,050 Governor’s Cup Stakes at Remington Park on August 16 for his owner, Bryan Hawk. Code West has banked $434,176 from 16 outs, and his four wins include a head victory in last year’s Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. Parnell Thomas’ Forest Mouse was coming off of a fourth-place finish in an opencondition 1-mile, $86,510 24 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Burning It
allowance on the turf at Del Mar on August 15. All told, the 6-year-old son of the Forestry stallion Teton Forest has won 16 of 38 starts, including six stakes, and the $10,000 thirdplace share of The Downs at Albuquerque Handicap purse increased his bankroll to $567,277.
in the 6-furlong, $84,907 Dessie & Fern Sawyer Futurity (R) for state-bred 2-year-old fillies. Prepped by Owen Bringhurst and ridden by Brian Theriot, Humarumba established fractions of :22.60 and :44.70 before she reached the wire in 1:11.07. The filly was coming off of a wire-to-wire, 1 3/4-length win in the second of two trials Burning It wins George Sept. 6. Humarumba is one of two Maloof Futurity winners from as many starters Sent to post at odds of 52Humarumba goes wire- foaled by Songs Say So Much, 1, Burning It broke his maiden a winning 7-year-old mare by with a neck victory in Sunday’s to-wire to win Dessie & Yankee Gentleman and a half $89,441 George Maloof Futurity Fern Sawyer Futurity (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-yearDiana Bringhurst’s Humar- sister to Attila’s Parting, the winner of the $75,000 Totah Stakes old colts and geldings at The umba, a homebred filly by the (R) for New Mexico-bred 2-yearDowns at Albuquerque. Artax stallion Diabolical, ran olds at SunRay Park in 2012. Campaigned by Dr. Miguel her win streak to three with a Humarumba has won three Gallegos’ Gallegos del Norte wire-to-wire, half-length victory Racing of Albuquerque, Burning It made his 6-furlong trip in 1:11.22 after closing on the fractions of :21.12 and :43.78 set by 7-5 favorite French Lyon. Elvin Gonzalez rode the homebred gelding by Roman Emperor for trainer Bart Hone. Burning It became the first stakes winner from seven starters sired by Roman Emperor, a stakes-winning Kentucky-bred 9-year-old son of Empire Maker. His dam, Burnt, is a winning daughter of Cherokee Run who has produced three starters. Burning It was coming off of a sixth-place finish in the first Humarumba of two George Maloof Futurity trials on Sept. 6. The gelding has won one of two outs, and the winner’s share of Sunday’s purse increased his bankroll to $44,765. L Dandy, Gator Heat, Born A Ruler, Hot News, French Lyon, Domer Simpson, Naci Knothead, Dom Juan, My Menchie, and Back Seat Thrills completed the order of finish. Brother Jonesy was scratched.
RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED
Belleofthebeach
You’re The Boss
she is one of seven black-type winners from 147 starters sired by the late Master Command, a multiple graded stakes winning son of A.P. Indy. To date, Master Command has sired the earners of more than $8.7 million. The stallion was euthanzied on April 13, 2010, following an injury he sustained after rearing and losing his balance prior to an September 13 afternoon breeding session Belleofthebeach is the day before. prompt favorite in Belleofthebeach is also Casino at the Downs one of two starters produced Handicap by Belle’s Home, a winning Belleofthebeach, a Ken9-year-old daughter of the tucky-bred daughter of Master multiple Grade 1-winning Command racing for Teed Off Gone West stallion Came Stable LLC, was a prompt 8-5 Home. The filly’s second dam, choice in the $50,000 Casino the Broad Brush mare Belle at the Downs Handicap for Artiste, was a three-time stakes 3-year-old fillies at The Downs winner in Pennsylvania, New at Albuquerque. Jersey, and Kentucky from Ridden by Irwin Rosendo 2002-03. for trainer Justin Evans, the Belleofthebeach traces leading conditioner at the back to her third dam, Tassie Albuquerque meet, Belleofthe- Belle, a listed stakes-placed beach went 6 1/2 furlongs mare by Tasso and a half sister in 1:15.11, and her margin to four stakes winners, includof victory was 1 3/4 lengths ing American Dynasty, a twofrom Stormquility. The victory time listed stakes winner in pushed the filly’s earnings to Kentucky in the late ’90s, and $129,864, of which $98,841 has 1999 Alberta Derby (Grade 3) winner Digital Dan. been banked this season. The winner of her last four Belleofthebeach was bred outs, Belleofthebeach was by Calvin Crain. A $20,000 coming off of a 2 1/4-length buy at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, victory in the 6-furlong,
$50,000 Aspen Cup Stakes on a muddy and sealed track at Ruidoso Downs on August 9. The filly has won five of 10 races, including four of five this year. Belleofthebeach returned a $5.20 win mutuel, and she teamed with Stormquility, an 8-1 longshot, for a $2 exacta payoff of $51.40. Divine Way, a 20-1 longshot, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner, to complete a $990.20 ($2) trifecta. Aware, Idling, Let Her Dance, Bridlewood Angel, and Awesome Dama completed the order of finish. Stormquility is a Kentuckybred filly by After Market campaigned by Steve and Stacy Uhland and Barry Koch. She has won two of 10 starts, including the July 6, $40,000 George Wafer Memorial Stakes at Arapahoe Park, and the $10,000 runner-up share of the Casino at The Downs Handicap purse pushed her bankroll to $52,343. A daughter of the Chester House stallion Divine Park, Divine Way was coming off of a seventh-place finish in an August 30, 6 1/2-furlong allowance-optional claiming ($12,500) sprint at Albuquerque for owner Donna Eaton. The filly has won two of 16 outs and has earned $78,645.
