surebet racing news: march 2014 issue

M A R C H 2 0 1 4 · V O L . 8 N O . 3

Proceedpowers clear in Mine That Bird Derbypg. 5

Nearly $1.4-Million in 2013 Earnings from three of our sires with racing progeny, plus exciting second year stallion INDIAN FIREWATER for 2014!

THE WAY HOMEGiant’s Causeway-Homewrecker, by Buckaroo

$3,500

THE WAY HOMETHE WAY HOME

Alfredo Gutierrez, Farm Manager (575) 441-4418South Running Horse Lane, Hobbs, NM 88240

E mail: [email protected] | www.doubletreefarmnm.com

Steve & Susie Prather’s

CHANCESCHANCESDouble Your CHANCES

QUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLDCarson City – Releasure, by Relaunch

$3,500

QUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLDQUINTON’S GOLD

INDIAN FIREWATERGiant’s Causeway-Homewrecker, by Buckaroo

$3,000

INDIAN FIREWATERINDIAN FIREWATERLE GRANDE DANSEURCitidancer – Grand Marais, by Mr. Justice

$2,500

LE GRANDE DANSEURLE GRANDE DANSEUR

All NM Bred Program StallionsAll Fees with Special Considerations

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

http://www.doubletreefarmnm.com

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

Nearly $1.4-Million in 2013 Earnings from three of our sires with racing progeny, plus exciting second year stallion INDIAN FIREWATER for 2014!

THE WAY HOMEGiant’s Causeway-Homewrecker, by Buckaroo

$3,500

Alfredo Gutierrez, Farm Manager (575) 441-4418South Running Horse Lane, Hobbs, NM 88240

E mail: [email protected] | www.doubletreefarmnm.com

Steve & Susie Prather’s

Double Your CHANCES

QUINTON’S GOLDCarson City – Releasure, by Relaunch

$3,500

INDIAN FIREWATERGiant’s Causeway-Homewrecker, by Buckaroo

$3,000

LE GRANDE DANSEURCitidancer – Grand Marais, by Mr. Justice

$2,500

All NM Bred Program StallionsAll Fees with Special Considerations

RACING NEWSRACINGNENEN WSEWSESureBetM A I N O F F I C E :

575.258.2861 • 8 - 6, M - FPO Box 1971 • Ruidoso, NM 88355

www.surebetracingnews.com

P U B L I S H E R :LAURA FLYNN

Cell: 575.937.5806 • Fax: [email protected]

A D S A L E S :KENNA RAUSCHCell: 903.815.0602

[email protected]

E D I T O R I A L S T A F F :

MICHAEL [email protected]

MARTHA [email protected]

TOM [email protected]

ROBERT [email protected]

PETE [email protected]

TY [email protected]

C O P Y E D I T O R :MIKE SCANLON

D E S I G N D I R E C T O R :KATHERINE KIEFER

C O N T E N T SC O N T E N T SC O N T E N T SM A R C H 2 0 1 4 • V O L . 8 N O . 3Cover photo courtesy of Coady PhotographyCover Story: Proceed powers clear in Mine That Bird Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., noted rancher, horseman and philanthropist, dies at 88;

New Mexico passes bill to crack down on cheaters; New $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint anchors 5 stakes races; Ruidoso Downs’ growth goes beyond racetrack borders and into local economy; Prairie Meadows and Canterbury Park continue e� orts to extend racing opportunities for statebreds in 2014; Rebranded Evangeline sale o� ers 90 2-year-olds in training; 2014 Fair Grounds Hall Of Fame inductees named; Emerald Downs announces $1.61 million stakes schedule; $200,000 LGA Mile Sunday, Aug. 24; Sire of more than $17.5 million in earners to stand at Royal Vista Ranches, OK; Average payouts up across the board at Portland Meadows; Prairie Meadows announces 2014 schedules; Pat Pope named Thoroughbred Racing Secretary; Los Alamitos looking to revive distance division in 2014; Portland Meadows end-of-season release; NMHBA honors 2013 state-bred champions; Movie ‘50 To 1’ announces road tour

Race Recaps: Quarter Horse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Los Alamitos Race Course: Another Oatie is another big money winner in his

family; Diva looks good in Denim N Diamonds; Nellie Delaney takes Winter Championship to earn Champion Of Champions berth; Viva Mi Corazon is super-impressive in Winter Derby; Once Over enjoys impressive � rst stakes win; The Ocean King rules maiden trials

Sunland Park: Too Flash For You wins $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at 19-1; Streak Hitter is fastest West Texas Maturity quali� er

Thoroughbred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Santa Anita Race Park: Sweet Swap easily wins Joe Hernandez Stakes;

Ambitious Brew upsets to win Sensational Star Stakes; Pontchatrain takes Buena Vista Stakes; Kobe’s Back rambles from o� pace to take San Vicente; Iotapa impressive gate-to-wire winner of Santa Maria Stakes; Blingo bene� ts from torrid pace duel and takes San Antonio; Longshot Wild Dude rallies to win Palos Verdes; Fashion Plate dictates pace and wins Las Virgenes; Drysdale’s Winning Prize takes Arcadia Stakes

Oaklawn Park: Aireofdistinction rebounds late for Spring Fever victory; Tapiture wins Southwest; Don’t Tell Sophia comes from last for Bayakoa repeat; Right to Vote takes Essex; Apprehender repeats in King Cotton; Aragorn Ami pulls mild Martha Washington upset

Golden Gate Fields: Zeewat just gets up to win Lost In The Fog Stakes; Tamarando edges Dance With Fate in El Camino Real Derby

Fair Grounds Race Course: Bradester earns � rst stakes win in Mineshaft Handicap; Intense Holiday rallies to win Risen Star Stakes; Potomac River upsets Fair Grounds Handicap; Untapable dominates Rachel Alexandra; Class Included best in the Bayou Handicap; Artist Cry wins Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes; B and B’s Pulpit takes Gentilly Stakes; Kiss to Remember best in Battle of New Orleans; Warm Breeze wires Happy Ticket Stakes

Sam Houston Race Park: Triumph and Song blazes to victory in Sam Houston Sprint Cup ; Fiftyshadesofgold and Ibaka triumph in Two Altazano and Jim’s Orbit Stakes; Quiet Acceleration scores second stakes win of the meet in Jersey Village Stakes; Triumph and Song wins tBucharest Stakes; Wampas Kitty springs the upset in Tomball Stakes

Sunland Park: Western Way closes fast to win Peppers Pride Stakes; Jaycito wins Curribot Handicap; African Rose wins El Diario Handicap; Homerun Berti powers home in Budweiser Handicap

Delta Downs: Bayou State’s best in action during Louisiana Premier Night

FIRST MOONFLASHChampion Aged Stallion, Lifetime Earnings $969,000 SI 122 - 7 G1 WinsSire of Earnings of $2.3 million, 2013 #2 Leading 2YO SireSire of an All American Futurity Winner in his First Crop, 2013 #1 Leading Freshman Sire By Champion Multi Millionaire Sire First to Flash si 106 - Multiple-Stakes Producer Nagano Moon, by Major Rime

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

Bookings Going Fast – Call Today!2014 Fee: $8,500 Eligible for The Lineage and New Mexico Bred Program

Property of Partnership

sire of

HANDSOME JACK FLASH –Named 2013 AQHA World Champion 2YO

and Champion 2YO Gelding

W. L. MOORING: 505.864.2485 · PIERRE AMESTOY: 505.991.1343P.O. BOX 40 · BOSQUE, NM 87006 · Robert Perce, DMV · Embryo Transfers Available

AQHA Champion si 122

Photo by Gay Harris Photo

All American Futurity G1 Winner

HANDSOME JACK FLASH



C O V E R S T O R Y

Proceed pulled clear from Rebranded in deep stretch to earn a powerful two-length victory in the $120,000

Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park Race-track and Casino.

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

Trained by Joel Marr, Proceed remains unbeaten in three starts and passed the test of defeating open company with fl ying stars. The Red Hedeman Mile winner threw in a solid fi nal quarter mile and repelled a terrifi c challenge from Rebranded.

Under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr., Proceed launched a sizeable bid on the second turn of the 1 and 1/16 mile race and was in front at the three-quarter mile pole. The classy Desert God colt sprinted to the front in up-per stretch and completely held Rebranded at bay for the fi nal 200 yards of the feature. He completed the distance in a fast 1:42.47, very close to the track record of 1:41.09 held by Midnight Lucky.

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

keep routing him. He moved up into an excellent position down the backstretch. Alfredo rode him great. We had no excuses either way. If he comes out of the race OK, we hope to run him in the Sunland Derby. Sometimes, we gotta dream big.”

Proceed earned $72,000 for owner Michael Stinson of Fort Worth. The stellar 3-year-old remains a perfect three-for-three. His bankroll nearly doubled to more than $142,000. He could be a major force in the $800,000 Sunland Derby (Grade 3) on Sunday, March 23.

Riley Allison Futurity winner Rebranded ran a very bold race and closed with energy to earn second place, nearly 13 lengths in front of Ima Happy Strike. The runner-up

is an imposing son of Tiznow trained by leading conditioner Justin Evans. He should also have a major say in the Sunland Derby (Grade 3).

The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was on hand to lead the post pa-rade for the 2014 Mine That Bird Derby.

At top, Proceed, Alfredo Juarez Jr. up; above, winning connectionsPhotos by Coady Photography

February 22, 2014 • Sunland Park, NM

Proceed powers clear in Mine That Bird Derby


http://www.buenasuerteequine.com


FEB. 22, 2014Midland, TXClarence Scharbauer, Jr., noted rancher, horseman, and philanthropist, dies at 88

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

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

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

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

“He got to see this filly win last Satur-day, and that really pleased him,” said Ken Carson, longtime manager of Scharbauer’s Valor Farm in Pilot Point. “He was a great man, loved horses and loved horse racing. He loved horses like kids; loved the animals. Horses were a big part of his life.”

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

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

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

Santa Fe, NMNew Mexico passes bill to crack down on cheaters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The reasoning behind injecting horses

with pain killers is that if the horse has a nagging injury, the drugs will numb it so that the horse will run through the pain. But by doing so, the horses are liable to worsen their injuries or even break down, which often leads to their being killed.

