Sure Bet September 2014 by SureBet Racing News

SEPTEMBER 2014 路 VOL.8 NO.9

Too Flash For You wins All American Derby

All American weekend coverage from Ruidoso Downs

starting on pg. 5

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

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PO Box 7261 • Ruidoso, NM 88355 www.surebetracingnews.com PUBLISHER: EUGENE HEATHMAN Cell: 575.937.9330 publisher@surebetracingnews.com BILLING/ACCOUNTING: ANNA FUQUA Cell: 575.937.6849 billing@surebetracingnews.com AD SALES: MANDA TOMISON Cell: 806.777.2075 manda@surebetracingnews.com KENNA RAUSCH Cell: 903.815.0602 kenna@surebetracingnews.com E D I T O R I A L S TA F F : TODD FUQUA 575.937.0344 editor@surebetracingnews.com MICHAEL CUSORTELLI oaktown_c@hotmail.com MARTHA CLAUSSEN mclaussen50@yahoo.com TOM DAWSON tvtom@aol.com TY WYANT ty_wyant@yahoo.com MICHAEL CURRAN se7en@beyondbb.com DESIGN DIREC TOR: KATHERINE KIEFER production@surebetracingnews.com

CONTENTS s e P t e M B e R 2014 • VO L. 8 N O. 9 Cover photo by Todd Fuqua After winning the 2014 All American Derby as a duo Sunday, Aug. 31 at Ruidoso Downs, jockey Larry Gamez shares a joyous moment with Too Flash For You.

Cover Stories: Too Flash For You wins $1.9 million All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jm Miracle comes through with All American Futurity win

Maiden win in All American Juvenile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Trainer Joiner stays hot with First Down Dash win. . . . . . . . . 11 Upset in All American Gold Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Feature Stories: Exercise riders valuable assets by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Loves Brown Sugar by Martha Claussen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 It’s in the blood by Ty Wyant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The intriguing story of horseracing silks by Mike Curran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 News

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Landsburg devoted to horse racing; Former RTCA council member Reynolds passes on’ OKC Sale sets new records; Tornado survivor rolls to first win; Hefty Increases Recorded at Northern California Sale; Memorial for Rita Danley; Corona Cartel colt highest seller at Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale; Roll Hennessy Roll colt sells for $87,000; First Moonflash colt tops NM-bred yearling sale; Jockey Raul Valenzuela bounced from All-American dream; Tyler Baze achieves milestone; Moonist now three-time derby winner; Berry notches 2,000th Thoroughbred win

Race Recaps: Quarter Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Results from Los Alamitos Race Course; Arapahoe Park; Canterbury Park; The Downs at Albuquerque; Ruidoso Downs Race Track; Retama Park, Emerald Downs

Thoroughbred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Results from Arapahoe Park; Evangeline Downs; Canterbury Park; The Downs at Albuquerque; Ruidoso Downs; Remington Park; Emerald Downs

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SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

COVeR stORY

Too Flash For You wins 1.9 million All American Derby

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Jose about it for a long time, and August 31 • Ruidoso dream Espinosa and Michele Laird’s Too everything came together. We had lots Downs Race Track, NM of room and a clean break and the horse Flash For You raced to a 9-1 upset win in the Grade 1, $1.9 million All Ameriran a huge race. can Derby Aug. 31 at Ruidoso Downs. “He’s had some time to mature. We The All American Derby offers the got banged around every time last year largest purse of any quarter horse derby in the finals and he never had a chance. and the winner receives an invitation This year the breaks have been coming to the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of our way and he’s had a chance out of Champions at Los Alamitos in December. the gates. He’s got a big kick on the end The New Mexico-bred Too Flash For when he gets out of the gate.” You earned $806,772 to push his career It was the first win in a seven-figure earnings to $942,188. race for both Giles and Gamez. Champion Five Bar Cartel broke on Too Flash For You, a $20,000 Ruthe lead from the inside post position idoso Select Sale purchase, raced to his while Too Flash For You ran a perfect, fourth-straight win in the All American professional race from the sixth post Derby. The gelded son of First Moonposition under Larry Gamez. Too Flash flash started his winning streak against For You started sharply and the horse New Mexico-breds. He won the $85,000 inside of him went in and the horse outNew Mexico Horse Breeders Stakes and side of him drifted out at the start. Too then the $45,000 New Mexico Breeders Flash For You ran down Five Bar Cartel Derby. Then he won the second of 12 and scored the one-half length win. Five trials to the All American Derby with the Bar Cartel was second by a neck over seventh-fastest time of 21.375 seconds Houdini, the 8-5 favorite. for the 440 yards. “When he heard that click and the “I met Jose (Espinosa) at the GilAt top, Too Flash For You ﬂashes past en route gate opened, I’ll tell you one thing, he lespie Fairgrounds,” said so-owner Laird. to winning the All American Derby, Aug. 31, at left with the gate and he was rolling,” Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Above, jockey Larry “He was the leading trainer and I asked said jockey Larry Gamez. “I just talked Gamez is obviously happy with his win. him if I could buy a horse with him. Jose to my horse and asked him to go a little Photos by Todd Fuqua picked him out and this has been the faster. And he did – he did it! When we thrill of a lifetime. We thank Larry for hit the stretch, I went to a left-handed a great ride and Wes for doing such a (stick) and I got another gear. I saw that horse on the inside (Five great job with our horse.” Bar Cartel) and I was looking at that wire, and I said I got this.” San Gregorio Racing Stables’ Five Bar Cartel ran his best It has been a sensational summer for Giles. He also won race since winning the Grade 1 $1.1 million Ed Burke Million the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity with Trendi and he at Los Alamitos in June, 2013. He secured the 2013 chamsent out 10-year-old Miracle Snow to win the $50,000 Zia pion two-year-old colt title by also qualifying to the Grade 1, Quarter Horse Championship. He was also second in the $1,045,000 Golden State Million and the Grade 1, $1,990,000 Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup on Saturday with Los Alamitos Million at the Southern California track. Jesscuzican. However, Too Flash For You provided the sumA total of 20,764 fans attended Ruidoso Downs for the All mer’s largest paycheck. American Derby, roughly the population of Lincoln County. “It feels really good,” said trainer Giles. “You wait and you Ruidoso Downs is located in Lincoln County. SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 5

*TROPHY SADDLES AWARDED TO WINNING OWNER & TRAINER OF ANY WEST TEXAS SERIES RACE

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6 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

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COVeR stORY

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Jm Miracle completed a memorable afternoon for owner J&M Racing and Farm and trainer Umberto Belloc when he won the Grade 1, $2.6 All American Futurity before a record 24,778 fans on Labor Day, Sept. 1, at Ruidoso Downs. Two races earlier, the same connections won the $100,000 All American Juvenile with Jm Specialwynn. Jm Miracle got a clean start from the third post position and was immediately racing with the leaders. He took command at the halfway mark and none of his rivals were able to mount a serious challenge while he went on to win by one-half length. “He warmed up pretty good but he was a little excited in the gate, turning his head and looking around,” said Sanchez “We got him settled down and he got quiet. He broke decent – he didn’t break in front, but he went to running, I switched (sticks) and we got the lead about the middle way. And after that he finished strong.” He was distressed after the race and given a ride to the barn in a van as a precautionary measure after being cooled with water. “He’s tired, he’s exhausted,” said Belloc. At top, Jm Miracle, far left, bests the duo of Bodacious Eagle (center) and Apollitical Blood during Monday’s running of the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Above, Jockey Ramon Sanchez waves to the crowd as he rides Jm Miracle back. Below, Jm Miracle is walked around the track to cool off and later had to be vanned off the track. Photos by Todd Fuqua

Jm Miracle comes through with All American Futurity win

September 1 • Ruidoso Downs Race Track, NM

Mad About The Moon was second by a neck over Sam Crow. Jm Miracle, with Ramon Sanchez aboard, was timed in 21.380 seconds for the 440 yards. Sanchez won the 2009 All American Futurity on champion Runnning Brook Gal and the 2012 All American Futurity aboard world champion One Dashing Eagle. For trainer Belloc, he won the All American Futurity the first year he qualified a horse for the classic. He also qualified This Fire Is Cold. “I don’t know if I can describe this; it’s so good. I wish everyone who does what I do would win it once in their lifetime, it’s a great feeling,” said Belloc. A $40,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, Jm Miracle was one of only two horses to qualify for the Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity, the Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Futurity and the All American Futurity. He finished a fast-closing second in the 350-yard Ruidoso Futurity. The other horse to qualify for the three futurities is Bodacious Eagle, who finished fifth in the All American Futurity. Jm Miracle, a son of Volcom, reached the All American Futurity finals when he was the fourthfastest qualifier on the first of two days of trials. The horses with the fivefastest times on each of SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 7

Above, Jm Specialwynn, far left, is ridden by jockey Sergio Becerra to a victory in the All American Juvenile, Sept. 1, at Ruidoso Downs; at right, Becerra celebrates after the win. Photos by Todd Fuqua

History converges

A quartet of All American Futurity winning jockeys held a cabal after the second day of trials for this year’s All American Futurity. Pictured are (l-r) Jerry Burgess, winner aboard Bugs Alive in ’75 in 1975; Johnny Cox, winner in 1971 aboard Mr Kid Charge; Tim Tall Chief, horse owner and breeder from Edmond, Okla.; Joe Badilla, Jr., winner aboard A Delightful Dasher in 1999, and G.R. Carter, a two-time winner in 1998 on Falling In Loveagain and 2008 on Stolis Winner. The day before this photo was taken, Carter had ridden five horses to qualifying times to the 2014 All American Futurity. Photo courtesy of Manda Tomison 8 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

the afternoon’s 14 trials qualified for the All American Futurity. This feeling I have right now is something I cannot describe,” said owner Javier Marquez.” This is a very well-bred horse. I always believed I would win the All American one day. It was my dream and I never wanted to quit until it came true.” David Valdez’s runner-up Mad About The Moon, a $5,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, was the only horse in the All American Futurity who did not win his trial. He finished a nose behind Bodacious Eagle in their trial and had the fifth-fastest time of 21.442 on the second day of trials. The First Moonflash gelding won his maiden two starts ago at Ruidoso Downs. Terry Baber’s Sam Crow, a $40,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase, grabbed third-place for trainer Blane Wood. The consistent gelding by Valiant Hero was second in the Ruidoso Juvenile and then won his Rainbow Futurity and All American Futurity trials. In the $100,000 All American Juvenile, with two-yearolds who did not qualify for the All American Futurity preferred, Jm Specialwynn found an opportune time to win his maiden in his third start. The Sergio Beccera Jr.-ridden Jm Special Wynn got a clean start with a clear path and showed that 440 yards could be his best distance. The Walk Thru Fire son finished strongly to win by three parts of a length with a :21.523 time for the quarter mile. Outta Texas was second, a neck ahead of third-place finisher Stone Cold Diamond. Jm Specialwynn, an 8-1 longshot, was seventh when he made his career debut in the trials to the Grade 1, $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity and was then second by onehalf length in his All American Futurity trial.

COVeR stORY

All American winners in excellent condition

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — All American Futurity winner Jm Miracle and All American Juvenile winner Jm Specialwynn – each owned by J&M Racing and Farm and trained by Umberto Belloc – are in good order at Ruidoso Downs the morning after the most important wins of their young careers on Labor Day. Javier Marquez, owner of J&M Racing and Farm, and Belloc each said that Jm Miracle will now be rested over the winter while Jm Specialwynn may compete at Zia Park and Sunland Park. “We’re just going to take it one race at a time,” Belloc said. The Walk Thru Fire colt’s options could include the Hobbs America Futurity and the Sunland Winter Derby. Jm Miracle was exhausted after his victory in the Grade 1 $2.6 million All American Futurity, according to Belloc. “I was concerned and then the veterinarian told us that there was nothing wrong with him. Then I was relieved,” Marquez said. “He’ll be in a large pasture and then come back to Ruidoso for the derbies.” The 2015 derbies are the Grade 1, $875,000 (est.) Ruidoso Derby, the Grade 1, $1 million (est.) Rainbow Derby and the Grade 1, $2.2 million (est.) All American Derby. Jm Miracle was one of only two horses who qualified for the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities this summer. He was a fast-closing second in the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity. Jm Miracle, winner of the 2014 All American Futurity, decides his winner’s blanket tastes pretty good as jockey Ramon Sanchez looks on during the traditional winner’s photo shoot, Sept. 2, at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Photos courtesy of Roberta Harris, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Connections posing with Jm Miracle the day after their win in the 2014 All American Futurity are (l-r) trainer Umberto Belloc, jockey Ramon Sanchez and owners Javier and Elsa Marquez.

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10 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

COVeR stORY

August 31 • Ruidoso Downs Race Track, NM

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Trainer Mike Joiner scored his second stakes win as many days at Ruidoso Downs when Catch Billy The Kid won the first running of the $100,000 First Down Dash, Sunday, Aug. 31. On Saturday, Joiner sent out Dm Streakn Thru Fire to win the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup. The Cody Jensen-ridden Catch Billy The Kid scored his first win of 2014 with a 21.718-second time for the 440 yards. Her O Don Won, the 9-5 favorite, was three-quartersof-a-length behind Catch Billy The Kid for second and it was another one-half length back to third-place finisher Cruzin. Billy Smith, Lyle Guillory and J Bar 7 Ranch’s Catch Billy The Kid broke extremely well from the starting gate and went straight to the lead with a wide path to the finish line. He was never seriously threatened on his way to the 9-1 upset score.

Trainer Joiner stays hot with First Down Dash win A gelding by Fdd Dynasty, Catch Billy The Kid made each of his three previous 2014 starts this summer at Ruidoso Downs. His best efforts have come at the end of the summer season. He was second in his trial to the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Derby in his previous out. Joiner was primed for more success, saddling Kates Dynasty and J Bar in the All American Derby, leading Tempting Destiny and Thunderball B into the All American Futurity. None of the four horses could pull of a win in the multi-million dollar races.

Above, Cody Jensen rides Catch Billy The Kid to victory in the First Down Dash Stakes at Ruidoso Downs, Aug. 31; below, Trainer Mike Joiner, right, surveys the winner’s circle before bringing in Catch Billy The Kid after the victory. Photos by Todd Fuqua

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 11

Upset in All American Gold Cup August 30 • Ruidoso Downs Race Track, NM

UIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Dm Streakn Thru Fire was best in the last half of the 440 yards and scored a 26-1 upset victory in the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs Aug. 30. Richard Sturdevant, Terry Wootan and Joe David Yates’ Dm Streakn Thru Fire also earned an invitation to the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion Of Champions at Los Alamitos in December. The All American Gold Cup is the most improved Quarter Horse race in recent history. The purse was boosted from $40,000 last year to this year’s $200,000 and it was awarded Grade 1 status after being run as a Grade 3 race last year. The winner now receives an invitation to the prestigious Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of Champions in December at Los Alamitos. The All American Gold Cup is the first day of three straight days of Grade 1 stakes at Ruidoso Downs. On Sunday, is the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Derby, which also carries a Champion of Champions berth to the winner. On Labor, closing day of the summer season, is the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity. The All American Futurity offers the largest purse of any two-year-old race in North America. Dm Streakn Thru Fire, breaking from the fourth post position, bumped with Jody Pops Zoomer in the third post position when Jody Pops Zoomer bore out at the start. The incident did not deter Dm Streakn Thru Fire. 12 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Ridden by Joe Badilla Jr., Dm Streakn Thru Fire was immediately in contention for the lead and fought gamely for the neck win over 12-1 outsider Jesscuzican. It was another neck back to third-place finisher Zoomin Away, who went off at 22-1 odds. “I looked at his replays and this horse looked like he didn’t break as sharp as I like,” said Badilla. “But, he gave me a really good break today and I was on the lead from the get-go, he surged past them and held on to his position.” Badilla retired in 2006 as a four-time national champion jockey and came back this year. The Gold Cup was his first Grade 1 stakes win since his comeback. Dm Streakn Thru Fire, a gelding by Walk Thru Fire, covered the 440 yards in 21.472 seconds for his first win since taking the Grade 1, $150,000 Zia Park Championship back in November. He was then third in the Grade 1, $350,000 The Championship at Sunland Park on December 30. In his three previous starts this year, his best finish was a fifth-place run in the Grade 1, $100,000 Leo Stakes at Remington Park this spring. “He’s got a little age on him and he’s not as consistent as he used to be, but every once in a while he’ll fire one of those races and it was the right time today,” said trainer Mike Joiner. “We ran him in the Mr Jet Moore about a month ago and he didn’t run all that well, but after that he started training like he did when he was a 3-year-old. So, I thought there was a chance he might run one of those races today.”

COVeR stORY At left, Joe Badilla rides Dm Streakn Thru Fire to a victory in the All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday; at right, Jockey Joe Badilla shakes hands with trainer Mike Joiner after the win. Photos by Todd Fuqua

Joiner’s Gold Cup victory foreshadowed a big weekend for Joiner, as he also led Catch Billy The Kid to a win in the First Down Dash Stakes and had four horses in the All American Derby and Futurity. Alas, none of those horses were able to put together a winning run. Darian Burt’s homebred Jesscuzican, a son of Feature Mr Jess, finished second in his third-straight race for trainer Wes Giles. After being placed first in The Championship at Sunland Park, he was second behind Jody Pops Zoomer in the Grade 3, $30,000 Higheasterjet Handicap and the $20,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap. 21 Partnerships’ Zoomin Away, a daughter of Azoom, won four-straight races against claiming and optional-claiming company before a fourth-place run in the Mr Jet Moore. The Gene Burden-trained mare has been on the board of six of

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seven starts this year. Jody Pops Zoomer, the 19-10 favorite, finished eighth and 2-1 second choice Handsome Jack Flash was seventh in the full 10-horse field.