of five starts, and the $42,453 winner’s share of the Dessie & Fern Sawyer Futurity purse increased her bankroll to $52,008. Hello Texas finished second and was followed by Desert Gambler, Swede Caroline, Free Expression, Miss Won Ton, I Am Dandy, Icy Bells, and La Foxie Lady.
OKLAHOMA
Remington Park, Oklahoma City, OK October 4 You’re The Boss gains turf spring upset, Vazquez wins three
The Saturday night feature at Remington Park was a $30,000 allowance sprint over the turf at five furlongs. The race had a talented group of nine leaving the starting gate with 16-1 longshot You’re The Boss prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths. Owned by Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla. and trained by Federico Villafranco, You’re The Boss gave Ramon Vazquez his third win on the Saturday program. The 4-year-old bred in Great Britain, You’re The Boss rallied from just off the pace, handling the measure of firm turf in :56.38 seconds. Uno Ducksy led the field to the stretch but gave way to The Absolute One briefly before You’re The Boss took over in the final sixteenth of a mile. Rhetorical came on to gain second with The Absolute One holding SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 25
Tenspeed
on for third as the beaten 8-5 wagering favorite. You’re The Boss paid $34.60 to win, $14 to place and $6 to show. Rhetorical returned $11.60 to place and $5.80 to show. The Absolute One paid $3 to show. The win was the third from 15 career starts for You’re The Boss and the first at Remington Park in three starts this season. A gelding by Royal Applause (GB) from the Rainbow Quest mare Trinny (GB), You’re The Boss earned $17,796 to run his career money to $55,032. Vazquez also won aboard Fatal Sting ($17.80 to win) in race two and Sollozzo ($19.40) in race seven. The riding triple gives Vazquez, the leader in the jockey standings, 35 wins for the season as he attempts to win his second consecutive title at Remington Park. The 2014 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season continues Wednesday thru Saturday, Oct. 8-11, with the first race nightly at 7pm. Remington Park is open daily at 10:30am for simulcast racing and casino gaming, featuring the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, the home of the $1,000,000 Oklahoma Classics 26 SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10
Got Shades
from the lead early in the backstretch run. Under jockey Jareth Loveberry, Tenspeed was maneuvered into position and was rolling along the rail as the field turned for home. El Bongo had the lead throughout but slowed just enough, giving Tenspeed the chance to swing outside to pass in the final sixteenth of a mile. Tenspeed hit the finish a half-length in front, handling the mile in 1:37.19 over a firm course. El Bongo held second with Rage October 2 Riot gaining late for third, 3-1/2 Tenspeed finds lane to lengths from the winner. rally, gaining second The wagering favorite at win of season 7-2 odds, Tenspeed paid $9 to Thursday’s $38,250 allowwin $4.80 to place and $3.80 to ance feature for Oklahomashow. El Bongo paid $7.80 to breds at one mile over turf place and $4.40 to show. Rage went to Tenspeed after he Riot paid $6 to show. rallied to catch El Bongo in the The win was the third from final yards. 11 attempts for Tenspeed, a Owned and bred by Stan son of Aragorn (Ire) from the Wilson of Coffeyville, Kan. Here We Come mare Queena and trained by Kenny Nolen, Corrina. The first-place check of Tenspeed has been rejuvenated $21,870 moves his career earnsince given the opportunity to ings to $45,359. race over turf this season. In three starts, Tenspeed has won October1 twice and finished fourth in the Third race of season a other attempt, encountering traffic issues in the lone defeat charm for Got Shades at Remington this fall. There were no troubles for Got Shades had tried twice Tenspeed on Thursday night. previously to gain victory this The 3-year-old gelding was season at Remington Park, with seventh, nearly eight lengths no success. The third attempt