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

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

Racing Commission appeals• Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr.: D-

202-CV-2010-03580 (2009 race) – Benzoylecgonine and Cocaine

• Joyce D. Salisbury: D-202-CV-2012-04935 (2011 race) – Lidocaine

• Gerardo Cano: D-202-CV-2012-06639 (2011 race) – Contraband

• Juan Torres: D-202-CV-2011-11866 (2011 race) – Clenbuterol

• Cal E. Martin: D-202-CV-2012-05499 (2011 race) – Valerenic Acid

• Homero Gutierrez: D-202-CV-2013-02117 (2011 race) – Clenbuterol

• Freda McSwane: CV-10-145 (12th Judicial District) 2nd place challenge

Record on Reviews filed• Fred Ike Danley: D-202-CV-2012-09669

(2012 race) – Clenbuterol• Abraham Jaquez: D-

202-CV-2013-05590 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol D-202-CV-2013-06078 (2013 race)- Zipaterol

• Roberto Sanchez: D-202-CV-2013-05251 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol

• Alonso Orozco: D-202-CV-2013-10621 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol

• Chris A. Hartman: D-202-CV-2012-05018 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol

• Paul C. Jones : D-202-CV-2013-06237 (2011 race) – Zipaterol


http://www.royalvistaranches.com


• Judy Bachicha : D-202-CV-2013-01487 (2012 race) – Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenylbutazone

• Damian S. Onsurez : D-202-CV-2013-06781– 2013 Possession of syringe

• Henry Dominguez : D-202-CV-2013-03118 (2013 race) –

• Eduardo A. Gonzalez: D-202-CV-2013-03844 (2013 race) – Clenbuterol

Record on Reviews to be filed in February• Carlos Sedillo : D-202-CV-2012-09672

(2012 race) – Demorphin *Due Feb. 17, 2014

• Juan Gonzalez: D-202-CV-2013-02648 (2012 race) – Clenbuterol * Due Feb. 17, 2014

• John D. Martinez : D-202-CV-2013-02648 (2012 race) – Zipaterol & Zylazine *Due Feb. 27, 2014

Cases in Court of Appeals• John Stinebaugh : D-

202-CV-2012-01864 (2011 race) – Clen-buterol Court of Appeals No. 32,840

• Chris A. Hartman: D-202-CV-2012-06186 Contraband (Ven-tipulmin) Appealed to Court of Appeals

• Cal E. Martin: D-202-CV-2012-05499 (2011 race) – Valerenic Acid Appealed to Court of Appeals

FEB. 20, 2014Opelousas, LANew $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint anchors 5 stakes including new $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel and Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) announced the creation of one of America’s richest turf sprint races for the upcoming Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meeting, the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, which will be run on Saturday, June 21.

The $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint will be contested on the grass course at a distance of five furlongs for 3-year-old and up with a maximum of 12 starters. It will be the highest purse for a five furlong turf race to date this year in the U.S.

The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint will anchor a special Saturday afternoon program of races on June 21 at Evange-line Downs, located near Lafayette, La. The day will be highlighted by five stakes

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

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

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

The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint is the second major stakes purse venture by Boyd Gaming, which purchased Evangeline Downs from Peninsula Gaming LLC in 2012. Evangeline’s sister track, Delta Downs, in Vinton, La., is home to the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (Grade 3) for 2-year-olds in late November. In 2012, three Jackpot start-ers qualified for last year’s Kentucky Derby (Grade 1), and produced Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) winner Goldencents. The Jackpot Day program has proved extremely popular with horseplayers across the U.S., as total handle for the full card has risen by more than $2 million since 2009, punctu-ated by last year’s record setting all-sources mark of $5,044,286.

“The Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint is another example of Boyd Gaming’s contin-ued commitment to high quality Thorough-bred racing for horsemen and fans,” said Steve Kuypers, Vice President and General Manager of Delta Downs. “We hope to capitalize on the success we’ve created with the Delta Downs Jackpot and bring it to Evangeline for an outstanding day of racing on June 21 and throughout the 2014 meeting.”

Free nominations for the Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint close on May 28.

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

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

This is especially true at Ruidoso Downs.

Located in a small town in a county with little more than 20,000 residents, “the numbers” from Ruidoso Downs drive the local economy every summer. The more people that attend the races, the more peo-ple are in town to support local business. In addition to going to the track, visitors shop in the numerous local boutiques, eat at diverse restaurants and golf at the local courses. That provides incentive to open new businesses and produce more local jobs. Everybody wins when Ruidoso Downs opens every Memorial Day weekend for the summer run through Labor Day.

“While Ruidoso Downs provides about 500 jobs every summer, we are thrilled that people come to the track and also support our local businesses,” said general manger Shaun Hubbard. “These people are our neighbors and friends and, of course, we want to see them do well.”

Last summer, the total attendance at Ruidoso Downs was the equivalent of one in 11 people who live in New Mexico. Ruidoso Downs thrived and the Ruidoso season ended with smiles on locals’ faces.

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

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

This summer the current projections indicate there could be up to 320 two-year-olds competing in the two days of trials to the Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Aug. 14 and 15. The $900,000 Rainbow Futurity projects to have up to 260 juveniles racing in the trials on July 3-4. The $700,000 Ruidoso Futurity is expected to have up to 260 entries in the trials on the meet’s first two days, May 22-23.

Last year, the All American Futurity trials had 280 entries, the Rainbow Futu-rity trials had 252 entries, and the Ruidoso

FIRST RUNNERS TURN UP THE HEAT IN 2014

SOUTHWESTERN HEAT

GONE WEST - XTRA HEAT, BY DIXIELAND HEAT

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

Sired three $15,000 yearlings in first crop

By SPEIGHTSTOWN, 2nd Leading Sire in 2013 and his 23 stakes winnners recorded the most stakes wins, 36

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

Broodmare sire by DIXIELAND BAND, a top 10 broodmare sire last year

Inquires to Fred Alexander (915) 539-2176Office: (915) 539-0040 Fax: (575) 882-1235 • Email: [email protected]

1713 W. Washington, Anthony, NM 88021 • www.aaranch.org

2014 Fee: $2,500


http://www.aaranch.org

ATTILA’S STORMFOREST WILDCAT-SWEET SYMMETRY, BY MAGESTERIAL

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

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

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

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

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

NEW MEXICO’S LEADING STORM PRODUCER



2014 Fee: $3,000



W I C K E D L Y F A S T

DIABOLICALartax - bonnie byerly, by dayjur

Ad

am C

oglia

nese



THE FIRST STALLION IN NM HISTORYTO FINISH FIRST SEASON RANKED AMONG

NORTH AMERICA’S TOP 4 FIRST CROP SIRES

2014 Fee: $5,000

Cumulative:5 Stakes Horses, no other second crop sire in NA has more

17 Winners, only one second crop sire in NA has more

Multiple SW THAT’S THE IDEA ($234,035), never off the board at 2, 20134th highest 2yo money winner by a freshman sire last year



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

WINNERS KEEP ROLLIN’ IN



No other NM sire had more stakes winners last year

Stakes Horses include:

BACK SEAT ROLL, 2 to 3, 2013, on the board in all 8 career starts

HENNESEY SMASH ($252,006) 7 wins in 8 starts, 4X SW

KISS MY HENNESSY ($219,238) Multiple Stakes Winner

ROLL OUT THE BAND ($151,468), Multiple Stakes Winner at 2, 2013

ROLLSETROLL, multiple stakes placed, 9-1-5-1

2014 Fee: $3,500

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

FEB. 14, 2014Altoona, IA; Shakopee, MNPrairie Meadows and Canterbury Park continue efforts to extend racing opportunities for statebreds in 2014

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

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

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

This program is slated to return when the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet (67 days) opens on Friday, April 18

Derron Heldt, Director of Racing at Prairie Meadows, reports that the 2013 inaugural program between the Iowa and Minnesota horse tracks will continue that partnership spirit at Prairie Meadows in 2014.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FEB. 13, 2014New Orleans, LA2014 Fair Grounds Hall Of Fame inductees named

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


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

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

“We and I were absolutely ecstatic when they told us,” said Proud Spell’s trainer Larry Jones when asked about his and his wife Cindy’s reaction. “When we called ‘Brere’ and told him and Libby (Brereton Jones’s wife), they were just tickled pink. They are really excited and are making plans to be here for the ceremony.”

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

“To tell the truth, I never even thought about this until they told me,” said Calhoun. “I was really surprised and shocked. Obvi-ously, it’s a great honor. When I look at the list of trainers already in there, all I can say is that I’ll be joining some really great people and some really great horsemen.”

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

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

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

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

FEB. 7, 2014Auburn, WAEmerald Downs announces $1.61 million stakes schedule; $200,000 LGA Mile (G3) Sunday, Aug. 24

A 29-race stakes schedule featuring the 79th renewal of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3), three stakes double-headers and Washington Cup XII has been an-nounced for the 2014 season at Emerald Downs.

Beginning with the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares on Sunday, May 11, and ending with a stakes double-header for 2-year-olds on closing day, Sunday, Sept. 28, a total of $1.61 mil-lion will be offered in stakes purses.

Twenty-six stakes are scheduled on Sundays including the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) on Sunday, Aug. 24. The Grade 3 Mile – among the Northwest’s most enduring and iconic sporting events – is half of a stakes double-header also featuring the $65,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares at 1-1/8 miles.

According to Emerald Downs Vice Pres-ident Jack Hodge and Director of Racing Bret Anderson, the 2014 stakes schedule allows all categories several opportunities at large purses, and designed so that horses peak for the biggest events in August and September.

The schedule features 10 stakes events for older horses, 10 races for 3-year-olds, eight events for 2-year-olds and one race for Quarter Horses.

The road to the Longacres Mile begins Sunday, May 18, with the $50,000 Gover-nor’s Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 6-½ furlongs, and continues Sunday, June 15, with the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. The $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1-1/16 miles on Sunday, July 20, serves as the final local prep for this year’s Mile. In 2013, Horse of the Meeting Herbie D used

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

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

The 2-year-old divisions tilt heavily to-ward the latter half of the meeting, capped by a Sept. 28 doubleheader featuring the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1-1/16 miles and the $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes at six furlongs.

Washington Cup XII – six races exclu-sively for Washington-breds worth an ag-gregate $300,000 – is Sunday, Sept. 7. Again in 2014, Washington Cup races are worth $50,000 in all six stakes divisions: 2-year-olds, 2-year-old fillies, 3-year-olds, 3-year-old fillies, older horses, older fillies and mares.

The 75-day season, the 19th at Emerald Downs, begins Saturday, April 12. Live rac-ing is offered every Saturday and Sunday through April, with Fridays added to the schedule beginning May 2. Post time is 6:45 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. weekends. Excep-tions are 1 p.m., Kentucky Derby Day, Satur-day, May 3, and 4:30 p.m. for the Fireworks Spectacular, Thursday, July 3.

Holiday racing will be held Monday, May 26, Friday, July 4 and Monday, Sept. 1.