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SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 13

Exercise riders valuable assets By Michael Curran

xercise riders are one more piece of the puzzle to a successful racetrack. Normally, they are not seen by the fans in the grand stand on race day, but nonetheless, are important to the training of racehorses. They must be fit, generally around 150 pounds, have the skill to be able to control horses of varying ages and levels of racing experience and be able to communicate effectively with the trainer he or she rides for so the trainer understands just where the horse is in its training schedule. Twenty-year-old, 5-foot 11-inch, Rudy Valles is one such example of what an exercise rider contends with daily and easily communicates the position he maintains. Valles has been at it now since he was 14 or 15 years old. “I love my job and look forward to it every day,” Valles said. Valles started in Albuquerque at the Downs Racetrack and Casino, then he went on to Sunland Park and has now been at Ruidoso Downs Race Track for the past three years. He gets up at 5:15 a.m. beginning his workday At top, exercise rider Rudy Valles aboard the Sleepy Gilbreath-trained Daring N Dashing at Ruidoso Downs summer of 2013. At right, Valles aboard the Jaime Dominguez-trained Pyc Little Lady at El Paso spring of 2014. Courtesy photos 14 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

at 6 a.m., six days a week. He usually gallops a horse nice and easy for one lap around the track. “I’m responsible for all the horses in Sleepy Gilbreath’s barn,” Valles explained. “Sleepy has a rich history and fantastic knowledge of horseracing. I’m fortunate. I like working for people like Gilbreath and Blane Wood. I maintain a weight of 155 pounds and am lucky that I don’t have to keep to a weight regimen.” This affable exercise rider has a positive attitude about his job. “A good horse makes it fun and worthwhile,” he said. “I like riding fast horses – horses that can compete. It makes you want to come to the track.” Valles knows what he’s talking about. This summer he’s ridden Handsome Jack Flash, who won the $2.6 million, 2013 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. He has also galloped Down Side Magician who qualified for this year’s $2 million All American Derby. He has also galloped Feature Mr Bojangles, who was named Sunland Park’s 2013/14 Quarter Horse of Meet and won the $350,000 Sunland Championship. “Feature Mr Bojangles is a smart horse with a good personality and is poetry in motion,” Valles said. “You can easily tell he’s a good horse.” Valles possesses an undeniable,

Galloping racehorses is one more consequential part to any successful racetrack

“

I never thought I would ride for the likes of Gilbreath, Blane and Trey Wood, James Lackey, Clay Sparks, etc. It’s a privilege to have worked for such people.

”

— Rudy Valles, exercise rider at Ruidoso Downs confident attitude about his job. As well he should. “I love horseracing,” he said. “I never thought I would ride for the likes of Gilbreath, Blane and Trey Wood, James Lackey, Clay Sparks, etc. It’s a privilege to have worked for such people.” Blane Wood succinctly summed it all up when he recently said, “Exercise riders are a valuable asset to any trainer and racetrack.”

At top right, Rudy Valles aboard the Trey Woodtrained Hez Our Secret at Sunland Park winter 2013. Above, Valles aboard Sleepy Gilbreath-trained Handsome Jack Flash at Ruidoso Downs. At right, Valles aboard the Jaime Dominguez-trained This Lady Is On Fire in the spring of 2014 at Sunland Park. Courtesy photos

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 • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 15

Loves Brown Sugar

Sweet treat for two Texas racing couples

By Martha Claussen

oves Brown Sugar is a special racehorse with an intriguing history. The bay daughter of Prime Talent out of the Royal Shake Em mare Loves Easter Bunny was bred in Texas by her owner G. Sue Fikes. Trained by native Texan Kie Mushinski, the talented mare has won 11 of her 27 career starts, defeating stakes-winning fillies and mares and even AQHA Supreme Horse, Charal Kid. The road to her success had its share of challenges, but began with a rock solid foundation built by two Texas racing couples, who live in the small Texas town of Hearne, adjacent to the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area.

Texas born and bred Sue and her husband, Charles Fikes make their home six miles outside of Hearne, Texas. They have a small racing operation, preferring to breed their own horses. They owned and bred Loves Easter Bunny, who has produces three fillies, with Loves Brown Sugar as the standout. Charles recounts that they consulted with Jimmy Eller of Granada Farms and decided to breed Loves Easter Bunny to Prime Talent.

At top, Loves Brown Sugar was just fast enough in the Live Oak Handicap at Retama Park Aug. 14 to close out a stellar year at the Selma, Texas track. At right, Loves Brown Sugar won the Selma Stakes for a second year in a row at Retama Park, one of three stakes wins she had this season. Photos courtesy of Coady Photography 16 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

“She was nothing out of the ordinary,” he said of Loves Brown Sugar as a weanling. “When they’re small you never can tell, but, conformation wise, she was great.” Gentle as a weanling, one of the Fikes granddaughters, Kylee, thought she was sweet and asked suggested they name her Brown Sugar. She was sent to Ryan Basham for breaking and then to Mushinski, who along with his wife, Donna, have a farm in Hearne and have known the Fikes since 1995.

Far from sugar and spice Mushinski quickly saw the talent of Loves Brown Sugar but had a few obstacles to overcome in her training. “She was an aggressive filly; never like to be touched,” the trainer recalled. “But I knew she had run in her. One morning I worked her in company with three Joe Kirk Fulton 2-year-olds and she outworked them.”

Loves Brown Sugar winning connections, following the Live Oak Handicap win Aug. 14 at Retama Park.

But her stall demeanor was not the only issue. She was entered in a maiden at Sam Houston Race Park on April 16, 2011 with top regional jockey, David Alvarez in the saddle. It was a far from ordinary debut, as she bucked repeatedly and did not finish. Her trip comment was simply “bucking bronco”. Alvarez said adios and three months later, Juan Torres got the leg up and stayed aboard with Loves Brown Sugar as she raced greenly to a seventh-place finish. “The jocks were scared of her,” Mushinski said. “I just felt that she needed to get a good warm-up and understand who was boss.” Four months after her bucking debut and in her fifth career start, Loves Brown Sugar broke her maiden in a 350-yard dash, earning a 98 speed index. Whether it was maturity or the patience of her trainer, the steely filly was on her way to becoming one of the top race mares in Texas. Mushinski is not one to push his horses, and Loves Brown Sugar received a seven month freshening after her 2-year-old season and six months off prior to returning to action in both her 4-year-old and 5-year-old campaigns. “I trust Kie and his judgment,” Fikes said. “He has always shown a knack for figuring out the idiosyncrasies of his horses.”

Juggling jockeys Loves Brown Sugar got a reputation as the bucking bronco in the early stages of her career, but quickly Santos Carrizales became the lone rider who transformed her from a loose cannon to a focused race mare. “Santos is an intelligent rider and has always gotten along well with the mare,” said Mushinski. “She wants to be the boss and Santos does not fight her.” The veteran rider is one of the more respected jockeys in Texas and has been on his share of stakes winners. “Loves Brown Sugar outran Charal Kid, one of the best horses I have ridden in my career,” Carrizales said. “She always had the talent, but needed to mature. We go into the gate and she gives it everything she’s got; she is a great horse to ride.”

Retama Park standout James Leatherman is the racing secretary at Retama Park and has tremendous respect for Loves Brown Sugar. “She won three races here in 2013, beating the boys in the King William,” Leatherman said. “Kie has set the same course this year, and she has been as good in 2014 as ever. This is a very special mare.” Leatherman gives high marks to SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 17

Mushinski, who is a strong supporter of the annual Quarter Horse meet at Retama Park. “Kie is a great guy and we appreciate that he brings his horses ready to run,” Leatherman added. Loves Brown Sugar loves Retama Park with eight of her career victories at the Selma, Texas racetrack. She won the 2013 Selma Stakes, covering 350 yards in 17.600 seconds, earning a 101 speed index. Victories followed in the King William Handicap and the TQHA Classic with rider Santos Carrizales as her regular pilot. In 2014, she also captured three stakes, closing the meet out with a sharp tally in the Live Oak Handicap. Retama Park honored Loves Brown Sugar as their 2014 Horse of the Meet and champion mare. “What makes her so special is her attitude,” Mushinski states. “She’s always been tough as nails, but now she has become a seasoned racehorse. She’s sound and fit and wants to win every time she enters the starting gate.”

Texas pride and tradition Mushinski and his wife Donna were high school sweethearts in Hearne, and will celebrate their 43rd anniversary in October. Involved in Quarter Horse racing since 1981, Mushinski trains for several owners, but has a special connection to the Fikes. “Charles thought Kie would be a good fit to train their horses,” Donna said. “We just think they are wonderful people.” Mushinski runs horses at each of the Texas tracks, Sam Houston, Lone Star and Retama, with 20 in training right now. His top performer, Blue Ribbon Dash, was a graded stakes champion distance horse that represented Texas in the Bank of America Distance

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Challenge at Los Alamitos in 2009. Donna bred the gelded son of First Place Dash, who made 58 starts from 2003-2011. Donna commends Kie’s prowess with female runners. “He’s particularly good with fillies,” said Donna of her husband. “A lot of trainers don’t have the patience; it’s not always easy to get the best from them; if they don’t perform right away, many just see them as a broodmare prospect.” The couple has remained loyal to Texas racing, despite higher purses and breeding incentives in surrounding states. “We’re in it because we love it,” explained Donna, who is hopeful that the Texas Racing Commission will approve Historical Racing in their August meeting. “We never left for greener pastures; we’ll stay and play here.” The talented mare is on her way to Lone Star Park where Mushinski has her pointed to the Refrigerator Handicap Oct. 4 and the BF Phillips Nov. 1. Loves Brown Sugar was honored as TQHA high point mare in 2013 and looks like a lock to cinch that honor again this year. And while they are in no rush to retire this divine champion, there is a lot to look forward to with her babies, whether they be “sugar, spice, everything nice” or bucking broncos! Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.

It’s in the blood

By Ty Wyant

There’s always an exception

By Ty Wyant

ou’ve heard it. Probably said it. “There are too few outcrosses in quarter horse racing.” Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s all First Down Dash, Corona Cartel and Mr Jess Perry. Fill out the list with the next seven horses on the all-time leading sires of money earners: Dash For Cash, Chicks Beduino, Easy Jet, Strawfly Special, Streakin La Jolla and Feature Mr Jess. Guess what? The leading older Quarter Horse at Ruidoso Downs, with a pair of graded stakes wins, does not have any of the above stallions in his first three generations. Raymundo Medrano and Sammy Valeriano’s Jody Pops Zoomer goes into the Grade 1, $200,000 All American Gold Cup – which carries a Champion of Champions invite to the winner – off wins in the Grade 3 Highesterjet Handicap at 350 yards and the Grade 3 Mr Jet Moore Stakes at 400 yards. He won the Grade 1, $394,000 Texas Classic Derby at 440 yards and was moved up to third in this year’s Grade 1, $154,740 Remington Park Championship at a quarter mile. Jody Pops Zoomer runs with a powerful stride, devouring ground. Yet, he does not hail from the most fashionable of pedigrees. Just a pedigree filled the racehorses. Trainer Blane Wood once told me: “I’ll take all the horses with Pop Pop in their pedigree.” The Pop Pop thing started with Jody Pops Zoomer’s second dam Gotta Pop Pop by Bobby Que, a son of Three Chicks and a Go Man Go mare. Gotta Pop Pop was old school. She set a track record at G. Rollie White Downs and was second in the Poor Boy Sprint Futurity. She won two of four starts at two, her only year of racing. She joined the broodmare band and excelled while being bred to a variety of stallions. Bred to Jody O Toole, Gotta Pop Pop produced Grade 2 Manor Downs Derby winner Jodies Pop Pop and Jody Pops Zoomer dam Jody Pops Little Sis, winner of the Grade 3 Dixie Stallion Futurity and third in the Grade 2 Manor Downs Derby. Bred to Dash For Randy, she produced Grade 2 TQHA Sales Futurity winner Randys Pop Pop. Bred to Special Elan, she produced TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity winner Gotta Special Pop, dam of Evangeline Downs Derby winner Shake Em Special Pop. The tail-male line of Jody Pops Zoomer provides generations of production. It goes back to Three Bars (TB) in the seventh generation. Jody Pops Zoomer’s sire Zoomin For Bux is sired by Shazoom. The tail-male line continues with Takin On The Cash, Dash For Cash, Rocket Wrangler, Rocket Bar (TB) and then Three Bars (TB). Zoomin For Bux earned $259,739 and set a Retama Park 350yard track record of 17.240 seconds while winning the Grade 1 Retama Park Futurity. He was also second in the Grade 2 Longhorn Futurity, the Grade 2 Harrah’s Entertainment Derby and the

Jody Pops Zoomer, winning the Mr Jet Moore Handicap at Ruidoso Downs, Aug. 3. Below, Jody Pops Zoomer taking the Higheasterjet Handicap, June 28 at Ruidoso Downs. Photos courtesy of Roberta Harris, Ruidoso Downs Race Track

Grade 2 Longhorn Derby. He was third in the Grade 1 Sam Houston Futurity. He has continued his success in the stud. His offspring is led by Jody Pops Zoomer, who has earned $279,218 going into the All American Gold Cup. He has also sired $227,456 earner and Canadian champion Zoomin After Six, and $183,794 earner and $161,950 Evangeline Downs Futurity winner Sstrickortreat. Zoomin For Bux was one of the top-10 third-crop sires in 2013. Jody Pops Zoomer is bred 3S x 2D to the highly-respected racehorse and sire Jody O Toole, who died in 2010. Zoomin For Bux is out of a Jody O Toole daughter and Jody Pops Zoomer’s dam, Jody Pops Little Sis, is by Jody O Toole. Jody O Toole won or placed in 16 of 25 starts and earned $280,721. The precocious colt won the Grade 3 Graham Farms Futurity, Grade 3 Texas Futurity, Grade 3 Coors Distributors Futurity, JAL Ranch Futurity and the Texas Poor Boy Sprint Futurity. He was fourth in the All American Futurity and qualified for the All American Derby. His offspring have earned more than $8 million with 319 winners (36 stakes winners) from 543 starters. Jody Pops Zoomer’s pedigree may not include the most fashionable horses, but it is packed with black-type earners who were genuine racehorses. Which would you rather have: fashion or winning? 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 • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 19

The intriguing story of horseracing silks R

By Michael Curran

UIDOSO DOWNS — Did you ever wonder why jockeys wear distinctive colors and designs when aboard a specific horse and then may appear later on another horse with different colorations and schemes? Many times, certain things are so commonplace and before us so often we don’t stop to wonder about the possible significance of what we see. That’s just human nature. Most of the time – in horseracing – we focus on the larger picture in front of us – the action of the race itself and the eventual winner. Most of us don’t stop to ask ourselves about blinkers, blanket colors or jockey silks. But all of these things play an important part of the puzzle and contribute to the successful outcome of horseracing. The interesting story of jockey silks is one such example. The origin of modern jockey silks come from England and were first mentioned there in 1515, when Henry VIII sat on the throne (according to Horse & Hound Gallery). Specific colors and caps designed like coats of arms were worn to identify a horse and rider. Chariot drivers in ancient Rome may have been the first to sport racing colors when they wore brightly colored capes and headbands to distinguish themselves. By the 1700s, the English horse owner’s list increased greatly and it was consequential to have original designs and colors to eliminate confusion. Fast-forward to today and you can see that heritage continues at horseracing tracks across America. Most tracks have 20 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

a silks room – like Ruidoso Downs Race Track – or a silks area in close proximity to the jockey quarters. Racing silks belong to the owner of each given horse and can be issued to a trainer if said trainer is also the owner. All designs and colors – supplied by the owner – are done in tasteful schemes. If an owner does not supply or own his or her own silks (they are not required to do so), then the racetrack will provide solid-colored silks. The colors of the No. 1 horse are red, No. 2, white, then blue, yellow, green, black, orange, pink, turquoise, purple, gray and down to No. 12, which is lime green. The colors never change and the jockey caps and saddle blankets match the horse-number colors. Silk colors do not have to match the cap and blanket colors. At Ruidoso Downs, Silks Manager Darlene Hart has the responsibility of making sure all jockeys in every race are wearing the correct silks before they climb aboard the horse. “In my three years in this job I have personally never seen any inappropriate language or designs on the silks,” Hart said. “The jockey silks can be made of silk but most are now synthetic silk or jersey material, which is lightweight. The designs can be the ‘classic’ use of the owner’s initials and possibly coupled with an additional design, like an illustration of a rooster, horse, oil well – or even Yoda.” Hart has never seen custom-fit jockey silks at Ruidoso, Hobbs or Sunland. One size fits all because more than one jockey may ride for a given owner of a specific horse. The pants are normally black or white. All jockey clothing is fastened with Velcro® or snaps. The majority use Velcro® – quick

At left, shown is but one wall of silks at Ruidoso Downs in the jockey quarters. Most silks represent the owner of the horse. Above, Silks Manager, Darlene Hart, displays the colors of horse owner R.D. Hubbard. Above right, no-assigned solid color silks are worn when owners don’t provide their own designed silks. At right, Hart displays one of the many clever silk designs – the boxing rooster. Photos courtesy of Michael Curran

on and quick off. The silks are packed up at the end of each meet and are taken to each track where the owner races. Jockey silks at Ruidoso Downs are set up in the silks room by color scheme – reds together, blacks, blues, etc. Every track has its own color scheme set-up. Each silk being used is set out for the jockeys for that particular day. There are no distinctions between the silks of a Quarter Horse race or a Thoroughbred race. “Silks are an important issue with owners and trainers,” Hart explained. “I like the interaction with the people in this industry. It can be rewarding.” 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 • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 21

Alan Landsburg Courtesy photo

Sacramento, CA Landsburg devoted to horse racing

Alan Landsburg, a television writer, producer and director who in later years focused on improving horse racing as a racing commissioner and industry leader, died Thursday at the age of 81. Landsburg graduated from New York University with a degree in communications and then honed his skills in the U.S. Army as a writer, director, and producer of special events for the American Forces Network in Europe. Following his discharge in 1956, this broadcasting experience helped him become one of the youngest directors ever when he joined the NBC radio affiliate in New York at the age of 21. From there he moved to Los Angeles in 1961 to join the new Wolper Productions, which was his opening into television. An Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee, he was responsible for more than 2,000 hours of network programming, including the “Biography” series, “National Geographic” specials, “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau,” and “That’s Incredible.” He frequently addressed important social issues in his films. Spousal 22 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

abuse, rape, religious intolerance, child sexual abuse, breast cancer, and AIDS were some of the important subjects that Mr. Landsburg treated with candor, intelligence, and sensitivity. “Bill” starred Mickey Rooney as a man with mental retardation struggling to re-integrate into society after being institutionalized. Landsburg purchased his first share in a thoroughbred in 1977 and went on to own and race more than 400 horses. In 1993 he became a founding director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), which sought better representation for the owners of California racehorses. He also served on a number of volunteer committees for the California Horse Racing Board. He was appointed to the CHRB in 2000 by Governor Gray Davis to a term that expired Jan. 1, 2004. He served as chairman in 2001 and 2002. Landsburg donated his time and expertise in the production of several videos promoting the horse-racing industry, including one for the CHRB titled “Protecting Racing’s Integrity.” He also made a video for the TOC that demonstrated to the Legislature just how important racing is to California. “Our industry has lost a true leader and compassionate friend,” said CHRB Chairman Chuck Winner. “Alan always strived to do what was best for people and animals alike. I personally, like so many of us, will miss him.”