on Friday, Oct. 17. Tracked by over 69,000 fans on Facebook and 5,800 Twitter followers, Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
proved triumphant as the 3-year-old gelding rallied in the stretch to get up for the score by three-quarters of a length in a $31,000 allowance race. Owned by Dennis Foster of Cle Elm, Wash. and trained by Danny Pish, Got Shades was ridden by Luis Quinonez. In his prior tries this season, Got Shades raced one mile over the turf on Aug. 28 and finished sixth. He came back on Sept. 4 in a six-furlong main track sprint to finish fifth. Wednesday night, Got Shades stayed on the main track but went around two turns in a one-mile attempt. The condition suited him well. Near the back of the field of 10 for the first half of the race, Got Shades was over 10 lengths from the early pace-setter Rooster Bullet who eventually faded to last. Quinonez had Got Shades in the clear with a wide rally into the stretch where he gained on a tiring Bruvver Max who led until under a furlong to go. In the final yards, Got Shades managed to gain the upper hand to finish in 1:37.49 over the fast track. Prospect Knight gained late for second with Bold Stephen a neck behind him for third. Bruvver Max held fourth. Away at 10-1 odds in the wagering, Got Shades paid $22
RACE RECAPS - THOROUGHBRED to win, $11.40 to place and $7.40 to show. Prospect Knight paid $8.20 to place and $6.40 to show. Bold Stephen returned $7 to show. Valdina Saint was the beaten 9-5 wagering favorite and finished fifth. The win is the third from 10 career starts for Got Shades, a Kentucky-bred by Pollard’s Vision from the Run Softly mare Melancholy. The winner’s share of $18,345 increased his career earnings to $159,525. Got Shades had competed in graded stakes company until arriving this season at Remington Park. He started in the 2013, Grade 1, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he ran fifth. The win on Got Shades was one of three on the night for Quinonez. He also won with Valerie’s Vixen ($24.40 to win) in race three and Johnie’s Slew ($5.60) in race nine. The riding triple gives Quinonez 19 wins for the season, good for fifth in the jockey standings. Ramon Vazquez leads the colony with 30 wins.
Prime Engine
77th renewal of the Northwest’s traditional championship event for juveniles. In the process, previously unbeaten Trackattacker – the 3-to-5 betting favorite with over $143,000 wagered to show – stopped badly, yielding the lead to Prime Engine at the quarter-pole, and was eased through the stretch and finished last. “I was going at a comfortable pace, but when we got to the five-sixteenths pole I felt that his stride was shortening,” jockey Leslie Mawing said of Trackattacker. “He swallowed his tongue at the time, and down the lane he never spit his tongue back out at all. He didn’t have a tongue-tie. I just Emerald Downs, took care of the horse after Auburn, WA that.” Prime Engine, ridden by September 28 Isaias Enriquez at 120 lbs, ran Prime Engine dominates 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.49 and Gottstein Futurity; paid $4.80, $3.60 and a whopTrackattacker finishes ping $29.80 to show. Mike last at 3-to-5 odds Puhich is the winning trainer There were two stunning for Dr. Mark Dedomenico of developments Sunday in the Redmond, Wash. $65,000 Gottstein Futurity for Private Boss, a 27-to-1 2-year-olds at Emerald Downs. long shot ridden by Javier MaFirst and foremost, Prime tias at 120 lbs, finished second Engine, fresh off a superior and paid $12.60 and $96.40, maiden score 15 days ago, and the filly Val de Saire, a made it two-for-two with a 28-to-1 shot ridden by Rocco dominating 5 ½-length vicBowen at 120, rallied for third tory over Private Boss in the and paid $87.