2014 EMERALD DOWNSSTAKES SCHEDULE29 races: $1.61 million in pursesMay 11 $50,000 Hastings Handicap

(3&UP F&M), 6FMay 18 $50,000 Governor’s Handicap

(3&UP), 6-½ FMay 25 $50,000 Auburn Handicap (3YO

C&G), 6-½ FJune 1 $50,000 Seattle Handicap (3YO F),

6-½ FJune 8 $50,000 WA State Legislators

Stakes (3&UP F&M), 6-½ FJune 15 $50,000 Budweiser Handicap

(3&UP), 1MJune 22 $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap

(3YO C&G), 1MJune 29 $50,000 Irish Day Handicap (3YO

F), 1M

16 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 316 SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3

17SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3 17SureBet RacingNews.com • March 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 3


http://www.ruidososelectyearlingsale.com


July 6 $50,000 Boeing Handicap (3&UP F&M), 1M

July 13 $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap (3YO C&G), 1-1/16M

July 19 $50,000 Kent Handicap (3YO F), 1-1/16M

July 20 $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap (3&UP), 1-1/16M

$50,000 Emerald Express (2YO C&G), 6F

July 27 $50,000 Angie C Stakes (2YO F), 6F

Aug. 9 $65,000 Washington Oaks (3YO F), 1-1/8M

Aug. 10 $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby (3YO), 1-1/8M

Aug. 16 $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G), 6-½ F

Aug. 17 $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YO F), 6-½ F

Aug. 24 $65,000 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M), 1-1/8M

$200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP), 1M

Aug. 31 TBA Bank of America Chmp Chal-lenge* (3&UP), 440 Y

Washington Cup XIISept. 7 $50,000 Northwest Farms Stakes

(2YO F WA), 6F $50,000 DRF Dennis Dodge

Stakes (2YO C&G WA), 6F $50,000 Comcast SportsNet

Stakes (3YO F WA), 1M $50,000 Jim Beam Stakes (3YO

C&G WA), 1M $50,000 Pegasus Training Center

(3&UP F&M WA), 1-1/16M $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Clas-

sic (3&UP WA), 1-1/16MSept. 28 $65,000 Gottstein Futurity (2YO),

1-1/16M $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes

(2YO), 6F*Quarter Horse

FEB. 6, 2014Wayne, OKSire of more than $17.5 million in earners to stand at Royal Vista Ranches in OK

Grade 3 winner and multiple cham-pion sire Cactus Ridge (TB) will join the Royal Vista Ranches, near Wayne, Okla., stallion roster in 2014. His fee has been set at $5,000 with special consideration to Quarter Horse mares.

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

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


http://www.racingfree.com


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

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

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

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

Portland, ORAverage payouts up across the board in 2013/14 at Portland Meadows

Good value for their gaming dollar is one of, if not the most, paramount things for bettors to consider when playing the races. The 2013/14 season at Portland Meadows was one of growth not just for purse sizes and field sizes, but for wagering pools and payoffs. In 2012 Portland Mead-ows ran the inaugural Summer Meet, racing three days a week from July to December, which was a switch from the traditional Oc-tober-to-April schedule the track had always run. For 2013/14 season, Portland Meadows reduced the schedule to racing just two days a week as well as increased purses. These changes helped spur an increase in field size in 2013/14 to 7.56 horses per race, up from 2012’s average of 6.72 per race. The purse and field size increases helped result in a dramatic increase in wagering handle, as per-day handle soared to $457,924, up 49.56 percent from the 2012 Summer Meet that averaged $306,182 per racing day.

With more horses in each race and more money being bet, there were more opportunities for bettors and the payouts showed a dramatic increase almost across the board.

“We put out a better product and our races were in greater demand in the local market and with horseplay-ers in other jurisdictions and those wager-ing from home,” said Portland Meadows Gen-eral Manager Will Alempijevic. “As a result, whether you like the straight, hori-zontal, or vertical wagers there was significantly more value betting Portland Meadows in the 2013-14 Meet.”

While every wager at Portland Mead-ows showed increases in average payout, there were some huge increases that stood out. Average trifecta payouts nearly doubled, going from an average $1 payoff of $101.41 in 2012 to $187.28 in 2013/14. Superfecta payouts more than doubled, as the $0.10 base wager offered an average payout of $111.42 this season versus $53.72 last season.

The most significant increase was in Portland Meadows’ 14 percent Takeout Pick 4. The wager had an average payout of $398.75 in 2012 and jumped a whopping 825 percent in 2013/14 with an average payout of $1,224.30.

Portland Meadows debuted a $0.25 Pick 5 with a 15 percent takeout rate in 2013/14 which had an average payoff of $660.62.

Above is a full list of the average pay-outs for the recently completed 2013/14 season compared to the 2012 season.

FEB. 4, 2014Altoona, IAPrairie Meadows announces 2014 schedules; Pat Pope named Thoroughbred Racing Secretary

Prairie Meadows announces its 2014 schedules for purses, race dates and stakes.

The Thoroughbred meet’s average daily purse projected for the 67-day period, beginning on April 18 through Aug. 9, will average approximately $220,000 per race day. Maiden special weight purses will be $30,000 for open contenders and $38,730

for statebred contenders. The top-level, open allowance purses will be $40,000 and Iowa-bred purses will be $51,640.

“Our racing staff evaluated the purse structures at other tracks around the Midwest region,” said Derron Heldt, Prairie Meadows’ Director of Racing. “We tried to structure this year’s purses to be competi-tive in all categories with those across the region.”

The Thoroughbreds will race on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 1 p.m. Thirty-three stakes worth more than $3 million will be featured during the 67-day meet. Prairie Meadows’ live card will begin early on the three Saturdays comprising the Triple Crown Series (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes), in addition to Memorial Day, July 3, and July 4. The Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, Iowa Derby, and Iowa Oaks, all Grade 3 events, headline the Iowa Festival of Rac-ing, June 27-28, which offers six stakes in all and combined purses worth more than $1 million. Iowa Classic Night on Aug. 2 will feature purses worth $550,000, distributed across seven stakes for Iowa-breds.

Prairie Meadows has hired Pat Pope to serve as Thoroughbred Racing Secretary. A graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Pope is a fixture in the industry with more than 30 years’ experience. The Sioux City, Iowa, native was also the racing secretary at Prairie Meadows from 1997-2002. In addition, he has been racing secretary at Oaklawn Park, Louisiana Downs and Delaware Park.

“Pat is well-known throughout the industry,” said Heldt. “We feel his ability to

Average Payouts Per Wager – Portland Meadows Live Racing 2013-14 Meet 2012 Meet $ Change % Change

$2 Base Win $10.86 $9.21 $1.65 17.97%Place $5.47 $4.61 $0.86 18.70%Show $3.84 $3.33 $0.51 15.34% $1 Base Exacta $32.85 $23.50 $9.36 39.82%Trifecta $187.28 $101.41 $85.88 84.69%Daily Double $31.92 $29.03 $2.90 9.98%Pick 3 $177.28 $131.33 $45.94 34.98%Pick 4 $1,224.30 $398.75 $825.55 207.03% $0.25 Base Pick 5 $660.62 New Wager in ‘13-14 $0.10 Base Superfecta $111.42 $53.72 $57.70 107.42% Avg. Field Size 7.56 6.72 0.84 12.50%


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

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

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

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

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

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

Four Iowa-bred championships worth $370,000, plus added purse money, will be held on closing weekend, October 17-18. The signature event for statebreds is the Jim Bader Memorial Futurity worth an estimated $150,000.

Also on closing weekend, Oct. 17-18, the Bank of America Challenge Champion-ships, which Prairie Meadows has been selected to host for the second time in the past three years, will feature a dozen stakes races worth more than $1.1 million. Six of the 12 stakes will be national Challenge

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

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

FEB. 2, 2014Cypress, CALos Alamitos looking to revive distance division in 2014

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

Honoroso won the 870-yard $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge on Bank of America Racing Challenge Night on November 9, which was the only distance race contested at the Orange County oval in 2013. In fact, since 2011, the track has hosted just seven Quarter Horse races around the turn, but three of those have been stakes events. In addition to the 2011 and 2013 Red Cell Distance Challenges, Los Alamitos also hosted the 870-yard Gold Rush Derby for 3-year-olds in 2011. Los Alamitos racing officials, however, are excited to renew the distance division in 2014. Racing Secretary Ron Church noted that he will include 870-yard races in the next Los Alamitos condition book, which will begin with the racing program on Friday, February 14.

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

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

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

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

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

JAN. 31, 2014Portland, OR2013/14 Portland Meadows end-of-season release

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

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

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

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

The average number of starters per


race increased from 6.72 during the 2012 meet to 7.56 this season.

On the track, jockey Eliska Kubinova took home her first riding title as she led the Thoroughbred standings with 55 wins. Jim Fergason had 34 wins to win the Thor-oughbred training title. Joe Crispin took home the Quarter Horse riding title with 15 scores while Juan Sanguino was both lead-ing trainer with 13 wins and owner with six wins in the Quarter Horse standings.

Albuquerque, NMNMHBA honors its 2013 state-bred champions

The New Mexico Horse Breeders’ As-sociation honored its 2013 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse champions during its Zia Awards Banquet at the Marriott Up-town Hotel in Albuquerque.

During the banquet, which was em-ceed by author and noted longtime racing media personality Chris Kotulak, a total of 21 awards were presented. Breeders Mike H. Carson and Bill D. Carson were honored with the 2013 Julep Cup by the Lexington, Kentucky-based The Blood-Horse Maga-zine. The Carsons bred and raced 2013 New Mexico-bred champion Thorough-breds Mr. Wizard and Lady Genius.

Handsome Jack Flash, an AQHA cham-pion and winner of the 440-yard, $2.6-mil-lion All American Futurity (Grade 1) at Ruidoso Downs, was last year’s top New Mexico-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding. Bred by Debra J. Laney of Tularosa, New Mexico, raced by Laney, Norma Alvarez, and Brenda Alvarez, and trained by Juan M. Gonzalez, Handsome Jack Flash won four of five starts, all at Ruidoso Downs, and earned $1,482,271, and his two season stakes wins included a half-length vic-tory in the 400-yard, $409,434 Zia Futurity (RG1) for state-breds.

Debra Laney’s Shez Jess Nice, an 11-year-old daughter of champion Mr Jess Perry and the dam of Handsome Jack Flash, was the 2013 Quarter Horse Brood-mare of the Year.