Cypress, CA Former RTCA council member Reynolds passes on

Elsie Reynolds, a longtime council member of the Los

Alamitos in 2005. “(Monty) appreciates all (the) thoughts and prayers,” Linda said. “Day by day it is a struggle, but having great friends and a wonderful family bond we will get through our loss. She is gone but never will be forgotten.

Oklahoma City, OK OKC Sale sets new records

Elsie Reynolds

The OKC Summer Sale set records in all areas Sunday at Remington Park, becoming Alamitos division of the Race the highest grossing sale with Track Chaplaincy of America, a new record sales topper and passed away following a sudthe highest average since the den battle with cancer. Elsie sale started in 2007. was a beloved figure in the Los Hip 10 – a Tiz Wonderful Alamitos chaplaincy and evercolt out of the Cherokee Run present at the track’s Sunday mare Serena Ballerina – topped services. the sale at $67,000. Shawn Elsie was an ardent Schabel of Independence, Kansupporter of all of the local sas, purchased the OklahomaRTCA activities, particularly of bred colt from Brewster Ranch, programs that recognized the agent for Clark O. Brewster. grooms in the local barn area. With a $48,000 price tag, She was also a major part of the the sale’s second highest seller Los Alamitos RTCA council that was Hip 72 a Summer Bird colt was presented with a special out of the Petionville mare recognition award at the 2010 Nakayama Jeune. Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Like the sales topper, the Racing Association Awards colt went to a buyer who drove Banquet. south from Kansas to attend Elsie and her husband, the Sunday afternoon sale. Monty, could always be found Lester Ellenz of Tipton, Kansas, in the grandstand area, just purchased the colt from leadoutside of the walking ring, ing consignor, Mighty Acres, for whenever one of their horses Center Hills was competing at Los Alamitos. Mighty Acres and Centers A huge lover of Quarter Horses, Hills have sold the last two winMonty always raced a horse or ners of the Iowa Stallion Stakes two at the Orange County oval and they also sold the full sister and Elsie was always on hand to this year’s winner on Sunday. to root on their horses. Their With total sales of most memorable moment on $487,450, the sale averaged the track came courtesy of the $8,863 with a buy back rate of Linda Godinez-trained Hazel 35 percent. Last Pie. The mare won the “We had the best crowd, Professional’s Choice Claiming the best horses and the best Stakes on Bank of America Rac- results in our sales history,” said ing Challenge Night held at Los Sales Manager Terri Carter. “Our Courtesy photo

buy back rate is tribute to the incredible racing we have here with maiden special weights running for $35,700. We also have a great stakes schedule and the sale company added a $25,000 bonus to the Clever Trevor Stakes, so some consignors chose to hold on to their horses and take a shot at that.” Carter said the sale has always been tied to opening weekend at Remington Park and this year it also coincided with the national HBPA meeting in Oklahoma City. “The atmosphere at the track opening weekend was just incredible,” said Carter. “Scott Wells does such a great job and it sure didn’t hurt that Bryan Hawk who won the $175,000 Governors Cup Saturday night, was shopping Sunday while grinning from ear to ear.” The average saw a 20 percent increase over last year and the gross was up 23.5 percent. The catalog had 93 with 85 offered on Sunday and 55 sold. The buy back rate of 35 percent was an increase over last year’s 26 percent.

Ranch, the colt was purchased by Randy Morris of Anthem, Arizona. The colt is out of the stakes-placed Broken Vow mare Serious Vow, and he is a half brother to last year’s sale topper, Rowdy Dylan, who sold for $60,000 and was eventually pinhooked for $280,000. The second-high seller, an unnamed bay daughter of Artie Schiller (Hip No. 18), was acquired by Al Bresciani of Woodland, California, for Stormtoremember, Cliff Berry up. Photo courtesy of Dustin Orona Photography $58,000. Consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, the filly is out of Paz Ciudadana (CHI), Charlie’s Deere was third, threemaiden race for state-breds. a 14-year-old mare by Golden quarters of a length behind Entering the lone turn of the Voyager who won four stakes in the runner-up, paying $4.20 to race, Stormtoremember was Texas and Louisiana from 2005show. moved to the front by jockey 06, including the listed $75,000 A son of Actor from the Cliff Berry. Once on the lead Irving Distaff Stakes at Lone Dance Brightly mare Beata, in the field of 10, the gelding Star Park in ’06. Stormtoremember earned impressed as he crossed the Jeff Bonde of Pleasanton $20,395 for his maiden triumph. finish line six lengths ahead paid $50,000 for Top Notch (Hip Lion Of Lone Oak, with plenty No. 84), a chestnut daughter of in reserve. Pleasanton, CA Old Topper and the Royal AnOwned by Reza Aryan of them mare El Sierra Tahoe. The Hefty Increases Norman, Okla., Stormtorememfilly was consigned by agent Recorded at Northern ber is trained by Kenny Nolen. Sierra Sunset Ranch. He recalled the young winner’s California Sale A leading trainer on the By Mike Cusortelli situation on the day of the California circuit, Bonde also tornado. Northern California paid $50,000 for Suavemente “He was at Celestial Acres Yearling and Horses of Racing (Hip No. 58, a dark bay or training center outside of Age Sale, held Aug. 12 at the brown son of the stakes-placed Moore, one of the first areas Alameda County Fairgrounds Rio Verde stallion Grace Upon Tornado survivor where the tornado hit. Luckily, in Pleasanton, recorded large Grace and the winning and rolls to first win he was in a barn that had roof across-the-board increases. stakes-placed Proud Irish mare damage but structurally was The Moore, Okla. torTotal sales reached Air Force Woman. Suavemente still standing. There was nothnado of May 20, 2013 devas$1,054,700, an increase of 141 was consigned by Lovacres tated thousands of lives in and ing left of the other barns there percent over the $438,500 Ranch of Warner Springs, Caliwhere many horses were lost.” around the central Oklahoma figure from 2013. The average fornia. Stormtoremember was suburb of Oklahoma City. sale price of $12,556 marked a A total of 123 head was bred by M. B. Aryan of Norman, 109-percent increase over last Horses, and the farms where consigned to the sale. There and the family raised him bethey resided in the area, were year’s average of $6,007. were 28 buybacks and 10 outs. fore putting him into training. “I not spared from the destruc“The improved results are For complete sale results, visit tion. Wednesday night at Rem- always thought he was a pretty a reflection on a better quality the CTBA’s website at www. ington Park, a fortunate equine good colt,” Nolen said. “He was of horses in the sale,” said Doug ctba.com, and click on the survivor from that disaster put special tonight and this is a re- Burge, president of the Cali“Sales” link at the top of the on quite a performance in add- ally nice win. He’s a good story fornia Thoroughbred Breeders’ homepage. for what he’s been through.” ing to his tale. Association, which conducted Stormtoremember crossed the sale. “It was well supported Ruidoso Downs, NM Stormtoremember made the finish in 1:23.12 over a fast his first start of the year and by both sellers and buyers from main track. At 6-1 in the wager- northern and southern Califor- Memorial for second of his career, both ing, he paid $15.60 to win, $6 to nia.” Rita Danley happening after the tornado. place and $4.20 to show. Lion Longtime New Mexico The 4-year-old OklahomaThe sale topper was a unOf Lone Oak was the beaten 3-2 named colt by Forestry (Hip No. Horse Breeders’ Associabred gelding tracked the early tion trustee Rita J. Danley of pacesetter Heza Smokey for the wagering favorite, paying $3.60 30) who sold for a sale-record to place and $2.60 to show. Anthony was honored with a first half of the seven-furlong $75,000. Consigned by H & E SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 23

memorial in the winner’s circle at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Aug. 21. Danley, 67, served as an NMHBA trustee for the past 19 years. She was raised on the racetrack, as she was the daughter of Percy Hodges, a longtime Thoroughbred trainer on a Midwest circuit that included Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Neb., and Centennial Racetrack near Denver, and Doris A. Ashton. Both of her grandfathers, Walter Hodges and Omer “Pete” Hall, were also racehorse trainers. The third oldest of six children, Danley was born in Phoenix and attended school in Chickasha, Okla. In addition to being an NMHBA board member, she also served on the board of the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association. Danley was an accomplished racehorse owner who primarily campaigned her own homebreds, which were trained by her husband of 49 years, Fred Danley. The Danleys met at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in the early 1960s, when Rita was working as a mutuel clerk and in the track kitchen, and Fred was an assistant trainer for his father, Ike Danley. Some of Danley’s most accomplished homebred Quarter Horses include Gotta Get, a son of Celadon and the AQHA champion aged gelding in 2006; Rabbit Revival, the winner of the $375,143 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG1) at Zia Park in ’08; and Namehimastreaker, a gelding by Mitbeastreaker who won 14 stakes and earned $627,649 from 19962004. Danley’s homebred Thoroughbreds included stakes winners Happy Me and Hollywood Gone. In addition to her husband, Danley is survived by two adult children, daughter Destre Danley-Burks (Stoney) and son 24 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

champion Ocean Runaway. Jess A Sweetie (Hip No. 360), the second-highest seller, was acquired by Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas, for $260,000 from the Allred Bros. Ranch LLC consignment. A bay daughter of 2010 world champion Apollitical Jess and the Grade 3-winning First Down Dash mare One Sweet Jess, Jess A Sweetie is a half sister to three stakes winners, including ’12 world champion One Dashing Rita Danley Eagle and Grade 1 winner One Courtesy photo Sweet Jess. Dan and Jolene Urschel Dusten Danley, five grandchilpurchased the third-highest dren, three step-grandchildren, seller, Betchacantcatchme (Hip one step great-granddaughter, No. 231), for $235,000. Conbrothers Walter Hodges (Sue), signed by Kirk Goodfellow’s Dale Hodges (Donna), and Way- Dreams Come True Ranch of land Hodges (Pat); sisters Darla Nacogdoches, Texas, the sorrel Niemi (Barry) and Dayna Turner colt is a son of 2009 champion (Rick); and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Attn: Justin Schroer, Director of Development, 1201 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131. Memorial gifts may also be sent online at www.UNMfund.org.

2-year-old colt Tempting Dash. His stakes winning and graded stakes placed dam, the Takin On The Cash mare Dreams For Lyndsie, is a half sister to three-time AQHA champion Catchmeinyourdreams. Trotter also acquired the fourth-highest seller, Devilwitha Bluedress (Hip No. 22), for $230,000. The filly, consigned by agent Belle Mere Farm Ltd., is a sorrel daughter of Corona Cartel and a full sister to 2007 world champion Blues Girl Too. A total of 347 of the 461 yearlings offered sold for an aggregate sum of $15,555,400. The average price of $44,828 was 8-percent higher than last year’s average of $41,480. There were 93 yearlings who did not reach

Corona Cartel colt highest seller at Ruidoso Rip Tide, the horse that sold for $300,000 on the first day of the RuSelect Yearling Sale idoso Select Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs. By Mike Cusortelli

Rip Tide, a Corona Cartel colt consigned by agent Lazy E Ranch LLC, sold for $300,000 to top the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, held Aug. 29-31 at the Ruidoso Horse Sale Pavilion at Ruidoso Downs. Reliance Ranches LLC of Llano, Texas, signed the ticket for Rip Tide (Hip No. 90) on the opening night of the sale. The colt is out of Little Surfer, a stakes-winning 8-year-old daughter of all-time leading sire First Down Dash and a full sister to 2006 world champion Wave Carver and two-time

Photo courtesy of Richard Chamberlain

Jess A Sweetie. Photo by Todd Fuqua

Roll Hennessy Roll colt sells for $87,000 By Mike Cusortelli

Betchacantcatchme - the highest seller during day 2 of the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, is shown in the pavlion during Saturday Night’s auction. Dan and Jolene Urschel paid $235,000 for the Tempting Dash colt. Photo by Todd Fuqua

their reserve and 22 outs. Also, a total of 39 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more. Lazy E Ranch, agent, was the sale’s leading consignor with 25 head sold for $1,569,000. Reliance Ranches LLC was the leading buyer with 14 purchases totaling

$1,764,000. Corona Cartel was the leading sire by average, as his 25 yearlings sold for an average price of $84,240. For more information, including complete results, visit www.ruidososelectyearlingsale. com.

An unnamed colt by the Hennessy stallion Roll Hennessy Roll topped the Thoroughbred portion of the Aug. 15-16 New Mexico-Bred Sale at the Ruidoso Downs Sale Pavilion. Consigned by Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch of Anthony, N.M., the colt (Hip No. 229) was purchased on Saturday for $87,000 by Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, R.D. Hubbard, Brad King, and Dale Taylor. He is one of nine foals produced by Thunder Bertie, a 16-year-old daughter of Thunder Gulch who won the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (Grade 3) at Arlington Park in 2000, and he is a half brother to the listed stakes winning Saint Ballado filly Ballad Of Bertie. The second-highest seller,

an unnamed colt (Hip No. 220) by the Military stallion Tin Can Sailor, sold for $55,000 to Jim McClintic. Consigned by W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farms of Bosque, New Mexico, the colt is out of Multitasker, is a winning 8-year-old mare by Bertrando and a half sister to two graded stakes winners, including 2013 champion 2-year-old colt and Grade 1 winner Shared Belief. Another unnamed colt (Hip No. 187) consigned by Double LL was acquired for $50,000 by West Texas Racing Partnership. A chestnut son of the Storm Cat stallion Weather Warning, the colt is one of seven foals produced by the 14-year-old Sunday Minister mare Smooching, who is a half sister to Ciento, a Prospector Jones gelding who won 14 New Mexico-bred stakes from 2001-04. A total of 73 Thoroughbred yearlings sold for an aggregate $803,300, compared to the 101 sold for a gross of $1,003,600

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 25

2015 ZIA DERBY (RG 2) 2015 ZIA DERBY $150,000 est./$45,000 added NEW MEXICO BRED FOALS OF 2012 400 YARDS - 122 LBS.

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26 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

in 2013. This year’s average of $11,004 marked an 11 percent increase over last year’s average of $9,937. There were 11 buybacks, and 14 Thoroughbred yearlings received no bid. Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse broodmares were also offered for auction on Saturday. A total of 15 broodmares – 11 Thoroughbred and four Quarter Horse – sold for $52,500, an average of $3,500 per head. Last year, the same number of broodmares brought a total of $64,200. This year’s average of $3,500 was down 18 percent from the 2013 broodmare average of $4,280. The high-selling broodmare, the Thoroughbred Luxury Flight (Hip No. 248), was acquired for $20,000 by Linda Alexander, Lauren Fincher, and Melanie Miller. Consigned by A & A Ranch, the winning 13-year-old daughter of the Flying Paster stallion Flying Victor has produced three foals, none of which have yet started. Included in the sale was a 2014 filly by Diabolical, and the mare is believed to be in foal to Attila’s Storm. For complete information on the sale, visit the Ruidoso Horse Sales Company website at www.ruidososelectyearlingsale.com.

First Moonflash colt tops NM-bred yearling sale By Mike Cusortelli

Jess A Satin Flash, a colt by champion and 2013 leading freshman sire First Moonflash, sold for $60,000 to top the New Mexico-Bred Quarter Horse Yearling Sale Aug. 15 at the Ruidoso Downs Sale Pavilion. Consigned by Double LL Farms of Bosque, New Mexico, Jess A Satin Flash (Hip No. 57) was acquired by Don and Lane Reynolds. The sorrel colt is out of Jess Satin, a 12-year-old win-

ning and graded stakes placed daughter of champion Mr Jess Perry, and he is a half brother to 2009 Zia Futurity (RG1) winner Jess A Chicks. James Bordeaux (Hip No. 67) was acquired for $57,000 by M & J Racing. Consigned by MJ Farms of Veguita, New Mexico, the sorrel son of Jesse James Jr and the winning and graded stakes placed Blushing Bug mare Bridgette Bordeaux is a half brother to Brancott, the runner-up to Leave N Legal in the 2011 Hard Twist Stakes (RG3) at The Downs at Albuquerque. The third-highest seller, Jess A Gettin It (Hip No. 20), sold for $55,000 to David E. Barrett and J & SM Inc. Consigned by MJ Farms as agent for Benny Smith, the sorrel colt is a half brother to ’05 New Mexican Spring Futurity (RG1) winner Royal Snowflakes and two stakes-placed runners. All told, six yearlings sold for $50,000 or more. Of the 134 yearlings offered, 119 sold for an aggregate sum of $1,782,500, which exceeded last year’s total of $1,778,900 on 179 head sold. This year’s average of $14,979 marked a 47-percent increase over the 2013 average of $9,938. The median price of $10,000 was up 61 percent over last year’s median of $6,200. West Texas Racing Partnership was the sale’s leading buyer with three yearlings totaling $86,000. Double LL Farms was the leading consignor by gross with 41 head selling for $680,700. By average, Chicks A Blazin was the sale’s leading sire with five head averaging $21,400. The New Mexico-bred sale will continue Saturday night with Thoroughbred yearlings and Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse broodmares offered. The sale will begin approximately 30 minutes after the running of

the last race at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. For complete information on the sale, visit the Ruidoso Horse Sales Company website at www.ruidososelectyearlingsale.com.

iff Robert Sheppard said, “The arrest of Mr. Valenzuela took place in conjunction with a request by the New Mexico Racing Commission. He is charged with a fourth degree felony of using a device to enhance, stimulate or affect the speed Michael of a racehorse and a fourth deCusortelli gree felony charge of tamperis a bloging with evidence.” Valenzuela ger and was suspended by the Ruidoso freelance Downs board of stewards in writer August according to the New based in Mexico Racing Commission for Albuallegedly possessing an unlawquerque, ful electrical device. New Mexico. A graduate of the Valenzuela allegedly won University of Arizona Race Track an appeal which would allow Industry Program, he has been a racing publicist and was most re- him to mount Apollitical Blood cently field editor and electronic in the number one slot but the tote board shortly before the news editor for the American race at Ruidoso Downs simply Quarter Horse Racing Journal for 10 years. He has contributed announced a jockey change. to several industry publicaRuidoso Downs Racetrack tions, including the New Mexico General Manager Shaun HubHorse Breeders’ Magazine, The bard said, “The Racing Stewards Horseplayer Magazine, Daily made the call to make a jockey Racing Form, HoofBeats, and the change to Omar Reyes before Texas Thoroughbred Magazine. the running of the All-American He joined SureBet Racing News Futurity.” Apollitical Blood in 2007. Email: oaktown_c@ finished fourth under replacehotmail.com. ment jockey Omar Reyes. Valenzuela posted one win out of five mounts at Ruidoso Downs in the All-American qualifying trials. On One Slick Cartel, Valenzuela finished fourth in an All-American Derby trial. Valenzuela was subject to Ruidoso Downs, NM an additional hearing pending Jockey Raul Valenzuela further investigation but not

bounced from AllAmerican dream Estranged jockey arrested while preparing for $2.6 million race By Eugene Heathman

Just before the Labor Day Grade 1, $2.6 million All-American Futurity, Quarter Horse jockey Raul Valenzuela was arrested and removed from the stable area by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and booked into the Lincoln Raul Valenzuela County Detention Center in Carrizozo. Lincoln County SherPhoto courtesy of Scott Martinez SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 27

2015 ZIA FUTURITY (RG1) 2015 ZIA FUTURITY $400,000 est./$45,000 added NEW MEXICO BRED FOALS OF 2013 400 YARDS - 120 LBS.

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28 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

before his chance to ride an AllAmerican Futurity champion was dashed amid the controversy and subsequent arrest. In addition to facing criminal charges, the 20-year-old jockey faces a lengthy suspension and possible loss of his jockey’s license for the alleged possession of the unlawful electronic device.