WASHINGTON
Cahill Road Stakes for 2-yearolds, Daytona Beach dominated from flag-fall to finish, scoring a 5 ½-length victory in 1:09.81 for six furlongs. David G. Lopez was aboard the winner at 120 lbs for trainer Doris Harwood. “He’s such a nice horse that he just pulled me to the lead,” Lopez said. “I was asking him down the stretch a little bit, and at one point I looked back and was about seven lengths in front. I just stopped riding and let him finish the race.” The victory was worth Bolshoi’s Bluff, Old Fash$27,225 for owners Jeff Harioned Grit and Trackattacker wood of Auburn and Patricia completed the order of finish. and Mullen Chinn of Federal A Kentucky-bred by Way. A Washington-bred by Northern Afleet-Gravy Train’s Harbor the Gold-Hit a Star, Song, Prime Engine earned Daytona Beach is 2-1-0 in five $35,393 for the win, pushing starts overall with earnings of his overall ledger to 2-2-0-0 $41,152. with earnings of $45,111. Moby, ridden by Gallyn Prime Engine stalked the Mitchell at 120 lbs, finished leader as Trackattacker led second and paid $3 and $2.80. through fractions of :23.24, By Harbor the Gold-Last :47.08 and 1:11.77. Enriquez Thoughts, Moby was stakespushed the button on the last place three times at the meet. turn, forged to the lead into Eight Ball Parker, ridthe lane, and the outcome den by Leonel Camachowas never in doubt. Flores, finished third and “When I saw (Trackattack- paid $5.40 to show. Carson’s er) run ahead, I said ‘perfect, Start, who chased Daytona this is where I want to be,’ ” Beach through a half-mile in Enriquez said. “I wanted my :44.57, weakened to finish horse to follow a pace, instead fourth and was followed by of being on the lead where Ididn’taskforthis, Gavinator all the horses put pressure on and Caddy Shack Cat. me. “The horse responded September 27 beautifully. By the five-eighths Grinder Sparksaglo pole, I tapped my horse and continues to improve, we left Trackattacker in the wins $18,900 Sound dust. By the three-eighths Transit Purse pole, I saw (Leslie) Mawing tapping his horse on the Grinder Sparksaglo rallied shoulders and shaking the past Dark Brago and scored a reins at him, and I said ‘he’s three-quarter-length victory beaten.’ This is the nicest horse in the $18,900 Sound Transit I’ve been on. I’ve been riding Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerhorses all over the country, ald Downs. and he’s the nicest two-year Ridden by David G. Lopez, old I’ve ever been on.” Grinder Sparksaglo ran six In the $50,000 NWSS furlongs in 1:09.98 and paid SureBet RacingNews.com • October 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 10 27
$3.80 and $2.40. Robbie Baze is the trainer for owners Les Lynd and Richard Sena. A Washington-bred by 1996 Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone, Grinder Sparksaglo has won two straight, and is 2-1-2 in six starts overall with earnings of $27,166. Smart Copy, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, caught Dark Brago in the final jump for second and paid $3.40 to place. Dark Brago, ridden by Javier Matias, led to deep stretch and finished third. Hoody finished fourth, and Spit and Shine was scratched earlier in the day. For Lopez, it was his second win of the day and vaulted him to fourth place overall with 52 wins. Baze has 21 wins at the meet and is tied for sixth place with Tim McCanna, Chris Stenslie and Blaine Wright.
Tale Spinner
paid $8.40, $4.80 and $2.40. Joe Toye is the winning trainer for owner/breeder David Breiwick. A 4-year-old Washingtonbred gelding by Raise the Bluff-Summer Straw, Tale Spinner has won three of four starts at the meet – all onemile races – and has a career record of 4-3-2 in 17 starts with earnings of $37,885. september 26 Memphis Mobster, ridden tale spinner splashes to by David G. Lopez, nearly led victory in ubs Purse at gate-to-wire, but was overemerald downs hauled late by Tale Spinner, Tale Spinner wore down and settled for second place. Memphis Mobster in the Memphis Mobster, the 8-to-5 final strides and scored a 1 betting favorite, paid $3.40 ¼-length victory Friday in and $2.20. the $11,650 feature race for Carving, ridden by Leslie 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Mawing, finished third and Downs. paid $2.40 to show. AssessRidden by Ronald Richard, ment and Somewhere With Tale Spinner ran one mile in You completed the order of 1:36.88 on a sloppy track and finish.
CALIFORNIA
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
Stopshoppingdebbie, the 2.00-to-1 betting favorite, appeared to labor in the 100-degree weather and was beaten for the first time in 10 career starts. The 4-year-old Curlin filly never reached contention, lagging in fifth place while Tribal Gal and Uzziel dueled through a fast half-mile of :44.22, and had little response in the lane when Top Kisser and Elvis Trujillo swept past Tribal Gal for a 3 ¾-length victory. “It felt like I had horse around the turn, but she didn’t go on with it,” jockey Rocco Bowen said. “I don’t want to use it as an excuse, but if felt like she was getting a hold of the track like 50-50. “I’m thankful to be on her; she’s better than this. Tom (Wenzel, trainer) said they’re going to go over her real good later this afternoon and decide where to go next.”
september 4 stopshoppingdebbie fades in L.a. heat, finishes fifth in $100,000 L.a. Woman Northwest Farms’ Stopshoppingdebbie had her undefeated bubble burst Saturday at sweltering Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. beating only one horse while finishing a wellbeaten fifth in the $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes won by Top Kisser ($6.20) in 1:14.84 for 6 ½ furlongs. Top Kisser
F
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Home to FOUR of the Top SEVEN Active Sires in New Mexico ATTILA’S STORM
Sire of 11 Stakes Horses in 2013
DIABOLICAL
Red hot first crop sire, #4 in the U.S., Co-leader by winners (14) and co-second by Stakes Horses (5)
PREMEDITATION
Sire of 52% winners and 53% repeat winners in 2013, led by MR. WIZARD ($212,051)
ROLL HENNESSY ROLL
Co-leader in NM by 2013 stakes winners (4)
Plus—
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