The following Quarter Horses were also honored: Desert Delight Cash (top older mare, owned by Red Box Carriers Inc., bred by the Estate of T. Jerry Lee), Bet On Ballou (top older horse or gelding, owned by Quarter Circle W Bar LLC, bred by Carl D. Dahl), Aful Alibi (top 3-year-old filly, owned by Joel Varela Sr., bred by Leonard P. Blach), Jess Rueben James (top 3-year-old colt or gelding, owned and bred

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

First Moonflash was both the top Quarter Horse stallion and freshman stallion for 2013, as the Grade 1-winning 9-year-old son of First To Flash and 2009 AQHA champion aged stallion sired the earners of $2,243,679, including Hand-some Jack Flash. First Moonflash is owned by Pierre J. Amestoy Jr., Maria G. Gonzalez, and Mike C. Abraham, and he stands at W.L. Mooring’s Double LL Farm in Bosque, New Mexico.

Lady Genius, a homebred chestnut daughter of Quinton’s Gold campaigned by Mike H. Carson, Bill D. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC, was honored as the top New Mexico-bred 2-year-old Thorough-bred filly for 2013. Miss Einstein, a multiple stakes winning 16-year-old daughter of Beau Genius and the dam of Lady Genius and 2013 New Mexico-bred champion older Thoroughbred horse or gelding, was honored as last year’s top Thoroughbred broodmare.

Other NMHBA Thoroughbred awards went to Rose’s Desert (top older mare, owned and bred by Joe R. Peacock Sr.), Mr. Wizard (top older horse or gelding, owned by Mike H. Carson, Bill D. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC, and bred by Mike H. and Suzanne Carson), Way To Go Gerda (top 3-year-old filly, owned and bred by Larry W. Strain), Hush’s Storm (top 3-year-old gelding, owned by Dale and Carey Taylor, Joe Dee Brooks, and Jon Hogg, and bred by JEH Stallion Station NM), and Reaper (top 2-year-old colt or gelding, owned and bred by R.D. Hubbard).

Desert God was honored as the top Thoroughbred stallion for 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year that the now-pensioned 23-year-old son of Fappiano has earned the award. The sire of Rose’s Desert and a total of 23 stakes winners, Desert God is owned by H. Joe Allen, and he is currently living on Allen’s farm in Abilene, Texas.

Diabolical, an 11-year-old multiple graded stakes winning son of Artax, was last year’s top freshman Thoroughbred stal-lion. Diabolical is owned by Fred Alexander and J. Kirk Robison, and he stands at Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch in An-thony, New Mexico.

Also, a Distinguished Service Award was presented to Harold Payne of El Paso, Texas. In 2013, Payne retired after a suc-cessful career in the racing industry that

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

JAN. 29, 2014Hollywood, CAMovie ‘50 To 1’ announces road tour Feature film about Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, an inspiring underdog tale of misfit cowboys and their long-shot racehorse, starring Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane, William Devane, Madelyn Deutch, Todd Lowe and jockey Calvin Borel.

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

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

Cast members joining the tour will be Skeet Ulrich (Jericho, “Scream,” “As Good As It Gets”), Christian Kane (Leverage, “Friday Night Lights,” “Secondhand Lions,” “Just Married”), Todd Lowe (True Blood, “The Princess Diaries,” Gilmore Girls) and Hugo Perez (“Machete,” “The Longshots,” “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”). Also on tour will be Wilson and co-produc-er, co-writer Faith Conroy. The real Mine That Bird will make special appearances along the tour.

“When was the last time Hollywood’s leading men hopped on a bus and toured the country from town to town, introduc-ing their film to the people of America?” Wilson says. “It’s unprecedented.”

“I’m extremely excited to hit the road with a film I’m very proud to be a part of,” Ulrich says. “It seems fitting we’d be selling our wares from a gypsy-like caravan, given the underdog nature of our story, and I’m hoping this journey answers three burn-ing questions. One, are audiences tired of the blockbuster and ready to be uplifted by the values of hard work and integrity? Two, can we inspire our audiences to stick to their guns and do what they love at all costs? And three, does Christian snore

Ad Design by TRACK Magazine

2014 Fee: $1500.00 with Considerations


http://www.tnlfarminc.com


louder than Todd?”“Man, this almost feels like we’re car-

nies or something. Or an old whistle-stop political campaign,” Lowe says. “I’m looking forward to rolling into different towns and shaking hands and kissing babies.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

People interested in having the ‘50 to 1’ tour stop in their town can email their re-quests to [email protected] in the subject line: 50 to 1 Movie Tour – first and last name, town, state and Zip Code.

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

“Laffit – All About Winning.”Mine That Bird was born May 10, 2006,

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

Website: www.50to1themovie.com .

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

Courtesy photos

PLAY RESPONSIBLY, HELPLINE 1-800-572-1142.

• www.sunland-park.comI-10 To Sunland Park EXIT 13

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

Come experience the speed, the excitement, and the fun of race day. Sunday, March 23 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

This Is How You Win.

the thunder

Come


http://www.sunland-park.com


R A C E R E C A P S - Q U A R T E R H O R S E

FEB. 23, 2014Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CAAnother Oatie is another big money winner in his family

LEMA Racing’s Another Oatie is living up to his bloodlines following a hard-fought nose victory in the running of the $112,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes at the Orange County track.

With leading Quarter Horse rider Raul Valenzuela aboard for trainer Juan Ale-man, the 8-1 shot Another Oatie led from start to fi nish while holding off the 6-5 favorite Here O Beduino. In the process the gelding by Walk Thru Fire out of Kingman Kin joined his full brother Oatman and half-brother Hulapai as a winner of a big money race at Los Alamitos. Oatman won the 2011 Los Alamitos Winter Derby while Hulapai won the 2009 Southern California Derby. Another Oatie completed the 350-yard distance in a time of :17.483.

“Another Oatie needed a perfect race to win tonight,” Aleman said. “When he broke as well as he did, I knew we had a shot to win it. I also knew that Here O Beduino was going to come on strong. Another Oatie had to do everything right because he was facing tough horses like Here O Beduino and (fastest qualifi er) The Ocean King.”

A big key in Another Oatie’s dash to victory was his jockey’s quick thinking under pressure.

“He fl ew out of the gate and I just tried to make him go straight,” Valenzuela explained. “I could feel the pressure was coming so I went to the whip. He didn’t like the whip at all. He started to fall apart on me so I stopped using the whip and I just started riding him from there.”

Another Oatie was purchased for $87,000 at the 2012 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. He did not make his fi rst start until October 5 of his 2-year-old campaign, but he performed well right off the bat. He ran second in his maiden appearance and then posted back-to-back third place fi nishes in his trials to the Golden State Million Futurity and Los Alamitos Two Mil-lion Futurity. He fi nished his freshman sea-son with a seventh place fi nish in the Los Alamitos Invitational Stakes on Dec. 15.

“He was a little immature so we gelded him after the (Invitational Stakes) and that’s helped him out a lot,” Aleman said. “We liked the way he was bred and he was always right there in his races. He won his Maiden trial and now the fi nal. He’s do-ing great. He hasn’t grown to be as big as Oatman was, but he’s still maturing. We are going to give him some time off after this race and hopefully he’ll grow some more and be ready to run 400 yards.”

Based in Phoenix, Ariz., LEMA Racing has paid Another Oatie into the August 10 trials to the Golden State Derby and the trials to the Los Alamitos Super Derby. Both of those trials will be contested at 400 yards. Another Oatie came into this race with a bankroll of $7,535, but after

Another Oatie

ARIZONA: Turf Paradise: Coady Photography

ARKANSAS: Oaklawn Park: Coady Photography

CALIFORNIA: Del Mar: © Benoit Photo Golden Gate Fields: Vassar Photography Los Alamitos Race Course: Scott Martinez Santa Anita Race Park: © Benoit Photo

COLORADO: Arapahoe Park: Coady Photography

FLORIDA: Hialeah Park: Coady Photography

IOWA: Prairie Meadows Racetrack: Jack Coady/

Coady Photography

LOUISIANA: Delta Downs: Emily Stevens/Coady Photography Evangeline Downs Racetrack: Courtesy of

Evangeline Downs Fair Grounds: Hodges Photography Louisiana Downs: Natalie Glyshaw/ Hodges Photography

MINNESOTA: Canterbury Park: Coady Photography

NEW MEXICO: Ruidoso Downs Race Track: Ty Wyant/ Roberta Harris Sunland Park: Coady Photography SunRay Park: Coady Photography The Downs at Albuquerque: Coady Photography Zia Park: Coady Photography

OKLAHOMA: Remington Park: Dustin Orona Photography Will Rogers Downs: Courtesy of Will Rogers Downs

OREGON: Portland Meadows: Courtesy of Portland

Meadows

TEXAS: Lone Star Park: Reed Palmer Photography Retama Park: Courtesy of Retama Park Sam Houston Race Park: Coady Photography

WASHINGTON: Emerald Downs: Courtesy of Emerald

Downs

PHOTO CREDITS:


earning a $47,040 paycheck from this race his lifetime total now reads $54,575. Another Oatie was bred by Ed Allred, the sport’s all-time leading breeder. Allred is also the breeder of the aforementioned Oatman and Hulapai.

Owned and bred by Cynthia Cruz and saddled by Roberto Dominguez, Here O Beduino ran a solid race and was coming on like a freight train in the final 100 yards. With Abel Ramirez in the irons, Here O Beduino’s runner-up effort still earned him a nice payout of $19,040. The colt by No Secrets Here has earned $24,020 in his four race career.

“My horse ran his race,” Dominguez said. “I have no excuses. It was a good race. The other horse just ran a better race. We’re thinking about making his eligible to the Southern California Derby.”

Jeffrey and Kim Pitcher’s Separate Jett earned $13,440 for finishing third. Sent off at 28-1 odds, the Separatist gelding has finished in the money in each of his last three starts. Foose Down Dash, Strategic Weapon, Whos Got The Look, Swingin Eagle, The Ocean King, Snitchy and Bright-erthanthesun will complete the field.

FEB. 22, 2014Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CADiva looks good in Denim N Diamonds at Los Alamitos

Paul Jones liked his chances going into the $25,000 Denim N Diamonds Handicap at Los Alamitos. The AQHA champion trainer had a pair of top notch

runners that includ-ed Grade 2 Char-ger Bar Handicap winner Native Tea Rose racing in the 350-yard event for 4-year-old mares.

“I thought I had a good chance to win it with Native Tea Rose, but she was in dancing in the gate and just didn’t leave,” Jones said after the race. “Good thing that my other nice mare came through.”

Racing for Veronica Gail Worth, Splendiferous Diva has a slight bump at the start and was perfect from there on the way to winning the Denim N Diamonds by a head over Tom Atwood’s stakes winner Curlie Cue. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez from post five at odds of 7-2, Splendiferous Diva covered the distance in a solid clocking of :17.629. Sanchez has proven to be a perfect match for the dashing mare, as the two have ended up in the winner’s circle the last three times that they’ve joined forces.

“I’ve just been lucky with her,” Sanchez said. “She got a good break and she was great at the end.”