Del Mar, CA Tyler Baze achieves milestone

Stuck at 1,999 wins and mired in an 0-46 slump, jockey Tyler Baze broke through for his milestone 2,000th career victory by guiding 2-1 favored Kate’s Event to an easy triumph in the third race Aug. 14 at Del Mar. Perfectly placed in the early stages of the one-mile contest over the main track, Kate’s Event surged to the lead in upper stretch and coasted to a 2 ¼ win, returning $6.80 to his backers. For good measure, Baze came back in the day’s feature, also at one mile on the main track, to notch win no. 2,001 astride 7-2 backed Fable, like Kate’s Event owned by the Gulliver Racing LLC of Phil Bongiovanni of Yorba Linda and trained by Ted H. West. Fable rallied from nextto-last in the ten horse field to overhaul Hugh Knew in the final furlong and win by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:37.82 for the distance. Fable paid $9.40 to win. Baze, a member of a famous racing family from Washington state which also includes his second cousin, Russell, North America’s all-time leading rider in number of wins, won an Eclipse Award as the

Jockey Tyler Baze is all smiles after scoring career victory number 2,000 aboard Kate’s Event in the third race Aug. 14 at Del Mar race track in California. Photo courtesy of ©Benoit Photo

nation’s top apprentice jockey in 2000. Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith and trainer Paddy Gallagher teamed to win two races on the Thursday program, taking the second with Irish-bred Queen of the Sand and the sixth with Sweet as a Rose.

Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA Moonist now three-time derby winner

Like father, like son. Ron Hartley’s Moonist became a three-time derby winner this season following a tremendous daylight victory in the Grade 1 $227,600 Golden State Derby on Sunday at Los Alamitos. Moonist’s derby triple matched the accomplishment of his sire, Separatist, who won three major derbies at Los Alamitos during the 2000 season. Moonist’s derby wins have come in the El Primero Del Ano Derby, Governor’s Cup Derby and now the Golden State. Separatist won the Governor’s Cup and Golden State and also

it’s a different time and different rivals, but I think Moonist is comparable to Separatist. In two jumps Separatist could daylight a horse. Moonist can’t do that, but he’s got it at the end of races. He can do that; he can finish a race pretty good. He’s now matched his daddy’s record for derby wins.” Ridden by Cesar De Alba from the outside post 10, Moonist covered the 400 yards in 19.348 seconds to give him the meet’s fastest time at this distance. Out of Los Alamitos Million Futurity winner Your First Moon, The Vessels Stallion Farm-bred runner separated himself from the field in the

added the PCQHRA Breeders Derby. Under the tutelage of trainer John Cooper, the gray colt won eight of 11 starts during his tremendous sophomore campaign. Cooper also trains Moonist and under his watch the bay gelding has already won seven of eight starts this year including his last six in a row. Moonist has been so impressive during his winning streak that Cooper is okay comparing Moonist and Separatist. “He’s as good as his daddy was,” Cooper said. “I know that

Moonist was the best in this year’s Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos. Above, Moonist and jockey Cesar De Alba return to the winner’s circle after the win. Photos courtesy of Los Alamitos Race Course SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 29

2015 MOUNTAIN TOP NM BRED QH FUTURITY (RG3) 2015 MOUNTAIN TOP NM BRED QH FUTURITY $350,000 est./$40,000 added NEW MEXICO BRED FOALS OF 2013 350 YARDS - 120 LBS.

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30 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

final 200 yards on the way to posting an easy 1 ¾ length victory over runner-up A Corona Sunset. “This horse is just getting better and better,” De Alba said. “He’s all business. He’s so professional now the moment he comes to the paddock. He’s like a pony. When he’s in the gate I start thinking that he’s asleep and that he’s not going to break because he’s so quiet. But then he takes off. In this race at around the 300 yards he took off. He’s a different horse. He’s very special.” Cooper, who also trained sophomore champion Chingaderos in the mid 1980s, knows a good horse when he sees one. Moonist has certainly caught his eye. “I think he can run with anyone right now,” he said. “He’s still in two derbies at Los Alamitos – the PCQHRA Breeders in three weeks and the Southern California Derby later in the year. I know that in the Breeders Derby there’ll be fresh horses that have been waiting for this race. We’ll see how Moonist pull up. Some horses are like human athletes in that they get better the more they work. People believe that when your horse is hot, you run him. I’ll let Moonist tell me if he wants to run one more or if he needs a break.” Cooper was not excited about the prospects of Moonist starting from the outside post 10, but Hartley didn’t seem to mind. “When I first came to Los

Alamitos in the 1960s, people were begging to start from the 10-hole,” he said. “Everyone wanted the 10 post. I would beg for it. I love the spot and I think it was perfect for Moonist.” Moonist’s stylish way of winning will have people asking his connections if they’ll go after the Champion of Champions. “I get nervous just thinking about it,” Hartley said. “I don’t know, I’ll let Mr. Cooper tell me what to do. I waited a long time for my first derby, so I’m thrilled with what this horse has done. He’s in two more derbies and we’ll see how he pulls up. I think that if you stay running with your age group then you are better off, but (he might be able) to run with the older horses. “I’ll get a few calls tomorrow morning about the race,” Hartley continued. “My daughters Dayna and Lynette will be happy. Dayna used to take care of the horses in Hemet before we moved them to Firth Ranch. I’ll go in to the office tomorrow, but they’re the ones that run the business. We do property management. We have rentals. I’ll get a call from Vessels Stallion Farm tomorrow morning. They don’t miss calling me after he runs. They’re happy for me and they’re happy because they have a half-sister to Moonist in the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. She’s by Carters Cartel and I’ll definitely look at her.” Moonist earned $95,592 to take his career earnings to

$391,098. He’s won 11 of 18 career starts. John Haagsma and World Champion Racing Stables LLC’s A Corona Sunset earned $38,692 for finishing second. The Corona Cartel gelding was third in last year’s Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and also competed in the Golden State Million Futurity. He’s earned $308,536 in 10 starts. Eduardo Nicasio piloted the Abigail Kawananakoa-bred runner for trainer Eloy Navarro. World Champion Racing’s Dimes And Nicks, who was the fastest qualifier, finished in third place. Also saddled by Navarro, the Azoom gelding earned $27,312. The amount more than doubled his lifetime bankroll. He’s now earned $48,584. Look Of A Dasher, Dont Walk Peacefully, Kokomo Beach, Foose Is Loose, Another Oatie, Solid Connection, and Mistic Rose completed the field.

Remington Park, Oklahoma City, OK Berry notches 2,000th Thoroughbred win

After a nearly eight-month wait, it did not take long for jockey Cliff Berry to rack up his 2,000th career Thoroughbred win at Remington Park. He reached the milestone in race four on the opening night of the 2014 season.

Cliff Berry Courtesy photo

Berry rode He Knows Better to victory for owner Young Stables of Oklahoma City. Trained by Bret Calhoun, He Knows Better defeated 11 other Oklahoma-bred maiden 2-yearolds, going five furlongs in 58.90 seconds over a fast track. The almost eight-month wait to reach 2,000 local Thoroughbred wins took place due to Berry winning his 1,999th at Remington Park on the final day of the 2013 season in December. The all-time leading jockey at Remington Park, Berry has won the season riding title a record 15 times in Oklahoma City. The first to 2,000 wins at Remington Park, Berry is one of only three jockeys to win more than 1,000 races locally. The others are Don Pettinger (1,419) and Luis Quinonez (1,161). Overall, Berry has won 4,243 races aboard Thoroughbreds. He is currently ranked 58th on the all-time wins list for jockeys.

Providing Multimedia, Advertising, Marketing and Design Services P.O. Box 7261 | Ruidoso, NM 88355 575.937.9330 | By appointment only SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 31

2015 MOUNTAIN TOP NM BRED THOROUGHBRED FUTURITY 2015 MOUNTAIN TOP NM BRED THOROUGHBRED FUTURITY $175,000 est./$40,000 added NEW MEXICO BRED FOALS OF 2013 5 FURLONGS Colts & Geldings - 120 lbs.

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32 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

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 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

Ynot Walk

CALIFORNIA

Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CA August 23 Ynot Walk dashes to win

The contingent of Hanson-trained runners that will participate in this year’s Bank of America Challenge Championships at Prairie Meadows added a name to the list after Ynot Walk outdueled 3-5 favorite Flying Foose by a neck to win the $35,550 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge Aug. 23 at Los Alamitos. Trainer Ryan Hanson saddled Ynot Walk to victory for his family’s RTM Stables and George Weldon in the 350-yard dash making him the third horses trained by a Hanson to earn a ticket to race in the Challenge Championships to be held at Iowa track on October 18. Ryan’s brother, Mark, had previously qualified reigning AQHA distance champion Honoroso to the Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship and Sign Of Corona to the Adequan Derby Challenge Challenge. Honoroso and Sign Of Corona won their respective regional races at Les Bois Park in Idaho. Ryan Hanson knows the Challenge races well, as he saddled Honoroso to victory in last year’s Grade 1 $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship at

Los Alamitos. The trainer could have the satisfaction of winning a Challenge race with a horse that he selected at the 2013 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. “He was high on my list of horses that I liked at the sale,” Ryan said. “My brother and I started bidding on him, but the price got too high for us. My dad and George Weldon jumped in to help us and that’s how we were able to buy him. I liked him a lot, plus we had also had his older brother Larry Hill. It’s a good family of horses. Their mother was a really nice runner.”

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 33

2015 RIO GRANDE SENORITA FUTURITY 2015 RIO GRANDE SENORITA FUTURITY $175,000 est./$45,000 added NEW MEXICO BRED FILLIES FOALS OF 2013 5 1/2 FURLONGS - 120 LBS.

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34 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE Sired by Walk Thru Fire, Ynot Walk is out of Los Alamitos Million Futurity finalist Ynot Bar. A runner-up in the Governor’s Cup Futurity, Ynot Bar is a full sister to All American Derby finalist and Kindergarten Futurity runner-up Dont Dink With Me and a half-sister to Charger Bar Handicap runner-up and Ed Burke Million Futurity finalist Miss Kittys Bar Bet. Ridden by Guillermo Suarez, Ynot Walk bumped at the start, but he still covered the distance in a swift :17.536 to earn his first win in six career starts. Suarez is the only rider to have piloted the gelding. “Guilermo helped me all spring long galloping horses,” Hanson said. “He deserved the opportunity and I’m happy that it’s worked out. He knows this horse well.” Ynot Walk earned $16,708 for the win to take his lifetime earnings to $20,485. He’s hit the board in all but one of his lifetime starts. Jim Nebeker’s Flying Foose also bumped at the start and had to settle for $7,110 for finishing in second place. The Foose gelding has now finished in the top three in six consecutive outings. Eduardo Nicasio rode Flying Foose for trainer Paul Jones. Colten O’Dell, Wendy O’Dell and Pirate Stables’ First Down Tiny Man ran a monster race from post three. The gelding was eighth after a troubled start, but made a huge run in the final 100 yards to finish in third place, only a nose behind Flying Foose. Trained by Chris O’Dell and ridden by Cruz Mendez, First Down Tiny Man earned $3,555 for his gritty effort. Cartels Fire, Koolist, Dunk Two Politicians, Tiny Dasha Corona, Keepyourshirton and Juicy Walk completed the field.

Too Cool too fast in Zoetis California Jose C. De La Torre has

campaigned Quarter Horse for over 20 years, but his most important victory to date came courtesy of Too Cool To Rule in Saturday’s $16,650 Zoetis California Starter Allowance Challenge at Los Alamitos. Trained by Eloy Navarro, the 4-year-old mare by First Prize Perry earned a berth to the $75,000 Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge to be held at Prairie Meadows, Iowa on October 18. “I’m looking forward to going to Iowa,” De La Torre said. “I’ve had horses a long time and to have this victory is special for me. I’m from Zacatecas, Mexico and I would race horse in match races because that’s all we had there. I have about six horses racing here and I enjoy the sport a lot.” Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, Too Cool To Rule was making her first start for De La Torre and Navarro after being claimed for $5,000 on June 27. In her first start for her new connections, the Vessels Stallion Farm-bred runner covered the 350 yards in :17.600, while defeating Hez Stellar by a head. This was her sixth win in 17 career starts. She earned $8,325 for her Zoetis California victory. Martha Wells’ Hez Stellar, fresh off a victory in the California Breeders Senior $5,000 Claiming Stakes, earned $3,580 for her strong effort for trainer Paul Jones and jockey Ramon Sanchez. Hesmore To Check, Stel Heights, Lotsa Boots and Hawktaflyer completed the field.

Eyesa Famous Eagle

California Derby Challenge Aug. 23 at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, Eyesa Famous Eagle had not raced at the Orange County oval since a second place finish in a maiden race on August 24, 2013. The Burnett Ranches LLC-bred runner traveled to Turf Paradise following that race and remained there until his return to Los Alamitos this summer. Eyesa Famous Eagle made eight starts at Turf Paradise and won twice while finishing in the money six times. Upon his local arrival, Eyesa Famous Eagle posted several works in preparation for this race. The sorrel gelding was sharp at the start and never looked back while posting his third win in 15 outings. He earned $16,497 to raise his career earnings to $48,151. He covered the 400 yards in 19.665 seconds. The effort gave Eyesa Famous Eagle a berth in the Adequan Derby Challenge Adequan Regional goes at Prairie Meadows on Oct. 18. to Eyesa Famous Eagle “He’s going to Iowa,” Flores Cesar Dabdoub’s Eyesa Fa- said after the race. “I’m sure mous Eagle made his first start Cesar is very excited about this at Los Alamitos in nearly a year race and we look forward to seeing this horse race at Prairie a winning one, as the TexasMeadows. I thought this horse bred gelding by One Famous Eagle held off the talented First had an excellent chance in Tempting Dash by a half-length this race because he had been to win the $35,100 Adequan training great. I worked him

with (2013 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity finalist) Sis Is Hot on July 12 and stayed right there with her. She’s a very nice filly so I was impressed with how well he worked.” “He finished strong,” Mendez added. “First Tempting Dash was right there with us, but my horse was up to the task. He’s a very good horse.” Alberto Valdes’ First Tempting Dash earned $7,020 for his runner-up effort and has now finished in the top two in all four of his career outings. First Tempting Dash is a full brother to champion Tempting Dash and Grade 1 winner A Tempting Dash. Ramon Sanchez piloted the First Down Dash colt for Paul Jones. Inpursuit, Avatarr, Indeed A Delight, Daring Wave, Shaded Secrets, Jess Secrets BR, and El Coqueto Chacon completed the field.