“She runs pretty good for Ramon,” Jones added.

Native Tea Rose, the 2-5 favorite in this race, was looking for her third stakes victory in as many starts, but the 4-year-old mare broke slowly and never threat-ened the leaders. She ended up in fifth place.

“Splendiferous Diva outbroke her,” Jones continued. “Native Tea Rose got be-hind and then (Beautiful Fire) got in front of her and probably kicked dirt in her face. It’s hard to make up ground after that. It’s nice to have two runners in a race, just in case one makes a mistake. Native Tea Rose couldn’t win this one, but we had a nice back up plan.”

Worth and Native Tea Rose’s owner, Abigail Kawananakoa, were in Hawaii watching the running of the Denim N Diamonds according to the trainer.

“Veronica and Abigail are pretty competitive when their horses are run-ning against each other,” he said. “I’m sure

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

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

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

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

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

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

Piloted by Raul Valenzuela, the meet’s leading Quarter Horse jockey, for trainer Juan Aleman, Nellie Delaney scored a 1 ½ length victory over 21-1 longshot Eye On Corona in the Winter Championship. The 9-year-old Rylees Boy, the winner of last year’s Winter Championship, finished strongly for third place with Los Alamitos Super Derby runner-up Scatmandu run-ning fourth. The win gave Nellie Delaney the first automatic berth to this year’s Champion of Champions. A dead-heat winner of the Southern California Derby last season, the talented 4-year-old mare has now won her last four starts while giv-ing long time owners Kelly and Yearsley their first ever qualifier to the Champion of Champions.

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

Splendiferous Diva



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

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

“If Value The Man was standing next to Nellie Delaney you would not be able to tell them apart,” Kelly said. “Delaney’s mother (Fleeting Touch) is a half sister to Value The Man.”

Aleman is thrilled to have another Champion of Champions finalist. Among his many Champion of Champions qualifi-ers, the trainer qualified the mare Apolliti-cal Time twice to the Champion of Cham-pion and then won the prestigious race with her son, the 2010 World Champion Apollitical Jess. Aleman would love to see Nellie Delaney reach the lofty heights of the champion Apollitical Time.

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

surgery after the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, but since then she’s progressed. I don’t know how good she could be. She stumbled in the Southern California Derby, but she came back to catch (Jabuti Eagle SA) to tie for the win. She always does stand perfect in the gate and is ready to go. She just looks down the track. We’ll give her some time off and wait for the (September 28 Mildred Vessels Memo-rial Handicap).”

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

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

“She’s had some bad luck in the past,” Kelly added. “She deserved to win this race. She had surgery right after the Maid-en Stakes. It was just a minor clean up. She’ll be back for the Millie Vessels. I don’t think we’ll breed her during her time off. Maybe, maybe we’ll get one embryo out of her. Right now she’s a racehorse and we’ll keep her that way. Nancy couldn’t be here tonight because she’s busy with the horses and the breeding season. I wish she could have been here.”

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

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

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

Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Cody Joiner, Eye On Corona was sec-ond throughout on the way to earning $26,562. The 5-year-old horse by Corona Cartel has performed well at Los Alamitos since arriving from Sunland Park last fall. He was third in the Farnam Stakes on Bank of America Racing Challenge Night and then won an allowance event on Decem-ber 15. He was fifth to Nellie Delaney in the Winter Championship trials before running a tremendous race in this final. A participant of the 2011 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, Eye On Corona has earned $129,204 in his 12 race career.

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

Nellie Delaney Too Flash For You


http://www.raceruidoso.com


R A C E R E C A P S - Q U A R T E R H O R S ESunland Park, NMToo Flash For You wins $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at 19-1

Overlooked at 19-1 odds, Too Flash for You won the $85,000 NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Propelled by his large frame, Too Flash for You surged powerfully in the final half of the 400 yard dash to win by a half-length in a fast 18.992 seconds, good for a 97 speed index. The Wes Giles trainee was well prepared and soundly defeated the best three-year-olds New Mexico-bred Quarter Horses in training. Despite having qualified for 4 major fu-turities in 2013 and racing for the leading Quarter Horse barn, Too Flash for You paid $40.20 on a $2 win ticket.

Under jockey Larry Gamez, Too Flash for You broke solidly in second place and was chasing 8-5 favorite Woodys Allstar in the early stages. In mid-stretch, Too Flash for You hit an other gear and swept past the early leader. The First Moonflash geld-ing powered on home for his first career stakes victory in 10 starts. His second career win was worth $51,000 for owners Jose R. Espinosa, Jim Laird and Michelle Laird.

Booyah Bay finished a good second at odds of 10-1. The runner-up was rid-den by All American Futurity winner pilot Jaime Parga Leos. The son of Brookstone Bay took home $18,700 for owner James Baucom of Andrews, Texas.

2014 Shue Fly champion Woodys Allstar broke like a bullet and looked like a winner early but could not maintain her speed. The flashy filly came in third under jockey Salvador Martinez, beaten almost one length. Shue Fly runner-up Kia Won was no threat and finished fourth.

FEB. 15, 2014Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CAViva Mi Corazon is super-impressive in Grade 1 Winter Derby

Racing for AQHA champion owners Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches LLC, Viva Mi Corazon continued his love affair with Los Alamitos Race Course with an ultra impressive victory in the $196,600

Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Ridden by AQHA cham-pion jockey Cody Jensen for trainer Trey Wood, Viva Mi Corazon ran powerfully from post number one en route to a 1 ¼ length victory over Abigail Kawanana-koa’s Spirit Leader in the 400 yard race. Sired by First Down Dash, Viva Mi Corazon covered the distance in a sizzling time of :19.467 to enjoy his fifth win in six outings at the Or-ange County track. Bred by Bob and Jerry Gaston in Texas, the gelding as a 2-year-old won the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and was second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in what is his only local defeat.

“I love this horse and the bottom line is that he loves it at Los Alamitos,” said Wood’s assistant trainer Paul Leal. “He enjoys it so much here. When I take him to the track to train, he just starts strutting around like a champion. He loves being here.”

Viva Mi Corazon was sent off as the second choice in the wagering at 9-5 odds following a strong trial victory on Jan. 25. The role of favorite in this race went to Richard Frandsen’s fastest qualifier SS Paydirt, who ended up third in this race and is also trained by Trey Wood.

“Viva Mi Corazon was a little nervous in the paddock on the night of the trials,” Leal added. “He was all business tonight. He wasn’t trying to wash out or do any-thing like that. I knew he was going to run a great race. I could see it in his eyes.”

Jensen piloted SS Paydirt and Viva Mi Corazon to victory in the trials, but in the end he stuck with the horse that carried him to victory in the aforementioned Breeders Futurity.

“SS Paydirt impressed me so much on trial night, but Viva Mi Corazon had his worst race at Los Alamitos on the night of the (Winter Derby) trials and he still finished with the second fastest qualifying time. It was hard to turn down the op-portunity to ride him again. The owners

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

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

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

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

“I like the edges - posts one, two, nine, 10,” added the champion jockey. “The trouble factor can get minimized because you only get bumped from one side if you start from inside or outside post. If you’re in post two, the one horse usually goes

Viva Mi Corazon


R A C E R E C A P S - Q U A R T E R H O R S Einside so you don’t get bump from there.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FEB. 7, 2014Sunland Park, NMStreak Hitter is fastest West Texas Maturity qualifier

Streak Hitter, a gelded 4-year-old son of Walk Thru Fire owned by Olivas Racing

Once Over



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

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

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

Kerrys Wave Carver is a 4-year-old daughter of Wave Carver campaigned by Julio Islas and trained by Gene Burden. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the mare has earned $41,609 from 14 outs.

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

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

The complete list of qualifiers is below.

FEB. 1, 2014Los Alamitos Race Course, Cypress, CAThe Ocean King rules Los Alamitos maiden trials

Racing for the partnership of Lucas Racing, Inc, Vaughn Cook, Hugo Barron Sierra and Ron and Denise VanAmburgh, the royally bred sprinter The Ocean King posted his second eye-catching win in a row while posting the fastest qualifying time to the $112,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes.

Ridden by Oscar Peinado for AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, The Ocean King covered the 350-yards in a meet’s best :17.358 while crossing the wire ¾ lengths ahead of second fastest qualifier

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

The Ocean King reigned supreme on trial night and the Maryland-bred has the bloodlines that could make him a sophomore to watch this season. Sired by leading living sire Corona Cartel, the gray colt was bred by 2004 AQHA Champion breeder Dan Lucas. Out of Lucas’ 2005 AQHA Champion Broodmare Runaway Wave, The Ocean King is a half-brother to World Champion Wave Carver and three-time AQHA divisional champion Ocean Runaway. The Ocean King was picking up his second victory in five starts.

“We bought him as a 2-year-old at the Heritage Place Winter Sale last year,” said Ron VanAmburgh. “We liked so many things about him. He’s the first Corona Cartel out of Runaway Wave plus he’s a gray Corona Cartel. We talked to Vaughn

The Ocean King

West Texas Maturity qualifiers • Sunland Park, NM • Trials, Feb. 7 • Race, March 1Horse (Age, Sex) Owner Breeder (State) Trainer TimeSTREAK HITTER, 4G Olivas Racing & Javier Marquez Edward C. Allred (CA) Luis Rojero :19.213KERRYS WAVE CARVER, 4M Julio Islas Narciso Flores (TX) Gene Burden :19.257RCJ MAJOR STORM, 5S Linnette Sanchez Mr. & Mrs. R.C. Jones (NM) Antoinette Gonzales :19.270FEATURE MR LUCKY, 4G Jose Saul Medina Vinewood Farms (CA) Jaime Dominguez :19.276THE DEVILS RAINBOW, 7G Jill B. Giles C.W. Freston & S.W. Sandall (ID) Wes Giles :19.289TF FEATURED EFFORT, 5S Heysol Howlet & Julieta N. Torres Tate Farms (LA) Jaime Dominguez :19.290CJS ROCKSOLID, 4G Rockin J Running Horses & Jack Manning Rockin J Running Horses (TX) Tammy Kay Johnson :19.292JAMES ON THE RUN, 4G Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC Bobby D. Cox (TX) Mario Sanchez :19.343TESTING THE ICE, 5G Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC Corner K Quarter Horses LLC (AR) Mario Sanchez :19.357ONE EXOTIC EAGLE, 4G Juvenal Sanchez Michael S. Amburn (TX) Alejandro Chavez :19.386

Streak Hitter


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

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

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

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

The Ocean King did not make his rac-ing debut until a fifth place finish against maiden foes on September 27. He re-turned with a second place finish against maidens on October 13 before running fourth in a trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity against the race’s eventual winner Foose Cash SR.

“The trials came too quick for The Ocean King,” he continued. “He ran great in his next race, but it wasn’t until tonight

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

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

Ridden by Abel Ramirez, the son of No Secrets Here was also impressive in his previous start at Los Alamitos when break-ing his maiden by daylight on Dec. 13. Here O Beduino’s mother is Keen O Bedu-ino, who was a winner at Los Alamitos as a 2-year-old in 2006.

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

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

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

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


FEB. 23, 2014Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CASweet Swap easily wins the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Race Park

Sweet Swap, with Joe Talamo up, took no prisoners in easily winning the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths, while covering 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.28.

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

Trained by John Sadler and owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Sweet Swap paid $8.60, $4.20 and $3.40.

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

A sharp second after stumbling at the break in the 6 ½ furlong turf Clockers’ Corner Stakes Jan. 26, Sweet Swap, a Ken-tucky-bred horse by Candy Ride, notched his third win from seven tries down the hill and his fifth win from 11 overall starts. With the winner’s share of $45,840, he improved his earnings to $227,133.

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

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

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

FEB. 22, 2014Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CAAmbitious Brew upsets to win $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes

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

The 4-5 favorite in a field of six older horses bred in California, Lakerville, ridden by Gary Stevens, finished second, a half length in front of Summer Hit and Rafael Bejarano.

A 4-year-old Tizbud gelding trained by Marty Jones, Ambitious Brew sat third early, stalking pacesetting longshot Coach Bob and Summer Hit through fractions of 22.00, 44.22 and 1:06.28 and hit the front three-wide a furlong out.

“Mike (Smith, regular rider) was out of town today and I worked him the other morning,” said Blanc. “…I talked to Mike a little about the horse, I watched the replays and it seemed pretty straight forward. He has plenty of tactical speed and this race looked like it had a few speed horses in it. My plan was to track and Marty told me he has a really nice turn of foot. He told me not to worry and that when it was time to go, he would go for me, which he did.”

Owned by his breeder, Pamela Zie-barth, Ambitious Brew, the second choice at 3-1, paid $8, $3.40 and $2.60. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earn-ings to $227,920. He now has four wins and three seconds from seven starts.

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

Sweet Swap

R A C E R E C A P S - T H O R O U G H B R E D

Ambitious Brew


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

Lakerville, who came off an authori-tative win down the hill in the Clockers’ Corner Stakes Jan. 26, sat fifth down the hill, swung wide turning for home and appeared to have dead aim on the winner but was outrun through the drive, finishing second, a half length in front of Summer Hit.

“I left him too much to do,” said Stevens. “They weren’t going that fast for those kind of horses. Brice got the jump on me and we couldn’t overcome it. I just kinda tactically beat myself.”

Lakerville paid $2.60 and $2.20. Summer Hit, the actual third choice at

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

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, ARAireofdistinction rebounds late for Spring Fever victory

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. is making

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

After looking well beaten in the stretch, the filly came back to beat Chortle by a slim nose for her first career stakes victory and it was the fifth stakes win of the season for Santana Jr.

Aireofdistinction and Chortle raced head and head from the start with the win-ner holding the advantage by a head after an opening quarter mile in 21 4/5 and the runner-up taking control after a half mile in 45 2/5. Chortle began to widen the margin in early stretch, but could not hold off the late surge of the favorite, who completed the 5 ½-furlong race in 1:04 2/5 over a fast track. Boss Barney’s Babe closed from last in the field of nine to get third.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aireofdistinction

Bradester



stayed on for second, 1 ¾ lengths clear of Jim Tafel’s Fordubai, last-out winner of the Louisiana Handicap for trainer Greg Geier and jockey Robby Albarado. Grand Contender returned $6 and $3.80, while Fordubai paid $3.80.

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

Intense Holiday rallies to win Risen Star Stakes

Starlight Racing and Jack Wolf’s Intense Holiday, unhurried early, com-menced a rally approaching the lane, continued willingly outside the leaders throughout the final furlong and was up to best Brereton Jones’s Albano in the final stride of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Pre-sented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Risen Star is Fair Grounds’ final prep for the upcoming $1 million Louisi-ana Derby March 29.

With his Risen Star tally, Intense Holi-day earned 50 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points standings, virtu-ally assuring his owners a starting berth for their horse in the Kentucky Derby May 3.

Ridden brilliantly by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, the Todd Pletcher trainee paid mutuels of $12, $6 and $4, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.86 and increased his lifetime earnings to $351,900 with his second win in seven career starts.

“In the very beginning he kind of slipped leaving there which turned out to be a good thing,” said Smith. “He was

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

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

Runner-up Albano, who finished second in Fair Grounds’ Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 18, was ridden once again by Kerwin Clark for trainer Larry Jones and was valiant in defeat. He made the pace with early fractions of 24.30 and 48.14, continued with good courage throughout the stretch run, could not withstand the winner at the wire but clearly held the place by 5 ½ lengths from Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Vicar’s in Trouble, the 6 ¾-length winner of the Lecomte.

Albano paid $12.20 and $6.80 and Vicar’s in Trouble returned $3.40 for the show position.

Hoppertunity, Gold Hawk, Command-ing Curve, Rise Up, Flat Gone, Son of a Preacher, Quick Indian, Vigorish, Emmett Park, Interchange, and Xtra Luck complet-ed the order of finish.

Potomac River upsets Fair Grounds Handicap

Maribel Ruelas’ Potomac River, ridden by Juan Vargas and void of early foot, com-menced a bold rally in the final sixteenth of Saturday’s Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated good and got up in the last jump to best Calu-met Farm’s Skyring by a nose after finish-ing eighth in the local oval’s Grade 3 E. R. Bradley Handicap Jan. 18.

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

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

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

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

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

Untapable dominates FG’s Rachel Alexandra

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

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

“She acted extremely well in the

Intense Holiday Potomac River


2014 HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITYMAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S MOST LUCRATIVE RACE

GRADE II - NINTH RUNNING

$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $300,000OPE N T O A LL F OA L S O F 2012

HOBBS AMERICA FUTURITY NOMINATION FORM

Futurity TrialsSeptember 20, 2014

Futurity FinalOctober 5, 2014

400Yards

Name of Horse Sex Sire Dam

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

Signature of recorded owner, lessee or authorized agent Date

Owner:

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Telephone: Fax: E-Mail:

122 lbs

Make check to the order of:2014 Hobbs America Futurity

3901 W. Millen Drive, Hobbs, NM 88240(575) 492-7000

VISAMasterCard

American ExpressCredit Card:

(Cirlce one)

Card Number:Expiration Date:

Discover

PAYMENT OPTIONS

1st Payment $100 due April 1, 20142nd Payment $450 due June 3, 2014

3rd Payment $550 due August 5, 2014

Time of Entry Payment $1,000

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS(Include all fees to date)

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

Time of Entry Supplement $7,500

http://www.ziaparkcasino.com


R A C E R E C A P S - T H O R O U G H B R E Dpaddock today and the Fair Grounds Oaks is definitely the plan from here,” said Asmus-sen.

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

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

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

Got Lucky paid $4 and $3.20 for the place and Sha-non Nicole returned $5 for the show.

Loooch Racing Stable et al’s Ria Antonia, adjudged winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall, lacked the needed response and finished fourth. Express Model was fifth, Army crossed the wire sixth, while Stream-ing made the pace briefly with fractions of 24.01 and 47.91 and gave way.

Class Included best in the Bayou Handicap

Brittlyn Stable’s Class Included, allowed to settle just off the early pace in Saturday’s $60,000 Bayou Handicap, came outside the leaders when set down for the drive by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan and wore down

Lothenbach Stables’ Eden Prairie in the late stages to tally by a length and a half.

“I thought the horse to beat was Eden Prairie,” said Bridgmohan. “I followed her the whole way and took my horse out at the top of the stretch and she kicked in real nice.”

Class Included returned mutuels of $7.80, $3.80 and $2.60, accomplished the about 1 1/16-mile distance over a Stall-Wil-son turf course rated good in 1:43.46 and increased her career earnings to $630,826

with her 13th victory in 25 lifetime starts.

“It was tough,” said trainer Ron Faucheux after the race. “Neil’s filly (Eden Prairie) fought the whole way and we were for-tunate to be the winner.”

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

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

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

Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, TXTriumph and Song blazes to victory in Sam Houston Sprint Cup

In the $50,000 Sam Hous-ton Sprint Cup Stakes, it was another spec-tacular effort for the talented Texas-bred, Triumph and Song, who racked up his third stakes win of the 2014 Thoroughbred rac-ing season.

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

Class Included

Untapable

Triumph And Song

2014 HOBBS AMERICA DERBYMAKE YOUR QUARTER HORSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEET’S PREMIER RACE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

GRADE II - NINTH RUNNING

Name of Horse Sex Sire Dam

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

Signature of recorded owner, lessee or authorized agent Date

Owner:

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Telephone: Fax: E-Mail:

Derby TrialsSeptember 21, 2014

Derby FinalOctober 5, 2014

440Yards

122 lbs

Make check to the order of:2014 Hobbs America Derby

3901 W. Millen Drive, Hobbs, NM 88240(575) 492-7000

Discover

VISAMasterCard

American ExpressCredit Card:

(Cirlce one)

Card Number:Expiration Date:

PAYMENT OPTIONS

1st Payment $200 due April 1, 20142nd Payment $350 due June 3, 2014

3rd Payment $450 due August 5, 2014

Time of Entry Payment $1,000

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS(Include all fees to date)

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

Time of Entry Supplement $7,500

$80,000 ADDED - ESTIMATED $200,000OPE N T O A LL F OA L S O F 2011

HOBBS AMERICA DERBY NOMINATION FORM


http://www.ziaparkcasino.com



Zeewat

the wire of the six furlong sprint in 1:09.39. “This is one of the best horses I have

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FEB. 17, 2014Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CAZeewat just gets up to win Lost In The Fog Stakes

Zeewat, the heavy 4-5 favorite, made

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zeewat never picked it up in the 1 1/16-mile Strub and was beaten nearly seven lengths by winner Shakin It Up.

Zeewat was taking a serious class drop in the Lost In The Fog but the race turned out to be far from a slam dunk.

“I wanted to get the horse a win but it came up a lot tougher than I thought,” said Hollendorfer. “I think the reason the race was so close is that he had the one post. He was pretty well compromised down there. Sometimes you think it’s going to be easy and it turns out not to be. But we got the win anyway, and hopefully he’ll gain some confidence from that.”

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

Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, ARTapiture wins Southwest over Strong Mandate

Winchell Thoroughbred’s homebred Tapiture secured 10 points and a place along the Derby trail with his runaway

Tapiture


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A winner of three consecutive stakes going 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, the Tom Proctor-trained Pont-chatrain stretched out in style Monday, winning the Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes by a length under Gary Stevens, getting one mile on grass in 1:33.33.