August 17 Aceves pairs up with New Look for victory

A familiar face helped Martha Well’s New Look deliver a vintage performance, as the multiple stakes winner posted a surprising victory in the $71,640 Bank of America California Championship Aug. 17 at Los Alamitos. With Rodrigo Aceves SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 35

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RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

New Look

back aboard New Look for the first time in over 20 months, the Walk Thru Fire gelding enjoyed his first victory since the last time he was together with Aceves in the Dana Point Handicap on Nov. 23, 2012. In the past three years, the Aceves and New Look combination has proved to be a winning one, as the veteran rider has guided the Ed Allred-bred sprinter in seven of his eight career victories. In addition to Sunday’s Bank of America Challenge and the aforementioned Dana Point, Aceves also piloted New Look to a winning effort in the 2012 El Primero Del Ano Derby. Aceves also rode New Look when he won his trials to the El Primero and Governor’s Cup Derby. “I guess we get along well,” Aceves said. “I had not ridden him in a very long time, but I think he remembered me and I remembered him. It was a nice race. He broke very sharply.” Aceves got the opportunity to get back on New Look when his previous rider, Ramon Sanchez, piloted last year’s Bank of America California winner Jeff Featureme Quick in this race. Aceves made the most out of the opportunity, as he flawlessly

Nellie Delany

guided New Look to meet’s fastest 440-yard time of 21.536 seconds. Sent off at 12-1 odds, New Look won from post number six. “It was a repeat of history with Rodrigo and New Look winning,” Jones said. “Those two have done well together.” Jones was also pleased to see New Look deliver the kind of race that the trainer had been waiting for. “He finally ran to his works,” Jones added. “I’ve worked him a couple of times and on each occasion he worked so fast that I thought he was the best horse in my barn. The last time he has a great 350 yard workout in :17.60, but then came to run an okay race in the (Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap). He had a work of :17.50 in March, but then came back to only run fourth in an allowance race. This race was like his previous works.” Jones added that taking New Look to Prairie Meadows in Iowa to run in the Bank of America Championship final is a possibility. “I asked Rodrigo about taking the horse to Iowa and he immediately said ‘let’s go’,” Jones continued. New Look earned $33,671

to take his lifetime bankroll to $195,441. He also improved his record to eight win in 29 starts. Melissa Miller’s Jess Featureme Quick was second throughout after breaking from post number two. The Texas-bred gelding, who earned $14,328, was looking to become the first horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Bank of America California since World Champion Down With Debt in 1995 and 1994. “I thought my best chance to win this race was with Jess Featureme Quick, Jones said. “He ran a great race and I thought that he would win. The thing that worried me is that this race loves the outside post, but in his last few races he’s drawn inside. This horse loves the outside post.” Gentry Farms’ Scatmandu, second in last year’s Los Alamitos Super Derby finished third, and was followed across the wire by Snowboundbeast, Forrest Fire, French Fury, Time For A Royal Dip, Creole Williams, and Sugardaddy B.

the impressive winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship earlier this year, defeated Lorena Velazquez Rodriguez’s reigning champion aged mare Check N Fetch by a head to win the $24,390 Merial California Distaff Challenge Aug. 16 at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Juan Aleman, Nellie Delaney took the lead shortly after the start and never looked back on the way to recording her fifth consecutive victory. The Oklahoma-bred daughter of FDD Dynasty covered the 400 yards in 19.693 seconds from the outside post six, while earning a berth to the Grade 1 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows in Iowa on Oct. 18. Nellie Delaney will remain at Los Alamitos the rest of the year according to J. Garvan Kelly, as the 4-year-old mare will be pointed to the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on Sept. 28 and the Champion of Champions on Dec. 13. Nellie Delaney earned a berth to the Champion of August 16 Champions via her Winter Nellie Delany ekes out Championship win on Feb. 16. Merial win “She’s a Los Alamitos In a duel of mega mares, J. mare,” Kelly said. “After she Garvan Kelly and Nancy Years- won the Winter Championship ley’s homebred Nellie Delaney, we made a plan that called for SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 37

Lotta Dynasty

her to run a race in the fall to prepare her for Mildred Vessels and the Champion of Champions. We got what we wanted out of this race. The next two are big ones for Nellie Delaney.” Nellie Delaney earned $12,195 for the win to take her lifetime earnings to $180,878. She’s a perfect three for three this season. She also won her last two outings of 2013, including a dead-heat first place finish in the Grade 1 Southern California Derby. “We’re very pleased with her,” Kelly said. “Check N Fetch is an outstanding horse. She’s a five-time stakes winner so she deserved a great deal of respect. Our mare has now won five straight and has come along nicely. After she won the Winter Championship we were under some

Pyc First Prize Joe

pressure to get some embryos out of her, but I believe that you either have a racehorse or a broodmare. Juan Aleman deserves a lot of credit for this mare because of the way he’s handled her, as does (jockey) Raul Valenzuela, who got her ready. Raul couldn’t be here tonight because of his riding commitments at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Cruz gave her a hand ride in this race. He never touched her.” “She was great,” winning pilot Cruz Mendez said. “She broke quick and took the lead and did things very easy from there.” Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, runner-up Check N Fetch was making her first start since finishing second in the Charger Bar Handicap on January 6. The 6-year-old Check Him

TODD FUQUA

Lincoln County New Mexico’s sports authority

www.FuquaSports.com 575-937-0344 todd@fuquasports.com Like me on Facebook • Visit my Twitter page 38 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Out mare had a great 2013 campaign, as she won six of 11 starts including the $100,000 Merial Distaff Championship, the $150,000 Mildred Vessels, and the $50,000 Matron Stakes. She was fifth in the $750,000 Champion of Champions. Check N Fetch earned $5,244 in this race to take her career earnings to $294,556. Dean Frey’s Shez Jess Toxic finished in third place. She’s hit the board in 19 of 21 career starts. Ss Calendar Girl, The Streakin Clean, and Forgotten Dynasty completed the field.

COLORAdO

Arapahoe Park, Aurora, CO August 17 Better break gives Lotta Dynasty win in Mile High Futurity

performance, a last-place finish in the Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park in New Mexico in June after being bumped at the break. The 2-year-old gelding bred in Utah by owners George and Judy Weldon and trained by Blake Rust had a clean trip breaking from the outside in the Mile High Futurity, winning the 400-yard race in 19.850 seconds at 9 1 odds. Toshi Yoshi, on the other hand, was bumped at the start but made up almost a length in just falling short for jockey Ramiro Garcia, trainer Manuel Orozco, and owner Dana Yoshida-Orozco as the 2-1 favorite. Then just a neck behind in third was fastest-qualifier One Corona At a Time and jockey Francisco Giles in the three-way photo finish.

August 16 Pyc First Prize Joe takes first prize in Mile High Derby

The improvement of Pyc First Prize Joe from a $7,500 claim in Oklahoma in April New Mexico-based Lotta Dynasty and jockey Benito Baca culminated Aug. 16 at Arapahoe Park with a daylight victory in prevailed by a head over Toshi Yoshi, the Cherry Creek Futurity the $85,740 Mile High Derby. winner, in the $156,800 Mile The fastest qualifier from the High Futurity for Quarter Horses. trials on August 1 and the 7-5 It was a completely differfavorite in the field of nine, Pyc ent outcome for Lotta Dynasty First Prize Joe pulled away for a from his previous futurity final 1 1/2-length victory in 19.611

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Furys Folly

Tty From Mr Pye

Canterbury Park. The 3-yearold filly broke cleanly from post three and was ridden by Nik Goodwin to a 3/4 length win over favored Dirt Road Queen. “She’s been training really well,” said Goodwin. “I knew if there was a horse that could beat Dirt Road Queen I thought it could be Furys Folly.” Bred by Von Ohlen, Furys Folly was the second wagering choice and paid $8.80 to win. She finished the 400yard dash in a time of 20.410 seconds. When asked about his winning filly, Von Ohlen stated “Last year she was just another horse. This year she is putting out a little extra. So what made the difference from last year to this year? “Just luck,” said Von Ohlen. Canterbury Park, Festival Day was extra Shakopee, MN special for Hardy, Von Ohlen August 31 and Goodwin, as the trio Hardy, Von Ohlen, teamed up again to win the Goodwin sweep Quarter $39,850 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity. Tty From Mr Horse stakes Pye went off as the 4/5 favorFurys Folly, owned by ite and beat out Bee Bee Guns Rodney Von Ohlen of Alpha, by 1 1/4 lengths, paying $2.80 Minn. and trained by Edward to win. The 2-year-old gelding Ross Hardy won the $38,150 by Pyc Paint Your Wagon out Minnesota Quarter Horse of Miss Eyewear broke from Derby on Minnesota Festival of Champions Day, Aug. 31, at post position seven and cov-

ered the 350 yards in a time of 18.294 seconds. “He ran like a champion,” said Goodwin. “He broke good and I just had to sit on him.” The consecutive wins lifted trainer Ed Hardy to the top of the quarter horse trainer standings, securing his 12th training title at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack with 17 wins for the season. Hardy has now 19 Festival wins, 15 more than the second leading trainer, and Von Ohlen has six wins.

seconds for 400 yards. Ramiro Garcia rode the Jose Aguileraowned-and-trained 3-year-old bay gelding sired by Paint Your Wagon out of dam First Prize Joy. Bf Storm Chaser and jockey Russell Vicchrilli were second with a neck to Jo Jo Hot Legs and jockey Francisco Giles in third. Pyc First Prize Joe had finished second in the $67,155 Rocky Mountain Derby at Arapahoe Park on July 12 heading into the Mile High trials. Ncc Firefly, the 32-1 winner of the Rocky Mountain Derby, finished eighth in the Mile High Derby.

MINNESOTA

Coconino Slim wins third straight championship Familiar names were prominent at the 21st Min-

nesota Festival of Champions Aug. 31 at Canterbury Park as the leading Festival trainer Mac Robertson won two stakes races including the $60,000 Wally’s Choice Classic Championship with Coconino Slim for the third consecutive year. Robertson now has 25 Festival wins. Bernell Rhone and top quarter horse trainer Ed Ross Hardy also won two stakes. Jockey Dean Butler was aboard three winners including Sky and Sea in the $60,000 Bella Notte Distaff Classic and Bourbon County in the $60,000 Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship. Both are owned and were bred by Scott Rake of Elko, Minn. and trained by Rhone.

Coconino Slim SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 39

Sky And Sea

Bourbon County held off a late charge by defending Sprint Champion Heliskier to win by 1 3/4 lengths. “That was a great race. If you wanted to plan it on paper, somehow everything was going to start out and Heliskier and Bourbon County were going to connect and it was going to be a classic duel, and that’s what we got,” Rake said. “And that’s the product Canterbury wants. You want fans to be enthusiastic. You want to have these big races with horses like Heliskier and Bourbon County that they can come out and cheer for. Rivalry, a healthy rivalry.” Sky and Sea is the first filly since Samdanya accomplished the task in 1998 to win the Frances Genter Stakes, the Minnesota Oaks, and the Distaff Sprint in a single season. “Sky and Sea, she had a phenomenal race,” Rake said. “She gets better all the time and she’s just so game. She’s got so much heart and just wants to win. And she came back good. She’ll be back next year.” The day, with 13,626 in attendance, began with Hardy, jockey Nik Goodwin and owner Rodney Von Ohlen of Alpha, Minn. winning the 40 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Bourbon County

$38,150 Quarter Horse Derby with Furys Folly and the $39,850 Quarter Horse Futurity with Tty For Mr Pye. Mac Robertson and jockey Alex Canchari won the $75,000 Northern Lights Debutante with Sioux Appeal, getting up in the last stride to win by a by a head over Castle Queen. The 2-year-old filly is owned by Jeff Larson of Hudson, Wis. Coconino Slim was ridden by Seth Martinez. The 7-yearold prevailed by a head over 16 to 1 Affirmed Cure. Coconino Slim is owned by Catherine DeCourcy of Sunfish Lake, Minn. Talkin Bout made a bold mid-race move and easily won the $60,000 Glitter Star Distaff Classic Championship by 7 1/2 lengths with Eddie Martin, Jr. in the saddle. Talkin Bout is owned and was bred by Cam Casby of Shakopee, Minn. Butler’s third win came in the $75,000 Northern Lights Futurity with Hold for More for trainer Francisco Bravo. The 2-year-old is owned by Dale Schenian of South St. Paul, Minn. Robertson and Rhone each won an additional undercard race on the 11-race program.

August 9 Dirt Road Queen wins Cash Caravan Stakes

Dirt Road Queen won the $27,700 Cash Caravan Stakes Aug. 9 at Canterbury Park, covering the 440 yards in 22.136 seconds. The 3-yearold Minnesota-bred filly is now undefeated in her last four starts and is headed to the Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby Aug. 31. Dirt Road Queen broke well but veered to the outside. She steadily gained ground under a hand ride by jockey Seth Martinez, winning by a length over Justa Bump. V Os Red Hot Cole finished third. “She was kind of wandering a little bit when she got

Sioux Appeal

away from everybody,” Martinez said. “After that it was just a steer job.” Dirt Road Queen, the wagering favorite, paid $3 to win. She is trained by William Harris and is owned and was bred by Bob and Julie Petersen of Cokato, Minn. Harris remarked on the filly’s dramatic turnaround from last year, when she was winless in three starts, to this year. “She had some problems last year. She was a little erratic behind the gate,” Harris said. “But she’s put it all together this year.” Dirt Road Queen, by Country Chicks Man, is out of the race mare Inclinda, who won the 2003 Cash Caravan

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Dirt Road Queen

Stakes for the Petersens.

August 2 Coronas Concierge wins NCQHRA Futurity

Coronas Concierge and jockey Jorge Torres won the $40,150 North Central Quarter Horse Racing Association Futurity by a neck Aug. 3 at Canterbury Park, covering the 350 yards in 17.868 seconds. Tty From Mr Pye finished second, a nose in front of Ode Tah Ed. Wagering favorite Lethal N First was fourth. Coronas Concierge is trained by Jason Olmstead and is owned by Tom Maher of Pierre, S.D. and his brother Bill Maher of Boxelder, S.D. The 2-year-old filly paid $19.40 to win. “We thought this could happen,” Tom Maher, who also owns Lethal N First, said. “She’s honest. She was down on the inside in the trial race and didn’t like it. Today she had a better post position.” Coronas Concierge broke from the fifth post position in this race. “But the main reason is Jason, Jason, Jason Jason,” Maher said, referring to the filly’s trainer, who is currently the second leading quarter horse trainer at Canterbury. Tom Maher is second alltime in quarter horse owner

Coronas Concierge

wins and earnings at Canterbury Park, dating back to 1985 when the Shakopee, Minn. track opened.

NEW MEXICO

The Downs at Albuquerque, NM September 1 Go And Get breaks fast, wins Manuel Lujan Stakes

the world’s richest Quarter Horse race, the $2.6-million All American Futurity (Grade 1) at Ruidoso Downs. Go And Get was bred in California by Edward C. Allred, a 12-time AQHA champion breeder and the principal owner of Los Alamitos Racecourse. The gelding’s sire, Foose, is an 8-year-old son of Stel Corona and was the champion 2-yearold colt in 2008. Foose’s top runners include Grade 1 winners Foose Cash SR and Rock You. The stallion is owned by a syndicate, and he stood the 2014 season at Burns Ranch in Menifee, California. Go And Get’s dam, First And Proud, is a 21-year-old homebred daughter of all-time

A sharp break from post 2 helped Go And Get score a wire-to-wire victory in the 350-yard, $50,000 Manuel Lujan Stakes for 3-year-olds at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 1 Under jockey Jose Enriquez, who rode Go And Get for owner Alberto Villanueva and trainer Umberto Belloc, the gelded son of Foose stopped the timer in 17.232 seconds while earning a 101 speed index and defeating SA Royal Six Dash by one length. Go And Get’s win started a big day for Belloc, as later the trainer Go And Get sent out JM Miracle to win

leading sire First Down Dash and a two-time graded futurity finalist at Los Alamitos in 1995. The gelding’s second dam, the Sir Rambler mare Go Proudly, won the La Primera del Ano Derby (Grade 1) at Los Alamitos in ’83. Go And Get was claimed for $10,000 at Los Alamitos on September 28 of his 2-yearold season. All told, he has won five of nine outs, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the Manuel Lujan Stakes purse increased his bankroll to $73,244, of which $63,844 has been earned this year. The Manuel Lujan marked Go And Get’s first official start since March 29, when the gelding ran third, a half of a length behind winner I Azoomed

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 41

Miracle Snow

You Knew, in the 400-yard, $159,760 West Texas Derby (Grade 3) at Sunland Park. Sent to post as the 3-1 favorite in the full field of 10, Go And Get returned an $8.60 win mutuel and teamed with SA Royal Six Dash, the 9-2 third choice, for a $2 exacta payoff of $46.80. Jo Jo Hot Legs, the 7-2 second choice, finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Go And Get, to complete a $136.40 ($2) trifecta. NCC Firefly, Stel Surprise, Nifty Fury, Winners Corona, Simply Tapalpa, BF Storm Chaser, and RP Jets Azoomen completed the order of finish. SA Royal Six Dash is a gray colt by the Royal Quick Dash stallion Quick Invasion racing for Francisco J. Chavira and trained by Belloc. Unraced at 2, SA Royal Six Dash has won two of four outs and has

SC Dustychampion

earned $25,255. A gelded son of Executive Menace owned by Orlando Guerrero, Jo Jo Hot Legs was coming off of an Arapahoe Park campaign in which he ran third, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner PYC First Prize Joe, in the $85,740 Mile High Derby. Jo Jo Hot Legs has banked $66,023 from 13 starts, and his three victories include a three-quarter length win in the April 28, $51,395 Arizona Quarter Racing Association President’s Open Spring Derby at Turf Paradise.

Horse Championship (RG3), one of four New Mexico-bred Quarter Horse stakes contested Aug. 24 at The Downs at Albuquerque. Miracle Snow, a homebred 10-year-old gelding by champion Dean Miracle racing for Melvin Neugebauer of Manzanola, Colorado, covered his 400-yard trip in 19.353 seconds, and his margin of victory was a neck from Jess Got Issues. J. Martin Bourdieu rode Miracle Snow for trainer Jill Giles. Miracle Snow was comAugust 24 ing off of a head victory in the Ageless Miracle Snow 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Quarter Horse Championship (RG2) scores in Lineage at Ruidoso Downs. All told, Championship the gelding has won 17 of 57 Competing in this stakes starts, and the $38,100 share for the seventh consecutive of the Lineage Championship season, Miracle Snow was a prompt 3-2 favorite in the 400- purse pushed his bankroll to yard, $63,500 Lineage Quarter $718,211. Miracle Snow has won seven stakes, including the 2010 and ’12 editions of the Lineage Championship. He scored his first stakes victory, uqua Tax and the $62,745 Hard Twist Stakes Financial Management (RG3) at Albuquerque, way back in 2007. Anna Fuqua Earlier on the card, Giles Enrolled Agent anna.fuqua@hotmail.com won the 400-yard, $60,000 Pelican Stakes (RG3) for New Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 • 575-937-6849 Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies Tax Preparation • Bookkeeping with Penny Snatchin. A homeBusiness Startup • Payroll Services bred daughter of Gone To The

42 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Mountain who she also bred and owns, Penny Snatchin defeated Sparkling Heart by three-quarters of a length and earned $33,000 to increased her earnings to $108,858 from 12 starts. Below is a recap of all four of the Aug. 24 races. All alsorans are listed in official order of finish. FIRST MOONFLASH STAKES (RG3) 3-yearolds Purse, $60,000 400 yards Winner – SC Dustychampion (3g, Chicks A Blazin-SF Finita Dash by One Fine Leader) Owner – Pedro CarrilloBreeders – Sepulveda Corporation Trainer – Tony Gallegos Jockey – Jimmy Ray Coates Winning Time – :19.529 Winning Margin – neck Odds – 8-1 Also ran – Jet Version, Kia Won, Sandia Fria, King Of Pop, First Full Pocket, Wager On Moonflash, Heza Wild Dragon (3-2 favorite), Guess Who Drew, and Jess Sandy Jr. PELICAN STAKES (RG3) 3-year-old fillies Purse, $60,000 400 yards Winner – Penny Snatchin (3 f., Gone To The Mountain-Himaintenancegal by Dean Miracle) Owner, Breeder, and Trainer – Jill B. Giles Jockey – J. Martin

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Penny Snatchin

Bourdieu Winning Time – :19.526 Winning Margin – 3/4 of a length Odds – 7-2 Also ran – Sparkling Heart, AJ Hardwood, My Memory Lane, One Lethal Blaze (3-1 favorite), Express In, Mess Can, Swissle On, Miss Tessmocker, and White Wine Glass. LOBO 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (R) 3-year-olds & older Purse, $60,000 870 yards Winner – Storm Chasor (4g., Attila’s Storm [TB]Stardust Dash by Dash For Cash) Owner and Breeder – Joan Dale Hubbard Trainer – Todd Fincher Jockey – Dusty Shepherd Winning Time – ;44.754 Winning Margin – neck Odds – 3-1 Also ran – Super Quintons, Beau Wizer (TB) (even-money favorite), El Gato Azul, Vicente Y Su Corona, KC Royal Flush, D E Wagons Strawfly, and Thunder Stric Again.