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

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

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

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

$3.60 and $3. “I just told Gary to ride her and be

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

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

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

Egg Drop, who had won three con-secutive graded stakes, most recently the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes Dec. 1, was handled by her regular pilot, Martin Garcia. She sat a close second through fractions of 23.47, 46.95, 1:10.06 and 1:21.73, put away Miss Serendipity to her inside three sixteenths of a mile out but couldn’t hold off the winner to her outside.

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

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

Pontchatrain

Don’t Tell Sophia



Kobe’s Back

$3.20 and $2.40. A minor stakes winner going 7 ½ fur-

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

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

“It feels great to be here, great to be back and I wish we would have won but she ran very well,” said Velazquez, who hadn’t ridden at Santa Anita since being in-jured on Breeders’ Cup Classic Day, Nov. 2. “Any time you get the opportunity to come out here with a nice horse, it’s an easy deci-sion. I knew I wanted to ride her. When the races fit, you have to take the chance and hope it works out.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CAKobe’s Back rambles from off pace to take Grade 2 San Vicente

Last early, Kobe’s Back made an eye-catching move around the far turn and went on to an emphatic 5 ¼ length win in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes, covering seven furlongs in 1:21.84 while repositioning himself as one of Southern California’s top Derby prospects.

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

“I wanted Joel to ride him patiently,

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

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

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

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

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

“I was just cruising early, nice and

Right to Vote


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

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

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

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

FEB. 15, 2014Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, ARRight to Vote takes Essex; Apprehender repeats in King Cotton

Coming off a stylish win in a race where he could have been bought for a $100,000 claiming price Jan. 31, B J D Thoroughbred’s Right To Vote earned his second straight victory in the $100,000 Essex Handicap before an on-track crowd of 22,965.

Ridden by 2013 leading jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Right To Vote settled into second right after the break and tracked Jaguar Paw through the first half mile in :47 3/5. The winner assumed control at the top of the stretch and appeared to be on his way to an easy victory, but was put to the test when Street Spice and Voodoo Storm gave chase through the lane. Right To Vote prevailed late by a half-length over Street Spice, who was just a neck in front of Voodoo Storm. The winning time for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track was 1:44 4/5.

Trainer Ron Moquett said that Right To

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

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

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

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

Apprehender settled into to sixth place early as longshot Wildcat Country took the early lead through an opening half mile in 45 2/5.

The winner made a five-wide move entering the stretch to gain the advantage and had no problem holding off his rival Alsvid by a half length at the wire. Black Bear, part of the even-money entry along with Alsvid, broke poorly and encountered traffic problems, but still managed to get up for third. The winner covered the six furlongs in 1:10.

Trainer Chris Richard had originally hoped to start Apprehender in an allow-ance race and had not originally entered him in the King Cotton that was postponed a week because of the weather, but when an allowance didn’t go he decided to enter the stakes.

“I always think you should take advan-tage of a condition when you can, but this worked out,” said Richard. “It was a quality field. He’s a really good horse.”

“He’s a classy horse,” said jockey David

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Owned by Kosta Hronis of Hronis Rac-

IotapaApprehender



Fiftyshadesofgold

ing, LLC, Iotapa picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $363,490. Second to multiple Eclipse Champion Be-holder in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April, Iotapa collected her second stakes win in the Santa Maria.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fiftyshadesofgold ($2.80) covered seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.13. Forever Since ran third under Gerardo Mora and Swifterthantaylor, with Larry Taylor in the irons, rallied for fourth.

Calhoun indicated that Fiftyshadesof-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Circustown Flyer rallied for third under


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

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

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

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

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

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

“He is a very reliable horse who shows up every time and we are so proud of him,”

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

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

“He ran a beautiful race,” said Murphy. “He got around the course very well; just lost the bob. They were both fighting hard to the end.”

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

Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LAArtist Cry wins Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes at FG

Danny Brown and Wesley Hawley’s Artist Cry, void of early foot, launched a bold bid on the extreme outside in the late stages of Saturday’s $60,000 Sarah Lane’s Oates Stakes restricted to accredited Louisi-ana-bred sopho-more fillies and was up to best Danny and Donna Browns’ P T’s Jewel by a length and a half at the wire.

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

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

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

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

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

Artist Cry

Quiet AccelerationIbaka



Tamarando

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Gate Fields, Berkeley, CATamarando edges Dance With Fate in El Camino Real Derby

Tamarando, filling in for injured

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

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

Russell Baze, the regular rider of Exit Stage Left, rode Tamarando for the first time in the El Camino Real Derby and guided the stretch-running son of Bert-rando to his third career stakes victory. Tamarando won the Grade 1 Del Mar Fu-turity and the Real Quiet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last year.

Tamarando ran down Dance With Fate and jockey Aaron Gryder in the final yards of the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby to win by a half-length in 1:51.23. Enterprising, the 6-5 favorite ridden by Gary Stevens, finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Dance With Fate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We had a great trip,” said Stevens. “I’m not so sure he handles this track that well.

My horse didn’t pick it up for me like

B and B’s Pulpit


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

Sunland Park, NMWestern Way closes fast to win $85,000 Peppers Pride Stakes

Western Way closed from ninth to first place and gained her first career stakes win in the $85,000 Peppers Pride Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Saturday.

Well handled by jockey Enrique Garcia, Western Way took some time to heat up but found her best strides in the second half of the one mile race for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. Western Way commenced a bold rally on the second turn and was in front of her nine rivals by the upper stretch. The grey mare by The Way Home was in full flight for the wire and the pace setters had no answer for her late kick. Western Way and Garcia went on to win the rich stakes race by 2 and ¼ lengths in a time of 1:38.80.

Western Way by Doubletree Farm, LLC’s The Way Home, is owned by six-teen year-old Juan Carlos Gutierrez who claimed the mare for $10,000 two years ago at SunRay Park in Farmington, New Mexico. Western Way earned $51,000 for her Peppers Pride triumph. She has 5 wins, 8 second and 5 thirds from 25 career outs. Jose A. Gonzalez trains the newly crowned stakes winner. Western Way paid $8.80 to win.

Western Way was coming off a strong third place effort behind Lady of Luck at Sunland Park on Feb. 1 against open com-

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

Piratz Stash tried a route for the first time and finished a solid second after leading much of the way under jockey Carlos Madeira and trainer Joel Marr. A victory in the Peppers Pride seemed appropriate before the race since she is owned, trained and ridden by the same connections of the legendary New Mexico-bred champion mare Peppers Pride who is also owned by H. Joseph Allen of Abilene, Texas. The 2-1 favorite fought valiantly and finished a half-length in front of Don’t Ask Ghost. That 38-1 long shot sparked a $1 trifecta worth $221.40.

FEB. 9, 2014Sunland Park, NMJustin Evans juggernaut continues as Jaycito wins $50,000 Curribot Handicap

The Justin Evans juggernaut con-tinued at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino as Jaycito came rumbling through the stretch to take a driving win in the $50,000 Curribot Handicap at one and one sixteenth miles.

The former Breeders’ Cup and Ken-tucky Derby hopeful ran big for the na-tion’s leading training in wins and earned an impressive score in the route feature. Under leading jockey Ry Eikeberry, Jaycito responded with a bold wide move down the backstretch and loomed large with a quarter mile left in the race. It was clear Jaycito meant business when he tackled Winsham Lad winner Smack Ridge at the

top of the stretch and took a short lead.Jaycito responded brilliantly to

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

Evans performed a masterful job getting Jaycito back to the winner’s circle for owner Tony Pennington of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Pennington also owns Riley Allison Futurity winner Rebranded and KHEY Country Sprint Stakes winner Alsono. Jaycito earned $30,000 for winner the Curribot title. His fourth career win pushed his bankroll past the $427,000. The 3-1 shot paid $8.60 on a $2 win ticket. The winning time was a sharp 1:42.93.

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

Dry Summer produced a good look-ing rally in the final furlongs but could not muster enough to threaten the win-ner. The 2013 Mine That Bird Derby win-ner swept past pace setting Smack Ridge in the final 50 yards to earn second place honors under jockey Carlos Madeira. The Joel Marr trainee was also finished second in last month’s Winsham Lad Handicap. The son of Any Given Saturday raced as the 7-5 favorite.

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

JaycitoWestern Way



African Rose

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

The $50,000 Bucharest Stakes, for accredited Texas-breds at five-furlongs over the Connally Turf Course, featured an impressive performance by Triumph and Song who was making his turf debut and won in commanding fashion.

Jockey Junior Chacaltana guided the 5-year-old son of leading 2013 Texas stakes sire, My Golden Song to victory, breaking alertly from the rail and never relinquish-ing the lead. The final time of the five furlong turf sprint over a firm turf course was :57.55.

This was the second consecutive stakes for Triumph and Song, who was a game winner of the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes here on January 18. He is trained by Karl Broberg and owned by H & H Ranch.

Broberg claimed the sprinter for $40,000 at Fair Grounds, and had no qualms about testing his charge on the lawn.

“For $50,000 in a Texas-bred stakes, you have to take a shot,” said Broberg. “I think he proved he’s okay on the turf”

It was an astute claim for Broberg, who gave credit to his “really smart owners”, as Triumph and Song has earned $60,000 in his last two starts. Sent off as the favorite, he returned $3.20 for the win.

“It was so much fun to watch,” said owner Carolyn Hanek who spoke on behalf of the ownership group. “He has a beauti-ful stride and is a magnificent Texas-bred. Junior was instructed to send him and he

was marvelous. We are so pleased.”Defending champion Solar Charge, ran

a game second under jockey Lindey Wade. Breeder Carolyn Barnett co-owns the 7-year-old son of Authenticate with David Alford. Trained by Ellen Williams, he ran a respectable second to Triumph and Song in the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes here on January 18, and made a solid run, but could match strides with the winner.

“He tried hard and gave a good effort,” said Wade.

Ishararuler with Glen Murphy in the irons, ran third for trainer Brent Davidson followed by Wagson under current leading rider, Deshawn Parker.

The Bucharest Stakes is named for the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set track records at Sam Houston Race Park for the distance of five and one-half, six and seven furlongs. His lightning fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, will no doubt stand the test of time. Flores was here this evening to present the trophy.

FEB. 8, 2014Sunland Park, NMAfrican Rose wins $50,000 El Diario Handicap

The well-decorated stakes winner African Rose produced a vintage run to win the $50,000 El Diario Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

The 2013 Harry Henson Handicap heroine was at the top of her game for training juggernaut Justin Evans, and the mare propelled to a convincing 2-length win at a surprising 9-2 odds. Under jockey

Alfredo Juarez, jr., African Rose handed Cottagecupcake the first defeat in her young career. Last year’s leading older Thoroughbred mare simply had too much experience and firepower for her rivals going six and one-half furlongs. The high powered sprinting mare forced the issue throughout and was timed in 1:16.05. The 10-time winner paid $11.20 to win.

African Rose picked up $30,000 for Judge Lanier Racing of Taiban, New Mexico. The five-year-old Bwana Charlie mare has earned over $240,000 in her bril-liant career.

Justin Evans, the runaway leader in the trainer standings, continued his meteoric season with his sixth stakes win of the meet. He has also led the nation’s trainers in wins this year.

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

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

With a hot pace to shoot at, long-shot Blingo, with Aaron Gryder aboard, wheeled four-deep turning for home and out-gamed fellow longshot Imperative inside the sixteenth pole to take the Grade

Triumph and Song


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

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

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

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

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

“That was great, watching those two guys (Game On Dude and Blueskiesnrain-bows) go after each other,” said Jerry Moss. “It seems like this horse is still growing, but we’re real happy with the way he’s developed. John Shirreffs has just done an amazing job with this horse. The time he’s put into him is really amazing. He got the

horse right, dealing with all his idiosyncrasies.”

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

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

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

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

The second choice at 7-2, Blueskiesn-rainbows also tired badly, finishing sixth, a length in front of last-place finisher Wil-lyconker.

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

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

Stakes, getting six furlongs in 1:08.09. As expected, the Bob Baffert-trained

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

Moonshine Bay was lapped on Secret Circle throughout and the two of them carved out splits of 21.95, 44.27 and 55.97. Passing the sixteenth pole, Secret Circle shook loose of Moonshine Bay and opened up a half length advantage with a hundred yards to run, only to be overtaken in the shadow of the wire by the winner. Next to last turning for home, Wild Dude switched off the rail late and surged wide-out right on the money with leading rider Rafael Bejarano.

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

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

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

Wild DudeBlingo



Homerun Berti

“It’s not a rivalry,” said Hollendorfer. “Actually, I’m a fan of a lot of the good trainers down here and I’m one of Bob’s fans…Our horse (Wild Dude) got lucky to get out of the one (path) and that’s why we got the win. I just told (Bejarano) to be where he wanted to be comfortable. We knew the horse had some tactical speed…Gary wouldn’t have gone quite so hard if (his) horse didn’t break as good as he did, but he was right out there…”

Owned by Hollendorfer and Green B. Smith, Jr., Wild Dude was off at 8-1 and paid $19.20, $5 and $3.20.

FEB. 1, 2014Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, ARAragorn Ami pulls mild Martha Washington upset

Ivan Dalos’ Aragorn Ami, making just her second career start, survived a rider’s objection to earn her first career stakes victory in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes.

With leading rider Norberto Arroyo Jr. in the irons, Aragorn Ami assumed a stalking position in third behind the front-running Euphrosyne through an opening

quarter mile in 23 3/5, moved into second before a half mile in 49 and drew off from her rival to win by 1 ½ lengths after gaining the lead at the top of the stretch. The winner drifted in slightly late, but the

stewards found no reason for disqualifica-tion. She completed the one mile in 1:41 over a fast track.

“He (Arroyo) came down a little; enough to stop my filly’s forward momen-tum,” said Euphrosyne’s jockey Channing Hill. “It was just the greenness of the two fillies.”

“I did what I was told to do and laid right off the pace,” said Arroyo. “I worked this filly three times in the morning so I re-ally got to know her.”

Ireland, the $2.60-to-1 second choice, rallied from ninth to finish third. She was followed by Cow Catcher, Redgrass Cat, Cheerful Contender, $2.50-to-1 favorite Kiss Moon, Xray Vision, Racing Holiday and Street Story.

Aragorn Ami was the second starter and first winner this meet for trainer Josie Carroll, who has a string in Hot Springs for the first time. She returned $28.80, $11.20 and $7 at odds of 13-1.

“For her first time on that track, I thought it was an extremely good perfor-mance,” said Carroll, who had to pull over her car to watch the race on her way to Hot Springs from her Canadian base. “It’s a little bit of a tiring track, and I thought for her to

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Budweiser performance punctu-ated another tremendous week for Justin Evans at Sunland Park. He currently is the

Aragorn Ami


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

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

Santa Anita Race Park, Arcadia, CAFashion Plate dictates pace throughout and wins Las Virgenes by half length

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

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

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

“When they came to her, she really dug in and tried real hard,” said Callaghan. “She’s a special filly. It means a lot to win this race. Gary put up a great ride. She went nice fractions (23.19, 46.26, 1:10.91, 1:23.75). She went pretty quick and I think that was a testament to her courage and

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

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

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

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

Streaming paid $2.80 and $2.40. Far back early, Arethusa, with Corey

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 5-year-old horse by the Storm Cat stallion Pure Prize, Winning Prize is owned by David Heerensperger and Jose Nelson. He collected $120,000 for the win, boost-ing his earnings to $400,840. He now has seven wins from 12 starts.

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

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

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

Regally Ready paid $4.20 to show.

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

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

Winning PrizeFashion Plate


Warm Breeze

Trained by 10-time Fair Grounds trainer champion Tom Amoss and ridden by Fair Grounds’ three-time defending jockey champion Rosie Napravnik who was riding her fourth winner of the afternoon, Kiss to Remember returned mutuels of $5.20, $3.20 and $2.40, toured the about 5 ½ furlongs over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated good in 1:05.80 and increased her career earnings to $59,110 with her second victory in four career starts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Delta Downs, Vinton, LAThe Bayou State’s best were in action during Louisiana Premier Night

Brittlyn Stable Inc.’s Sunbean used an eye-catching move to gain the lead and drive on to victory in the $200,000 Louisi-ana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs. The big race was the featured event on another edition of Louisiana Premier Night, which included 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and more than $1 million in purse money.

Sunbean, who was ridden by Richard Eramia, stalked the pace in the 1-1/16 mile event before picking off the front-runners and eventually the pacesetter Hit the Road Lee turning for home. When he reached the top of the homestretch he began to get clear before hitting the finish line four lengths in front of Hit the Road Lee who held on to second. Popu-list Politics rallied from well behind to be third, another 3-3/4 lengths behind the top pair.

Saddled by talented young trainer Ron Faucheux, Sunbean finished the distance over a fast track in 1:44.04. That time broke the stakes record of 1:44.15 set by the great Star Guitar when he won the third of his four consecutive Louisiana Premier Night Championships in 2011.

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

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

Sent to the gate as the heavy 4-5 fa-vorite in a field of nine, Sunbean returned $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Hit the Road Lee was worth $10.20 to place and $5.40 to show. Populist Poli-tics paid $4 to show.

In other action on Louisiana Premier Night it was Cantrell Family Partnership’s Tensas Harbor winning the $150,000 LAPN Distaff with jockey Mark Guidry in the saddle. Tensas Harbor is trained by J. Keith Desormeaux.

This year’s $125,000 LAPN Prince for 3-year-olds was annexed by Henry Ray Dunn’s Ide Be Cool, who kept his record perfect at five-for-five while winning under jockey Chris Rosier.

Closing Report was impressive while taking the $125,000 LAPN Starlet for 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Closing Argument was ridden to victory by Rosie Napravnik, who accepted the mount from trainer W. Bret Calhoun. Closing Report is owned by Stephen R. Brown.

The speedsters were out in force in the $100,000 LAPN Sprint, which was won by the ultra-fast Heitai. The Karl Broberg trainee was guided to victory by jockey Diego Saenz and he set a new five-furlong track record of 56.69. Heitai is owned by Rowell Enterprises Inc. (Frank & Barbara Rowell).


Kiss to Remember


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

Maggi Moss’s Little Face was victori-ous in the $65,000 LAPN Ladies Starter with jockey Gerard Melancon in the sad-dle. Little Face is trained by Tom Amoss.

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

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

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

And fi nally it was Queens Walk taking the $50,000

LAPN Bon Temps Starter for fi llies and mares. Queens Walk was piloted by Richard Eramia who accepted the mount from trainer Karl Broberg. Queens Walk is owned by End Zone Athletics, Inc.

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

Sam Houston Race Park off ered a return engagement of the very compel-ling rivalry between accredited Texas-bred

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

Wampas Kitty, owned by Craig Harri-son of Terrell, Texas, ran third in the $50,000 Star of Texas on Jan. 18. Trainer Cliff ord Dodson had not tested her in on the turf since Dec. 8, 2012, but decided to try her again this evening. Under jockey Alfredo Contreras, the 6-year-old mare sat off the pace set by Vilao and Mescaleress, and made her move at the top of the stretch. She closed gamely and crossed the wire of the mile and one-sixteenth stakes over a fi rm Connally turf course in 1:44.37.

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

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

Smiles Golden Song, owned by Sylvia Baird, was sent off as the favorite based on back-to-back stakes wins in the Fiesta Mile on the Retama Park turf course and an impressive score here on opening night in the San Jacinto Stakes. With apprentice David Cabrera in the irons, Smiles Golden

Song mounted her bid, but could not catch the winner.

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

Wampas Kitty returned $23.20 to her supporters and earned $30,000 for the vic-tory, which was the fi rst stakes win for both Dodson and Contreras.

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

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

Wampas Kitty

Calcium is ...

www.caldensity.com1.877.744.9006

DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE OR OTHER RUMINANTS

Follow us on Facebook as we

track our Broodmare Foaling results!

It’s What’s Inside That Counts.

... the most important nutrient in bone content, muscle function and electrolyte maintenance.

It is crucial to high performance and strong healthy bones. Investigate the benefit

of feeding Proprietary Organic Calcium contained in CalDensity.

Veterinarians Can Prove It. Horsemen Can See It.TM


http://www.caldensity.com

Home to FOUR of the Top SEVEN Active Sires

in New Mexico

ATTILA’S STORMSire of 11 Stakes Horses in 2013

DIABOLICALRed hot first crop sire, #4 in the U.S.,

Co-leader by winners (14) and co-second by Stakes Horses (5)

PREMEDITATIONSire of 52% winners and 53% repeat winners in 2013,

led by MR. WIZARD ($212,051)

ROLL HENNESSY ROLLCo-leader in NM by 2013 stakes winners (4)

Plus—#1 First crop yearling sire in NM by

average price, SOUTHWESTERN HEAT andaccomplished QH Sire GONNA RO SHAM BO




surebet racing news: march 2014 issue

Documents

n o f f i c e

o p y e d i t o r

e mail

i s h e r

e orts

racing progeny

year stallion indian

racing opportunities