Storm Chasor

– :19.353 Winning Margin – neck Odds – 3-2 (favorite) Also ran – Jess Got Issues, You Sexy Fame, My Big Chief, Rex Hill, Osbaldo, Cinco Menudos, Klassic Strawfly, Outlaw Ducky, and Jess Rueben James.

Ruidoso Downs, NM August 17 Disqualification gives Emperor Valerian victory

trained Emperor Valerian, the 7-5 favorite, was timed in 26.595 seconds with Ricky Ramirez aboard. A six-year-old gelding by Heza Fast Dash, Emperor Valerian scored his second win from four starts at the 550-yard distance. He was second in this spring’s $35,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes over 550 yards at Remington Park. He closed out his Remington Park campaign with a win in the $50,000 Remington Park Distance Handicap over 870 yards at 18-1 odds.

August 10 Wahoo stands out in Master Salls

Salvador’s Pimienta’s Emperor Valerian took the win Bobby Cox’s homebred in the $20,000 Brigand at 550 yards after Cjs Rocksolid finished first and was disqualified from the victory Aug. 17. The revised order of finish moved Moon Dynasty up to second and Royal Guardian LINEAGE QUARTER was placed third. Cjs Rocksolid HORSE CHAMPIONwas placed last in the 10-horse SHIP (RG3) 3-year-olds & field. older Purse, $63,500 400 Cjs Rocksolid made a big yards Winner – Miracle Snow move in the final 100 yards to (10g., Dean Miracle-Snow Peak surge past the veteran Emperby Chicks Beduino) Owner – or Valerian, however he was Melvin Neugebauer Breeders drifting in from the outside post position and bothered – Melvin & Mary Neugebauer Trainer – Jill Giles Jockey – J. Unshaken Secret. Emperor Valerian (#1) The Brandon MunizMartin Bourdieu Winning Time

Wahoo, the 13-10 favorite, went to the front from the third post position and disposed of Whiteface Eagle to take the $30,000 Master Salls Handicap over 870 yards at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 10. Wahoo and Whiteface Eagle, who started outside of Wahoo, sprinted to the front and were neck-and-neck rounding the turn. Wahoo then pulled away when he was able to stay close to the rail entering the stretch while Whiteface Eagle drifted out. Whiteface Eagle made a bid, however jockey Russel Hadley mildly urged Wahoo and he easily secured the one-length win. Jessa Little Rusty was another three-and-one-half lengths back in third.

SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 43

Wahoo

Jody Pops Zoomer

Wahoo was the making his first start since he was named champion distance horse of the meet this spring at Remington Park. All of his Remington Park starts came at 870 yards. He won the Grade 3, $51,800 Paul’s Valley Handicap and the Grade 3, $47,250 Red Cell Remington Park Distance Challenge. A five-year-old gelding by Feature Mr Jess, Wahoo was second as the 8-5 favorite in the Grade 3, $56,390 Remington Park Distance Championship to Emperor Valerian, who is entered in the $20,000 Brigand at 550 yards next Sunday at Ruidoso Downs. Mexas Racing Team’s Whiteface Eagle was second in the $30,000 Fine Loom Handicap in her previous start. She now has a first and a second from three starts around the turn.

The Wes Giles-trained horse was placed first in the Grade 2, $105,480 Bank of America Sunland Park Challenge through a disqualification. Rockin J Running Horses’ Rockin Disco, trained by Tammy Kay Johnson, ran a strong race along the rail. He was placed second via disqualification in the Grade 2, $50,000 Sam Houston Classic back in May.

Downs on Aug. 3. The 440-yard All American Gold Cup will be held on August 30 and the winner receives an invitation to the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos Race Course in December. Jody Pops Zoomer, the 5-2 favorite, got an excellent start under G. R. Carter Jr. and steadily increased his advantage throughout the 400 yards. He covered the distance in :19.418 over a muddy track while defeating Jesscuzican by one-half length. Rockin Disco was another one-half length behind Jesscuzican for third in the deep full field of older horses. A gelded son of Zoomin For Bux, Jody Pops Zoomer scored his second stakes win from as many starts this summer at Ruidoso Downs. The member of the Toby Keeton barn won the $30,000 August 3 Higheasterjet at 350 yards in Jody Pops Zoomer preps his previous start. Jody Pops for Gold Cup with Mr Jet Zoomer closed out his sophomore season in 2013 with a Moore win one-half length win in the Raymundo Medrano and Sammy Valeriano’s Jody Grade 1, $394,000 Texas ClasPops Zoomer prepared for his sic Derby at Lone Star Park. expected start in the Grade 1, Darian Burt’s homebred $200,000 All American Gold Jesscizican is also eligible to Cup by disposing of his rivals the All American Gold Cup. He in the Grade 3, $20,000 Mr was also second to Jody Pops Jet Moore Stakes at Ruidoso Zoomer in the Higheasterjet. 44 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

TEXAS

Retama Park, Selma, TX Retama closes Quarter Horse season

The curtain was lowered on the 2014 Quarter Horse Season at Retama Park on Saturday, Aug. 9 as favorites prevailed in the Bank of America John Deere Juvenile and BOA Adequan Derby challenges. Mister Big left no doubt that he was the best three year old on the grounds for the Retama Park campaign as the young son of Shazoom sizzled just like the Summer Sun over Selma at 400 yards in a time

of 19:95 seconds to take top honors in the Adequan Derby Challenge. Owned by Jerry Windham who finished in a dead heat for the leading owner category, Mister Big was guided by Rodrigo Vallejo and trained by Retama’s top Trainer Judd Kearl. Tallulah Moon prevailed in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge at 350 yards, covering the distance in a sensational 17:66 over the fast track. Jose Alvarez was atop the twoyear-old daughter of Corona Cartel for Trainer Mike Robbins and owner Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches Limited Partnership. The 870 yard San Marcos Handicap had a purse offering of $15,000 for the “hook” specialists as the Field Cricket jumped all over the competition in the one turn affair and stopping the clock in a razor sharp 45:96. Locally owned by Claud Denson of Bandera and trained by Jesse Yoakum, Jerry Yoakum handled the reigns atop the six year old son of Lead The Field. Owner Pete Scarmardo finished in a dead heat with Jerry Windham as leading owners of the meet while Judd Kearl recorded yet another training title and Luis Vivanco defended his leading jockey title. Recapping the season end

RACE RECAPS - QUARTER HORSE

Mister Big

Tallulah Moon

honors, Grey Daze was named Top Two Year Old, Mister Big was dubbed Top Three Year Old, JRC Callas First was tabbed tops in the Four Year Old and Older bracket and Loves Brown Sugar was Horse of The Meet and Top Filly or Mare.

kind of horse you like to ride.” A 6-year-old Oregonbred, Chicks Special Angel is the first filly or mare to win the Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge. By Chickspecialmongoose-Cff Plain Jane, she is 15-1-2 in 22

place finish by Chicks Special Angel as the 3-to-5 favorite in last year’s Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge. Ambush Alley, the 2-to1 second choice ridden by Rodolfo Arvizu, chased the winner from gate-to-wire, but was second best throughout. Ambush Alley paid $3.20 and $2.80. It was 1 ½-lengths back to Alota Action, ridden by Martin Arriaga, paid a $3 show payoff. Rogue County, Eagle B Gone. Lil Bitts a Dash, One Famous Secret, Hyho Travio and Veyron Emerald Downs, completed the order of finish. Auburn, WA Unlike last year, when she August 31 broke poorly to lose her best chance, Chicks Special Angel Chicks Special Angel rocketed from the gate and gets it right opened a 1 ½-length lead past After a heart-breaking defeat last year, Chicks Special mid-stretch, easily holding off Ambush Alley as the top two Angel made amends Sunday with a 1 ½-length victory over finishers dominated the race. The winning time was only .08 Ambush Alley in the $54,000 seconds off the stakes record Bank of America Emerald set by Vodka With Ice last year. Championship Challenge. “From the get go, at about In winning the meet’s big100 yards, I had the lead right gest race for Quarter Horses, away,” Aceves said. “I feel like I Chicks Special Angel ran 440 had the race won at about 200 yards in 21.74 seconds and yards. paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. “She was just rolling from Eddie Aceves rode the winner there on. For her to get outrun, for trainer Juan Sanguino and you need a really good horse owner Miguel Sanguino of to beat her. She’s fast and acts Hermiston, Ore. The victory, worth $30,329, like a smart horse. She fires wherever she goes. That’s the made amends for a fourth-

starts lifetime with earnings of $77,561. With the victory, Chicks Special Angel earned a berth in the $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (Grade 1) Oct. 18 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

WASHINGTON

Chicks Special Angel

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R A C E R E C A P S - TH O R O U G H B R ED COLORADO

Arapahoe Park, Aurora, CO August 17 Two stakes victories in two days

Ms Dixie accomplished something that no horse ever has at Arapahoe Park by winning two stakes races in two days. Aug. 16, she cruised to a 10-length victory in the COBRA Distaff Sponsored by Soaring Eagle Ranch, and on Aug. 17, she won the COBRA Classic Sponsored by Crow Valley by a hard-fought half-length. The 6-year-old gray Arabian mare ridden by Kelsi Purcell and owned by the Quarter Moon Ranch of Lori Long and her husband trainer Scott Powell logged a total of 2 3/8 miles in the two victories. “It’s crazy, but I really believed she could to it,” Powell said. “You have to go into it and put everything on the line. There’s no one who cares about Ms Dixie more than Lori and I. Everything [Ms Dixie] told me is that she could do it.” Going into the weekend, Powell had said his focus was on Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile, $25,000 Grade 3 COBRA Distaff, but he left open the possibility of competing in both races. After Ms Dixie emerged from the 10-length win against Lil Rich Girl – “She couldn’t look better,” Powell said after the race – the decision to attempt both stakes races was made on Sunday morning. The 1 1/4-mile, $25,000 Grade 3 COBRA Classic that began 23 hours later was a harder race for Ms Dixie, and she battled with Powelltrained stablemate Djets Son through the homestretch. “She was still a handful today,” Purcell said after Sunday’s win. “She’s an iron horse. She wanted to blast to the lead. I give her a lot more credit than I ever did before. Ms Dixie digs in. She doesn’t want them to pass her. She’s smart about that.” Ms Dixie, a two-time Darley Award winner, has now won 11 stakes races and earned $190,464 since she was claimed for $15,000 in October 2011. What she did in two races in two days took her reputation to another level. “We’re pretty much on cloud nine right now,” Long said. “Scott has known all along

Ms Dixie

that his horses can do this. He knew that if these horses are conditioned right and have the right nutrition they can do it.” How was Ms Dixie after the two wins less than 24 hours apart? “She’s actually great,” Long said. “She’s eating. She’s sticking her head out of her barn. It didn’t faze her that much.”

August 16 Passed Due wins in photo finish Passed Due edged the filly Strategem by a nose in a photo finish to win the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at 6 furlongs Aug. 16. Passed Due and jockey Miguel Fuentes Jr. were in eighth place after the first quarter-mile that was scorched by California shipper Social Request in 21.61

seconds. When Social Request became legweary inside the final furlong, Passed Due closed on the inside with Stratagem and jockey Russell Vicchrilli matching strides on the outside. Passed Due pulled off the 15-1 upset with Stratagem second at 10-1 in a final time of 1:11.97. The other filly in the field of 10, Ms. Battlefield, took third at 211, 8 1/4 lengths behind the top two. “There was a fast pace, and I hung on the rail and saved ground,” Fuentes Jr. said. “He made a move, a big move.” Passed Due, who is trained by Temple Rushton for owners Vance Alfrey and Stuart Eskew, is now two-for-two after breaking his maiden with a 10-length win at Arapahoe Park on May 31. “This colt we had to start him early,” Rushton said. “He won easily, but then we

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said her stable star sired by First Samurai out of dam Sara Margaret has now earned a well-deserved rest. “This race tested him to see if we know how far he can run and what he can do,” Bishop said. “It seems like any distance can work for him. He’s the best horse I’ve ever had.” Magical Twist, who is trained by Sharlot Martinez and ridden by Dennis Collins, ran on for second as a 23-1 longshot. Leadem in Ken, who shipped to Colorado for trainer Mike Maker and jockey Azael De Leon, was a further 1 1/4 lengths behind in third. With Wally Van finishing fourth, the three Coloradobreds in the field defended home turf by finishing first, second, and fourth. Willard Burbach bred both Get Happy Mister and Wally Van, and Linda Wood of the Menoken Farms bred Magical Twist. “It went back to home cooking,” Get Happy Mister’s trainer, Gleason, said.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme, Forest Lake kicked clear from her nine rivals after dueling for the lead in the early stages of the $78,750 Starlet, eventually hitting the finish line two lengths clear while covering the distance in a time of 1:12 2/5. Ridden by Hector Santiago and trained by Delhomme’s father, Jerry Delhomme, Forest Lake paid $66 as a 32-1 longshot. The bay daughter of Forestry improved her record to 5-2-1-0 while taking her first stakes win and has now banked $69,020 lifetime. Waha Wild, ridden by Coby Bourque, swept by the early leaders in the final 100 yards of Saturday’s $75,250 Star to score by three parts of a length over 6-5 favorite Gotta Get Paid. The Offlee Get Happy Mister Wild Oklahoma-bred gelding covered the distance in 1:12 3/5 to earn his initial lifetime by Mike Ziegler has never lost had to wait on him without a victory and pay $17.80 at odds race to run him in here. So we in nine races at Arapahoe. of nearly 8-1. Trained by Harworked him, and he’s still learn- However none of his victories lan Boutte for owner/breeder ing how to race.” was more impressive than in Dream Walkin Farms, Waha Passed Due will next race Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile stakes. Wild finished a head second “He’s a superstar,” Ziegler in New Mexico, according to in his career debut on August said. “When you can go 1 1/8 Rushton. California shipper 1 and now boasts $49,400 in miles and take command like Social Request took fourth. earnings. he did, that’s the sign of a real Bessie’s Boy, the winner of the Colby Hernandez and $100,000 Tremont in New York racehorse.” Karl Broberg topped the Ziegler took Get Happy in June and the 7-5 favorite in Evangeline Downs, jockey and trainer standings Mister five lengths behind the Gold Rush, was eighth. for the 84-night spring/sumOpelousas, LA an early speed duel between mer Thoroughbred season at Ground Transport, the 4-5 faGet Happy Mister August 30 Evangeline. Both Hernandez vorite and a winner of $100,000 proves the best Longshots close out and Broberg led the standings stakes races in New York and Get Happy Mister cement- Maryland, and longshot CockEvangeline Downs meet in total wins and purse money ed his legacy as the best horse eyed Cowboy. earned. Forest Lake and Waha ever bred in Colorado with a From a race-riding family Wild recorded upsets in the “He was a little rank early,” 2 3/4-length victory against a that includes older brother Evangeline Downs Starlet Ziegler said. “I saw the speed talented group of shippers in B. J., younger sister Courtand Evangeline Downs Star, go. He fought a little bit. When the $100,000 Arapahoe Park ney, and father, Brian, 2014 respectively, for 2-year-olds at he got halfway around the Classic Aug. 16. has been a breakout year for Evangeline Downs on Aug. 30, first turn, he leveled out. I just He completed an undefeat- watched them until the 3/8ths- the closing night of the 2014 Hernandez. The 25-year-old ed 2014 season at Arapahoe native of Lafayette, Louisiana, pole. Then Mister just took me. spring/summer ThoroughPark with five victories, four of not only earned his second bred season. Each event was He knows what he’s doing. them in stakes and ranging in leading rider title (having Down the lane he was kind of contested at the distance of distances from 5 1/2 furlongs pricking his ears.” six furlongs on the main track led the standings in 2008) at to 1 1/8 miles. The 4-year-old Evangeline Downs, but also Get Happy Mister comthat was labeled sloppy after bay gelding owned by Annette pleted the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.22 persistent rainfall over the past recorded his 1,000th career victory back in March at Delta Bishop, trained by Kenneth as the 9-5 second favorite 48 hours. Downs. Hernandez won at a “Butch” Gleason, and ridden in the field of eight. Bishop Owned by former NFL

Louisiana

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Forest Lake

rate of 23 percent while visiting the winner’s circle a total of 120 times from 530 mounts during the season en route to amassing more than $1.81 million in purse earnings. Veteran reinsman Joe Patin Jr. was a distant second behind Hernandez with 95 victories and purse earnings of $1.61 million. Diego Saenz, the leading rider the past three seasons at the Opelousas, Louisiana, venue, was atop the leaderboard when he suffered a knee injury in July, and ended up in the third spot with totals of 72 wins and $1.53 million in purse earnings from only 300 mounts. In the trainer’s race, it was once again no race at all as Broberg and his stable scored at a 29 percent clip and easily notched his fourth consecutive training title in Cajun Country. The 43-year-old Arlington, Texas, resident recorded 66 wins including the meet’s biggest race, the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint with Heitai, en route to purse earnings of Waha Wild

Sky and Sea

more than $1.2 million. Keith Bourqeois, a multiple former leading trainer here at Evangeline, has a strong season with 51 wins and $723,000 in purses earned. Despite hitting at just 1 percent below Broberg, Bourgeois could not keep pace in the final stages of the season and settled for the runner-up position, a spot he has held for three of the past four seasons. Scotty Gelner, a second generation horseman, was third in the final standings with totals of 31 wins and $419,000 in purse earnings. Heitai, the Frank and

Barbara Rowell homebred son of Fusaichi Pegasus, won all three of his starts at the meet, including the Turf Sprint, Need for Speed and Louisiana Legends Night Sprint en route to being named Horse of the Meet.

MINNESOTA

Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN August 10 Sky and Sea wins Minnesota Oaks

Sky and Sea, a 1 to 10 favorite, won the $75,000 Minne-

sota Oaks by 3 1/4 lengths Aug. 10 at Canterbury Park. Trained by Bernell Rhone and owned by Rake Farms, the 3-year-old Minnesota-bred filly was ridden by Dean Butler. Final time for the 1 mile and 70 yards was 1:46.46. Sky and Sea paid $2.20 to win. Thunder and Honey finished second and Stellabrini was third. The counterpart to the Oaks, the $75,000 Minnesota Derby, was won by Speed Is Life and jockey Ry Eikleberry for trainer Doug Oliver and owners EZ-AZ Thoroughbreds. Speed Is Life, 3 1/4 lengths clear of second-place finisher Vanderbilt Beach, paid $14.60. Wagering favorite A P Is Loose was third. Final time for the Derby was 1:45.52.

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On the undercard, 2-yearold filly Hero On Saturday won the $40,000 Careless Navigator Stakes by a neck in 1:06.79 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. Hero On Saturday, $9.00, was ridden by Seth Martinez, trained by David Anderson, and owned by Elizabeth and Tom Baxter.

Oklahoma. Skim The Rail’s dam, Brush The Rail, is a winning 9-year-old mare by Broad Brush who has produced two starters. Skim The Rail’s second dam, the Grade 3-placed Dispersal mare Silver Rail, won the $75,000 Allen E. Paulson Handicap (R) at Gulfstream Park in 2001, and she is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Supervisor. A $5,000 buy at this year’s Fasig Tipton Texas Sale in April, Skim The Rail was coming off of a wire-to-wire, 2 1/2-length victory in a 5-furlong, $15,000 maiden special weight sprint at Albuquerque Aug. 17. The $30,000 winner’s share of the The Downs at Manzano Stakes purse pushed Albuquerque, NM her bankroll to $41,000. August 31 Dirt Monster, the 11-10 Skim the Rail scores favorite, finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Skim The Rail, upset Jeff Plotkin’s Skim The Rail, and was followed by Tropic Vision, Rousanne, Boast, Z Smokone of only three fillies in the ing Gun, You’ve Been Duped, nine-horse field, outran her and Jusgimmetenmiutes. 11-1 odds to win the $50,000 Runner-up Stratagem Manzano Stakes for 2-year-olds earned $10,000 to increase at The Downs at Albuquerque her bankroll to $43,553 from Aug. 31. four starts for her owner, Gary Trained by Justin Evans, Barrow, who also trains the Skim The Rail went 6 furlongs in Oklahoma-bred daughter of 1:10.81 under jockey Jose BeiAir Commander. Stratagem tia, and her margin of victory was a neck from Stratagem, the has won two races, including the July 20, $16,600 Wyoming 7-2 third choice in the wagerDowns Thoroughbred Futurity. ing. The win was her second Dirt Monster, a Kentuckyin three starts and first stakes bred son of the Lion Heart score. stallion Line Of David racing for Skim The Rail was bred in Tony Pennington, was making Oklahoma by Clark O. Brewster. his career debut. The colt sold The filly became the fourth for $275,000 at the Keeneland stakes winner from 173 startApril Sale. ers sired by Latent Heat, an 11-year-old son of Maria’s Mon who won two graded stakes at August 30 Santa Anita Park from 2006-07, Alsono duels, wins including the Grade 1, $250,000 Duke City Sprint Elvin Gonzalez rode Alsono Malibu Stakes in ’06. Latent Heat’s starters have to a wire-to-wire, six-length earned more than $6.05 million victory in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Duke City Sprint Stakes and include stakes winners for 3-year-olds, Aug. 30, at The Ciguaraya, Lattin Devil, and Softly Lit. The stallion stood the Downs at Albuquerque. Prepped by Justin Evans 2014 season for a $3,500 fee for owner Tony Pennington, at River Oaks Farm in Sulphur,

NEW MEXICO

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Alsono dueled with odds-on favorite Shock Hazard through fractions of :22.42 and :43.90, before he reached the wire in 1:02.23. The $30,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $216,630 from 14 starts, of which $130,760 has been banked from seven outs this season. Alsono was bred in Kentucky by Ann Marie Farm. The gelding is one of 18 stakes winners sired by Limehouse, a 13-year-old multiple graded stakes winning son of the Gone West stallion Grand Slam. From 262 starters, Limehouse has sired the earners of more than $14.02 million, including Risky Rachel, a multiple stakes winner during the 2013-14 Tampa Bay Downs meet, and Delightful Mary, a graded stakes winner and the 2010 Canadian Sovereign Award champion 2-year-old filly. Limehouse stood the 2014 season for a $3,500 fee at O’Sullivan Farms in Charles Town, W.V. Alsono is also one of five winners from six starters produced by his dam, the winning St. Jovite mare Miss Blue Grass. Now 16, Miss Blue Grass has foaled the earners of $506,548, including Gig Harbor, a half brother to Alsono who won two stakes at Golden Gate Fields in northern California from 2011-12, and My Lil Shamrock, a daughter of City Zip who ran third in the 2012 Golden Gate Debutante Stakes. Campaigned in New Mexico, Kentucky, and Colorado, Alsono has won seven races, including five stakes, two of which are official black-type stakes. The gelding’s resume includes a wire-to-wire, twolength victory in the 6-furlong, $50,000 KHEY-Y Country Sprint Stakes at Sunland Park Jan. 26. Alsono was sent to post as the 5-2 second choice in the field of seven and returned a

$7.80 win mutuel. Shock Hazard, the 4-5 favorite, lasted for second to complete a $16.60 ($2) exacta. Blackout, Cloud Harbor, Ima Happy Strike, Northern Contact, and Mysterious Storm completed the order of finish. Shock Hazard shipped in for owners Jody Mueller and William L. Hobbs from Prairie Meadows in Iowa, where the gelded son of Dunkirk won four of his five starts, including two state-bred stakes. A $36,000 purchase at the 2012 Iowa Yearling Sale, Shock Hazard has won four of eight races and has earned $154,061. Blackout is a Kentuckybred gelding by Orientate racing for Eli Diamant and Brandon J. Valentini. A winner against $15,000 non-winnersof-two claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs at Sunland Park last January, Blackout has won two of 14 outs, both against claiming company, and he has banked $47,314.

August 23 Thunder Agard wins thrilling stretch duel

Thunder Agard, a homebred 5-year-old gelding by To Teras racing for Rebecca Anderson of Grants, N.M., outdueled odds-on favorite On Down The Road and E Bar Way down the stretch to win the 1 1/16-mile, $60,000 Lineage Classic Stakes (R), one of four state-bred Thoroughbred stakes contested at The Downs at Albuquerque. Prepped by Fred Danley and ridden by Enrique Gomez, Thunder Agard covered his 8 1/2-furlong trip in 1:45.24, and his winning margin was a nose from On Down The Road. E Bar Way finished third, a head behind the runner-up, who was coming off of a three-quarter length win in the July 27, 7 1/2-furlong Land of Enchantment Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs.

R A C E R E C A P S - TH O R O U G H B R ED

Droppin Timber

The $30,000 winner’s share of the Lineage Classic purse pushed Thunder Agard’s earnings to $146,521 from 27 starts, of which $84,811 has been banked from nine outs this year. Thunder Agard was raised at his owner’s home near Grants, about 75 miles west of Albuquerque, where Anderson works as a large- and small-animal veterinarian. The gelding was unraced as a 2-year-old, as a broken sesamoid bone impeded his early training.

August 9 Droppin Timber wins Special Hank Handicap

A sharp break from post 4 helped Droppin Timber score a 1 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Special Hank Handicap for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, Aug. 9, at The Downs at Albuquerque. Ridden by Jimmy Ray Coates for owner Frank J. Greenhaw and trainer Orrin Cogburn, Droppin Timber covered his 870-yard trip in 44.633 seconds and earned a 101 speed index. The 4-yearold gelding was making his first start since June 1, when he ran third, 4 1/4 lengths behind winner Emperor Valerian, in the $50,000 Remington Distance Handicap (Grade 3) at Reming-

Ol Winedrinker Who

ton Park. Droppin Timber was bred in Oklahoma by Danny R. Caldwell. The gelding’s sire, First Timber, is a winning 9-year-old son of 2003 world champion Oak Tree Special who was a finalist in the 440-yard All American Derby (Grade 1) at Ruidoso Downs in ’08. Droppin Timber’s dam, Droppindead Gorgeous, is a 15-year-old mare by Strawfly Special. He traces back to his fourth dam, Jamayel (TB), a Kentucky-bred daughter of the Native Dancer stallion Mito who ran second in two stakes on the Northern California Fair circuit from 1977-78. Campaigned in Oklahoma, Florida, and New Mexico, Droppin Timber has won five of 14 races – including four of six at the 870 distance – and the $30,000 winner’s share of the Special Hank Handicap purse pushed his bankroll to $93,768, of which $68,900 has been earned this season. Droppin Timber was sent to post as the 7-2 third choice in the wagering and returned a $9 win mutuel. Runner-up Safe Trip (TB), the lone Thoroughbred in the eight horse field and the 3-1 second choice, completed a $2 exacta payoff of $34. Im Royal Quick ran third,

1 1/2 lengths behind Droppin Timber, and was followed by 19-10 favorite Feature Mr Snow, Ladys Sonata, Tres Primeros, Apollos First Down, and Padrisimo completed the order of finish. Safe Trip shipped north from Ruidoso Downs, where he scored a two-length victory in the May 24, 870-yard Fine Loom Handicap, for owner MCM Racing LLC. All told, the 7-year-old Tale Of The Cat (TB) gelding has won 10 of 32 races, including four of nine against Quarter Horses, and he has earned $402,995. Im Royal Quick is a 7-yearold Grade 2-winning son of champion Royal Quick Dash racing for Jesus O. Garcia. The gelding has won 11 of 44 outs, including four stakes, and the $5,000 third-place share of the Special Hank purse increased his bankroll to $248,190.

Ol Winedrinker Who rallied past a game pacesetter King Coral to win the $60,000 Ruidoso Downs Thoroughbred Championship, the final race on closing day Sept. 1. M.H. Carson’s King Coral went to the lead out of the gate and set all the early fractions in the one-and-onesixteenth-mile test. Ol Winedrinker Who took the lead and the top of the stretch, but King Coral fought gamely along the rail and was beaten by one-and-one-half lengths. J. Kirk and Judy Robison Isn’t He Clever, the 4-5 favorite, finished third and never threatened the top-two finishers. From the Joel Marr barn and ridden by Carlos Madeira, Ol Winedrinker Who was making his first start since June when he won the San Juan County Commissioners Handicap at SunRay Park. He also won the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship last November.

August 9 Belleofthebeach wins Aspen Cup

Ruidoso Downs, NM Teed Off Stables, LLC’s September 1 Belleofthebeach took to the Ol Winedrinker Who muddy track with a laterallies for championship running victory in the $50,000 Sam and Sammy Stevens’

Aspen Cup for three-year-

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Belleofthebeach

old fillies Aug. 9 at Ruidoso Downs. The Irwin Rosendo-ridden filly covered the six furlongs in 1:12.46. Belleofthebeach rated behind the leaders until making a bid on the turn. She was slightly checked while moving between horses leaving the quarter pole, however proved to be the best filly in the race when she pulled away for the two-and-onequarter-length win. Awesome Dama finished second, two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of thirdplace finisher Stormquility. Belleofthebeach, the 13-10 favorite, raced to her third-straight win and her first stakes victory. The Justin Evans-trained miss won a pair of races at Sunland Park before making her Ruidoso Downs’ debut in the Aspen Cup. She took a $25,000 optional-claiming race by eightand-one-quarter lengths and then a $35,9000 allowance race by six-and-one-quarter lengths. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Master Command has four wins and a pair of seconds from nine starts.

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Bim Bam

OKLAHOMA

before making his run. Off the final turn, Bim Bam rolled outside of rivals, while gaining on the fading pacesetter Bernie The Jet, and Gaelico. “Along the backside I was in the middle of two horses and I got him settled in,” Loveberry Remington Park, said. “My instructions were to ‘keep him clean’ so when I got Oklahoma City, OK him to the outside he just had August 24 nice pickup. When I turned for Bim Bam rallies to take home, I saw Luis (Quinonez, DeBartolo Handicap aboard Gaelico) just sitting there. When I switched leads, A quality field of turf he had another big kick. As runners assembled Aug. 24 at Remington Park for the $75,000 soon as I cleared Unbridled Giant, I started to get after him Edward J. DeBartolo Memoand switched sticks. I was just rial Handicap. Bim Bam rallied thinking ‘keep going and you down the middle of the lane got it.’ I was waiting for Dreams to post a half-length win as the wagering favorite, keeping Cut Short to come and get me but he never could. I was a little his local record perfect in the worried that speed would carry process. on this course but he handled Owned by Chuck and Ella it well.” Lou Hagaman of Hot Springs, Gaelico led briefly before Ark. and trained by Ron MoBim Bam moved by in the final quett, Bim Bam was handled by jockey Jareth Loveberry. The yards, holding second at the finish. Dreams Cut Short did 7-year-old Bim Bam came into make a late run to get up for Remington Park off a win at third, 1-1/2 lengths behind the Mountaineer Park in West Virginia in the Independence Day winner. Bim Bam crossed the finish in 1:42.25 over the firm Stakes in early July. Loveberry had the ride for that win as well, course. Bernie The Jet set quarhelping him get acquainted terly fractions of :24.33 seconds with Bim Bam. In the DeBartolo, Bim Bam for the opening quarter-mile; :48.02 for the half-mile and was sixth throughout the first half of the race, biding his time 1:11.43 for three-quarters of

a mile. Gaelico hit the mile in 1:35.95. Away as the betting choice at 5-2 odds, Bim Bam paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.80 to show. Gaelico returned $5.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Dreams Cut Short paid $3.20 to show. The win was the ninth from 45 career attempts for Bim Bam and his second straight triumph at Remington Park. The horse posted an allowance win here in November 2013. The first-place check of $44,796 increases the lifetime earnings for Bim Bam to $787,598. Bred in Florida by J D Farms, Bim Bam is a horse by Deputy Wild Cat from the Colony Light mare Laurel Light. The DeBartolo Handicap was his seventh career turf win. The remaining order of finish in the DeBartolo Handicap was Pride Of Silver (4th), Unbridled Giant (5th), Olympic Thunder (6th), Ocean Seven (7th), Whisper To Curlin (8th) and Bernie The Jet (9th). The DeBartolo Handicap is named in honor of the late founder of Remington Park. Loveberry is enjoying great success early in his first season at Remington Park. The win on Bim Bam was one of three on the night for him. He also won with Sooner Breeze ($4.40 to

R A C E R E C A P S - TH O R O U G H B R ED

Sooner Superstar

Crow Bridge

win) in race three and Delightful Delilah ($14.80) in the ninth and final race. Loveberry has seven wins through the first six race dates, placing him in a tie atop the jockey standings with Cliff Berry, a 15-time seasonal champion at Remington Park.

of racing of the 2014 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season featured a thrilling finish in the main race of the night Aug. 20. Crow Bridge battled to maintain his lead throughout the stretch then held off Somethin Country in the final strides to win the $32,475 allowance feature over the turf by a head. The one-mile turf race found Crow Bridge on the lead by the first turn under jockey Glen Murphy. There he stayed, repelling various challenges, at one point getting clear of rivals in the final furlong. Somethin Country came on with a late charge, exchanging head-bobs with Crow Bridge in the final strides, coming up short. Owned by the Oilton, Okla. partnership of Carl Turnbow and Dennis Spencer, Crow Bridge is trained by Bret Calhoun. He covered the mile over firm turf in 1:37.12. Away at 5-1 odds in the wagering, Crow Bridge paid $12.20 to win, $5.40 to place and $4 to show. Somethin Country was the beaten 2-1 betting favorite, returning $3.60 to place and $3.60 to show. Canuck was three lengths behind the winner in third, paying $10.80 to show. The win for Crow Bridge was his fourth from 23 career starts and his first at Remington

the 5-year-old mare who came through again for her connections in the first Oklahoma-bred stakes race of the Remington Park season. “She’s great for us,” Rodriguez said after receiving the trophy. “We’re the small guy. We’ve got just a few horses and a few stalls but we’ve got a August 22 champion in her.” Sooner Superstar pulls Sooner Superstar crossed upset: Again the finish in 1:28.76 seconds Sooner Superstar had not over the firm turf at odds of 10won a race since she pulled 1. Polka Joke finished second an upset to win the 2013 Red as the beaten 3-1 wagering Earth Stakes at Remington Park. favorite. Perfect To Please was Aug. 22, she ended the winthird, 1-3/4 lengths behind the less streak, winning the 2014 winner. $50,000 Red Earth Stakes in Sooner Superstar returned front-running style. $22.40 to win, $9.80 to place The only female in the and $7 to show. Polka Joke paid field of 11 older Oklahoma$6 to place and $3.40 to show. breds, Sooner Superstar went Perfect To Please paid $5.20 to to the front from the outset show. in the 7-1/2 furlong Red Earth A daughter of Ra Ra SuperStakes, under jockey Ken Tohill. star from the Skip Away mare Owned by Marti Rodriguez Skip A Dare, Sooner Superstar and Dwayne Scruggs of Jones, was bred by Allen Poindexter. Okla. and trained by Rodriguez, The win was her fifth from 30 Sooner Superstar was briefly career starts with three of them threatened in the stretch run by taking place at Remington Park. Polka Joke before pulling away The Red Earth Stakes winner’s to win by three-quarters of a share of $30,000 moves her length. lifetime earnings to $193,374. Sooner Superstar clicked off fractions of :23.57 seconds August 20 for a quarter-mile; :46.87 for Crow Bridge wins the half-mile and 1:10.48 for three-quarters of a mile. The main event swift fractions did not wear out The first Wednesday night

Park. A 5-year-old Kentuckybred gelding by Half Ours from the Smart Strike mare Strikeapromise, Crow Bridge earned $17,745 for the win to move his overall bankroll to $64,839.

August 17 Code West has perfect trip

Jockey Cliff Berry picked up his 2,000th Thoroughbred victory at Remington Park during the Opening Night of the Aug. 16. He scored his first stakes race of the season Aug. 17, riding a willing Code West to win the $176,050 Governor’s Cup. Code West, had the inside post position and sat just off the pace set by Right To Vote who grabbed the lead a few strides after the start of the 1-1/8 miles race and was in control until deep stretch. “I was stuck on the inside,” Berry noted. “He was comfortable there and for some reason the horse on the lead (Right To Vote) stayed out and we had a dream trip. I thought he would squeeze back down on me (in the stretch) but he was worried about somebody else I think. My horse ran good and just gutted it out.” Code West prevailed by a half-length, gaining the lead in the final yards while stopping SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 53

Code West

the clock in 1:49.82 over the fast track. Right To Vote held second, 1-1/4 lengths better than For Greater Glory who gained third after trailing the field until the top of the stretch. Owned by Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla. and trained by Boyd Caster, Code West was purchased privately from Omaha, Neb. owners Gary and Mary West over the course of this summer. Code West was previously a regular competitor in graded stakes competition, counting the Grade 3 $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. as his top effort in 2013. “We’ve bought a lot of horses from the Wests,” Caster noted. “They’re straight-shooters and you get what you pay for. We’ve done well with them back here.” Away at 5-2 odds in the wagering, Code West paid $7.20 to win, $3.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Right To Vote paid $3.80 to place and $3.60 to show. For Greater Flory returned $5.60 to show. Sunbean was the beaten 7-5 wagering favorite, finishing fifth while never threatening. Code West won his fourth career race from 15 attempts in gaining the Governor’s Cup in his Remington Park debut. A 4-year-old by Lemon Drop Kid 54 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Ivan Fallunovalot

Sum Of The Parts set the pace handling a quarter-mile in :21.96 seconds and half-mile in :44.48 seconds before fading to a fourth-place effort. Ghost Is Clear rallied for second while Okie Ride, the lone Oklahoma-bred in the Vance Sprint, came on to gain third, 1-3/4 lengths behind the August 16 winner. Ivan Fallunovalot wins Trainer W. T. “Tom” Howard David M. Vance Sprint claimed Ivan Fallunovalot for Ivan Fallunovalot is a horse owner Lewis Matthews Jr. of with a funny name but with a Bismarck, Ark. at Oaklawn Park serious game. The 4-year-old in Hot Springs, Ark. in March gelded son of Valid Expectathis year for $25,000. The geldtions from the Horse Chestnut ing won the race in which he (SAF) mare Flashdance Missy was claimed, and then his two moved his win streak to four subsequent optional claiming consecutive races with a powraces. erful finish in the six furlong Bred in Texas by Eileen event which served as the first Hartis, Ivan Fallunovalot now stakes race of the Remington boasts a lifetime record of Park season. seven wins from 12 starts and Jockey Lindey Wade had his earnings of $45,000 for the a definite strategy aboard Ivan Vance score, his debut effort at Fallunovalot. “I felt like there Remington Park, increased his was a lot of speed in the race lifetime earnings to $155,710. so I let them go. I loved our Ivan Fallunovalot covered outside post and we benefitted the six furlongs over a fast from it. I always had the hope track in a time of 1:09.40 and that we were going to get there paid $18 to win, $7.80 to place once we got past the 6 horse and $5 to show. Ghost Is Clear (Sum Of The Parts). I thought he would fend off anybody that swept 6-wide at 2-1 to finish second and pay $3 to place and gave him a challenge.” $3 to show. Okie Ride finished Ivan Fullunovalot went third at 18-1 and paid $6.60 to to the lead turning for home show. Good Lord was the 8-5 and then edged clear to win favorite but failed to menace by three-quarters of a length. from the Saint Ballado mare Charitabledonation, Code West was bred in Virginia by Edward Evans. The first-place check from the Governor’s Cup of $105,000 increases the overall earnings for Code West to $414,176.

while finishing sixth. The Vance Sprint is named in honor of the founding president and general manager of Remington Park who was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

WASHINGTON

Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA August 24 Stryker Phd awesome in Longacres Mile

Stryker Phd reached the pinnacle of Northwest racing Aug. 24, exploding from last place for a half-length victory over Boyett in the 79th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs. Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 121 lbs, Stryker Phd ran one mile in 1:33.79 – the fifth fastest winning time in 19 runnings at Emerald Downs*and paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.60. Larry Ross is the winning trainer for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash. Boyett, a Southern California shipper ridden by Agapito

R A C E R E C A P S - TH O R O U G H B R ED

Stopshoppingdebbie

Stryker Phd

Delgadillo at 117 lbs, held on gamely to finish second and paid $8.80 and $6. Twistgrips, a 24-to-1 long shot ridden by Amadeo Perez at 115 lbs, flew late to finish third and paid $9.40. Scat Daddybaby, who blazed through fractions of :22.52, :44.83 and 1:08.42, finished fourth, and was followed by Shooting Jacket, Mr. Bowling, Prohibition, Disruption, Dontmesswithkitten, Jebrica, Mysterious Soul and Title Contender. A 5-year-old gelding by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, Stryker Phd is the 20th Washington-bred to win the Longacres Mile, and the first since Noosa Beach in 2010. In fact, the top three finishers were all bred in the Northwest – Stryker Phd in Washington, Boyett in Oregon, and Twistgrips in Brit-

ing said. “I wanted to be in a comfortable position, but I didn’t expect to be in last. We were going nice and easy. When we got to the backside, there were probably still 10 to 12 lengths still in front of me. I knew they were going fast and we were in a good stride, so for sure they were going to come back to me. “I gave him a few taps at the three-eighths pole and he picked it up really nice. He was picking off horses one by one. ish Columbia. Stryker Phd was the 6-to-5 I got them about the eighthpole and we took the lead. I betting favorite, entering the don’t know what startled him race off stakes record perbut he looked at the crowd and formances in the one-mile heard the crowd and started Budweiser Handicap and 1 to slow down. We went from 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier Handicap. And as usual, the gelding about forty-five miles an hour to about 35 miles an hour in had no early speed, dropping about a second. He kind of back to last place, 15 lengths concerned me but I had the behind, as Scat Daddybaby momentum already.” smoked to the lead followed Stryker Phd is undefeated by Disruption, Dontmesswithin three starts this year and kitten and Boyett. Sunday’s win, worth $110,000, Then, in a move that’s pushed his 2014 ledger to 3-3become his norm, Stryker Phd 0-0 with earnings of $165,000. rallied boldly on the last turn, Overall, Stryker Phd is 5-4-4 inhaling foes with a sweepin 16 starts with earnings of ing wide move and reached $292,751. That total includes the fore with a furlong to run. From there, he drifted out a bit, a $40,000 check for finishing second to Herbie D in last year’s but had plenty left to hold off Longacres Mile. Boyett. This year, Stryker Phd got “We knew there was going the first prize. to be a lot of speed, so I let “It was a good race,” Mawhim break on his own,” Maw-

ing added. “I have to give all the kudos to the horse. He was working great in the morning. We’ve been training him to finish strong in the lane and he ran accordingly.” For Mawing, the meet’s dominant rider with 80 wins and nine stakes wins, it was his first Mile triumph in seven attempts. “It’s a great feeling to win my first Mile,” Mawing said. “I’ve been here since the opening year and this race has always been eluding me. The best I’ve run in The Mile before was a fourth, so this is just fantastic.” For Ross, it was the trainer’s second Mile win and very similar to his first 29 years ago with Chum Salmon. Like Stryker Phd, Chum Salmon was a 5-year-old gelding when he rallied from last to win the 1985 Longacres Mile. “It really did remind me of Chum Salmon,” Ross said. “More than I expected, but the pace was pretty hot. That’s just his style. You’re not going to change it.”

Stopshoppingdebbie holds on to remain perfect

It wasn’t easy, but undefeated Stopshoppingdebbie showed her class Aug. 24 with a three-quarter-length victory SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 55

56 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

R A C E R E C A P S - TH O R O U G H B R ED over stable mate Goin to the Window in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs. Ridden by Rocco Bowen at a stakes record 124 lbs, Stopshoppingdebbie ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.45 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Tom Wenzel is the trainer for owner-breeder Northwest Farms. The victory improved Stopshoppingdebbie to 9-for-9 overall, and the $35,750 winner’s share increased her earnings to $247,023. Wenzel and owner Jerre Paxton (Northwest Farms) have discussed a California campaign this fall, but said Stopshoppingdebbie first had to clear Sunday’s hurdle. Goin to the Window would prove a formidable obstacle, drawing nearly even with Stopshoppingdebbie at the eighth pole, but once again Stopshoppingdebbie answered with another surge of energy. “It was an incredible race,” Bowen said. “(Stopshoppingdebbie) was doing it so easy and pricking her ears. I usually don’t step it up a notch at the half-mile pole but I had to today to keep her going. “(Goin to the Window) never got the head in front of us. Once ‘Debbie saw her, she just drew away. I was never once worried today. The other horse is a really good horse, so I never let my guard down. But at the end of the day, I knew I was on the best horse. I’ve won a lot of big races, but I have to say this is the best race I’ve ever won. It was a special day for me.” A Kentucky-bred by CurlinTaste the Passion, Stopshoppingdebbie has back-to-back divisional sweeps at Emerald Downs; she swept the 3-yearold filly division in 2013 and the older filly & mare division in 2014. The eight straight stakes wins are a track record,

one better than Ropersandwranglers’ seven consecutive stakes wins in 1996-97. Goin to the Window, ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 118 lbs, paid $3 and $2.40. It was three lengths back to Blueberry Smoothie, ridden by Javier Matias at 118 lbs, and a $2.40 show payoff. With Blueberry Smoothie gaining the show, it marked the seventh time in two seasons that the three Northwest Farms’ fillies finished first, second and third in an Emerald Downs’ stakes race. But as usual, Stopshoppingdebbie got the victory. “We had a good day today,” Wenzel said. “All the mares acted pretty good in the paddock and they all performed. Goin to the Window ran a great race running out ‘Debbie and, Blueberry Smoothie tried like she always does. “We hope to (run outside the state with Stopshoppingdebbie). We’ll see how the mare pulls up, and then we’ll have some decisions to make.”

Pippa Bou Peep

Seeking the Light, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 118 lbs, set a pressured pace of :22.22 for the quarter and :45.11 for the half, shook off Jazz Queen into the lane, and resisted gamely through the stretch to just miss. Seeking the Light paid $2.20 and $2.10. Val de Saire, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 118 lbs, finished four lengths behind Seeking the Light and paid $4.40 to show. A 25-year-old native of the August 17 Czech Republic, Kubinova has been one of the top riders the Pippa Bou Peep wins last three seasons at Emerald Shinpoch thriller Downs, setting an apprentice Pippa Bou Peep edged record with 75 wins in 2012 Seeking the Light in a driving and finishing third overall as a finish Aug. 17 as jockey Eliska journeyman in 2013. She ranks Kubinova scored her first Emthird again this year with 46 erald Downs stakes victory in wins, but had never won an the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Emerald Downs stakes race Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. before Sunday. Running 6 ½ furlongs Trained by Charles Essex in 1:17.23, Pippa Bou Peep and co-owned by Essex and prevailed by a head after a David and Linda Olson, Pippa prolonged stretch drive with 4-to-5 betting favorite Seeking Bou Peep has improved steadily this season at Emerald Downs. the Light. Pippa Bou Peep paid $6.60, Although winless before Sunday, she had finished second $3 and $2.60. twice and third twice, including “I had a perfect trip, Kubinova said. “This horse is really a runner-up finish to Ethan’s professional and she did every- Baby in the Angie C Stakes last thing I asked of her. I wasn’t 100 month. Sunday’s win, worth percent sure I was going to get $27,225, increased her earnings there, but once I got to next to to $45,357. After just missing his ninth the other horse, I was sure.”

stakes win of the meet, Mawing said Seeking the Light is a work in progress. “Blaine (Wright) told me to ride her like she’s the best horse, get her into the race,” Mawing said. “I felt she ran well. She still hasn’t quite put it all together. “It was bittersweet. I wanted to win the race, but also was happy for Eliska.” Sneaking a Kiss, Jazz Queen, Bella Colomba and Seattles Best Copy completed the order of finish.

August 9 Lady Fifty Two answers distance question

California invader Lady Fifty Two snatched Emerald Downs’ richest and most prestigious event for 3-year-old fillies Aug. 9, edging clear for a 1 ½-length victory over Mylast Sweet Pea in the $65,000 Washington Oaks. With Leslie Mawing riding at 120 lbs for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Lady Fifty Two ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.21 and paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Kodiak Kowboy-K.D.’s Shady Lady, Lady Fifty Two is 3-0-3 in nine starts with earnings of $83,352, including $35,750 for the Oaks victory. Lady Fifty Two SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 57

Lady Fifty Two

is co-owned by Hollendorfer, Dr. Mark Dedomenico of Redmond and Dr. George Todaro of Seattle. Mylast Sweet Pea, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 120 lbs, set the pace to the head of the stretch, but was out finished through the lane and settled for a second-place check worth $13,000. The second betting choice at 5-to-2, Mylast Sweet Pea paid $2.40 and $2.40. Champagne Gal, a Canadian shipper ridden by Alex Bisono at 120 lbs, was 4 ¾ lengths back in third place and paid $3.20 to show. Sunpenny, Quiet Wisdom, Cheeky Stone and Papa’s Flashy Girl rounded out the order of finish. Although seven horses raced, the Oaks pretty much was a match race between Lady Fifty Two and Mylast Sweet Pea. Hustled to the lead, Mylast Sweet Pea set fractions of :24.17, :48.57 and 1:12.61 for six furlongs, and maintained a slim advantage as the fillies straightened for home. Lady Fifty Two, however, was practically glued to the front-runner from the bell, and she finally made her move into the lane, and gradually edged clear while drifting a bit through the stretch. “The horse had been 58 SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9

Jebrica

running short races, so if this horse was going to get tired I was going to make sure it was when she was near the lead,” Mawing said. “I know how Jerry (Hollendorfer) trains and he always has them fit. When it’s time to get a horse ready, he’ll have the horse ready. “He told me to hustle her out of the gate, find a good spot and use my own judgment. We were coming past the quarter-pole and I knew I had a little more horse than (Mylast Sweet Pea). I’m happy to win this race for (Jerry). I hope he sends more horses up to Emerald Downs.” Indeed Lady Fifty Two had never raced beyond six furlongs, a situation that Mitchell hoped to exploit aboard Mylast Sweet Pea. “I thought there might be a couple of other horses that would go to the lead with me, but (Mylast Sweet Pea) is versatile, and the kind of filly that it doesn’t matter where she’s at in a race. “She relaxed so well, but maybe too much,” Mitchell added. “I had to nudge her a bit on the backside and then she moved right into a nice stride and ran a great race. She tried to come back on in the stretch but I could see the winner was gone. When we get to the Washington Cup without

any shippers, she’ll get her due.” With Lady Fifty Two winning the Oaks, this season’s 3-year-old filly division produced four different winners – City By The Bay, Find Your Spot, Ole’s Miss and Lady Fifty Two. The first three winners all missed the Oaks for various reasons, however, and Lady Fifty Two shipped in to fill the void.

August 2 Jebrica prevails, claimed for $50,000

Jebrica exerted his class with a powerful 2 ¾-length victory Aug. 2 in the $20,475 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs. Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 120 pounds, the multiplestakes winning gelding ran one mile in 1:35.25 and paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.20. Jim Penney is the trainer for owners Where We At (Paul Heist and Jack Fabulich). Upon returning to the winner’s circle, however, a red tag was claimed on Jebrica to signify the 6-year-old was claimed for a track-record $50,000 by trainer Mike Puhich and owners Dr. Mark Dedomenico and North American Thoroughbred Racing Co.

Voted Emerald Downs’ Top 3-Year-Old of 2011, Jebrica is 8-4-6 in 31 starts lifetime with earnings of $327,567. He’s a double stakes winner at Emerald Downs and also won the B.C. Premiers at Hastings Racecourse. “He’s just a great horse,” Puhich said. “If anybody ever stubs their toe, he’s always going to be there. We’ll check him out but the plan is to run him back in the Mile. This race sets him up perfectly for three weeks.” “With a horse like him, there are plenty of options,” Puhich added. “He’s done pretty much everything. Glen Todd (North American Thoroughbred Racing Co.) pointed him out when he saw him in for a price in California a couple years ago.” Assessment, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 117 pounds, closed from last to finish second and paid $6.20 and $2.60. The 10-year-old gelding earned $4,095 to push his Emerald Downs’ earnings to $469,525, second highest on the track’s all-time list. Rocky’s Quest, ridden by Rocco Bowen at 117 pounds, finished third and paid $2.40 to show. Calculated Chaos, the early leader, finished fourth and Carving was last.

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SureBet RacingNews.com • September 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 9 59

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

Sire of 11 Stakes Horses in 2013

DIABOLICAL

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

PREMEDITATION

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

ROLL HENNESSY ROLL

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

Plus—

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

accomplished QH Sire GONNA RO SHAM BO

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