Page 171 - August 2015

Firecracker F. @ Grants Pass
L BAR D DIXON DELITE
by Tracy Gantz
Darrell Sanders and Robert Beckner are septua- genarians, but they were as happy as little kids when L Bar D Dixon Delite won the Grants Pass
Firecracker Futurity on Independence Day. Darrell and Linda Sanders bred and own the filly, and Beckner trains her. It was the first victory in the race for both men.
Shortly after the start of the 350-yard race, Double Down Corona bucked, losing rider Ruben Camacho. The jockey fell off his mount, but got up and was apparently unhurt.
Meanwhile, L Bar D Dixon Delite, ridden by Louis Zacherle, zipped to the front, dueled with Shimmie Horn, and won by a head in :17.983.
The win was especially gratifying to Beckner, who suffered a heart attack a year ago. “I’m having fun this year,” he said.
L Bar D Dixon Delite was breaking her maiden in the Firecracker Futurity. After two unplaced efforts, she ran second in her June 21 trial by a neck to fastest-qualifier Ez Feisty Patriot. Her effort in the trials was good for the fifth qualifying position.
Darrell Sanders has been attending the fair at Grants Pass for about 50 years, and he said that winning the Firecracker Futurity “at this point in my life, it’s a highlight.”
The Sanderses bred L Bar D Dixon Delite in Oregon from their homebred mare Eyes A Flyer, who finished second once in three starts and earned her Register of Merit.
The mare has produced three winners and
100% money earners from her seven starters. L
Bar D Dixon Delite is now her top earner and first stakes winner. The $10,040 winner’s share from the Firecracker Futurity make up the vast majority of the L Bar D Dixon Delite’s earnings, which now stand at $10,640.
Juan Leon owns and trains second-place Shimmie Horn (Mitey Jody-Termination Point), and Kassie Guglielmino rode her. Shimmie Horn won her trial and was the second-fastest qualifier.
Gary Chumbley’s homebred Ez Feisty Patriot (Game Patriot-Easy Verna) finished third for jockey Troy Stillwell and trainer Scott Raley. The filly, who was the 3-2 favorite, had won two trials.
Shez Sneakin Fast (Heza Fast Dash-Sneak Bac) finished fourth and was followed by Secret Second Chance (Kiddy Up-Nancys Gotta Secret), Frankie Valentine (Ocean Runaway-Be Dancing), Freaky Chick (Jumpn Chic-Wild N Single) and Double Down Corona (BP Southern Power-A Passion For Profit).
Louisiana Classic-RG2
OPEN ME A CORONA
by Michael Cusortelli
Open Me A Corona, a 5-year-old horse racing for Charles Forbes Jr. and Tommy Hays, extended his win streak to four with a neck victory
in the 440-yard Louisiana Classic Stakes-RG2 for state-breds at Delta Downs on July 11.
Trained by Bobby Martinez, Open Me A Corona covered his quarter-mile trip in :21.383 under jockey Saul Ramirez Jr. The $60,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 purse increased his bankroll to $666,298.
Raced exclusively in Louisiana, Open Me A Corona has won 10 of 12 races. The horse’s seven career stakes scores include the $1-million Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Futurity-RG1 at Evangeline Downs three years ago.
Open Me A Corona was bred by Natalie Montgomery of Pineville, Louisiana. His dam, In The Open, has foaled four winners including Open Me A Corona’s 1/2-brother Im Jess Blue, who ran second in the 2014 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3, and Surf N Turf Dude, who was second in the ’12 Four Corners Futurity-G3 at SunRay Park. Open Me A Corona’s third dam, the Thoroughbred mare In The Curl, was a multiple stakes winner in Pennsylvania and Maryland from 1987-91.
Brock Broussard & Jacque Bourque’s Heza Fast Rogue (Heza Fast Dash-Miss Jess Rogue) outran his 38-1 odds to finish 2nd. Donald Watson rode the 4-year-old colt for trainer Kevin Broussard. Fast Talkin Henry (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Cindy) ran 3rd for owner Harlow Stables LLC. The 5-year-old gelding was prepped by Michael Taylor & ridden by John Hamilton. Followed by Dashin Gage (Oak Tree Special-Dash Lady Love), Sir Prize (First Prize Perry-Susanna M Salter), Eye Get The Blues (Jess Louisiana Blue-Kdwantsafastone), Jessjinging (Swingin Jess-Jetajing), 13-10 favorite JLS Dashn And Zoomn (Sir Runaway Dash-Shaken Thru Zoom), Heza Bell Perry (Heza Fast Dash-De Bell Perry) & JLS Mr Bigtime (Bigtime Favorite-Psalmist).
Flashy Hemp Stakes
CAMERONS GAME
by Michael Cusortelli
Camerons Game found a step up in class to her liking, as the sophomore filly outran her 14-1 odds to win the $50,000 Flashy Hemp Stakes for
Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at Delta Downs on July 11.
Racing for Lester Colomb Jr. and Jon Price, Camerons Game went 350 yards in :17.405 while earning a 94 speed index and her first stakes victory. John Hamilton rode Camerons Game for trainer Kenneth Weeks.
Camerons Game was coming off of consecutive victories against claiming company at Delta Downs. The filly, who was bred by Chris Dunn of Richton, Mississippi, was claimed by her current connections for $7,500 on June 25. Campaigned exclusively in Louisiana, Camerons Game has won 5 of 8 starts, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the Flashy Hemp Stakes pushed her bankroll to $78,730, of which $53,130 has been earned from 3 wins in 4 outs this season.
Camerons Game is 1 of 4 winners from 5 starters foaled by her dam, Shes Lils FG, a 12-year-old mare who won the 2005 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Lassie Futurity-RG2 at Delta Downs.
Bipty Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Bipity Jazz) ran second, 1/2-length behind Camerons Game, for own- ers Ivan Alford & Marty Long. Alfonso Lujan rode
the multiple graded stakes winner for trainer Michael Taylor. TF Eyes R Struttin (Struttin To Beduino-Eyes R Special) was 3rd as the odds-on favorite. Raul Ramirez Jr. rode the stakes winner for owner Louis Johnson
Jr. & trainer Lanny Keith. Followed by Embrujo Star (Embrujo FG-Allas Toast), Scooter Prize (First Prize Perry-Royal Baby Scooter), Miss Fast Crystal (Heza Fast Dash-Miss Silver G), Shesa Dashingromance (Heza Fast Dash-Dash N To Romance), The Game Cartel (Game Patriot-Angels Cartel), Sheza Gamer (Game Patriot-Dealafly) & RBD Fastestdashndeb (Heza Fast Dash-Debs Been Streakin).
Grants Pass Downs • $25,100 350 yards • :17.983 • si 89
Separatist
Inseperable
L BAR D DIXON DELITE, ’13-f.
Eyes A Flyer
A Delightful Legacy Mr Eye Opener
Its Time To Fly
Delta Downs • $100,000 440 yards • :21.383 • si 99
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
Mr Eye Opener Ocean Memories
OPEN ME A CORONA, ’10-h.
In The Open
Delta Downs • $50,000 350 yards • :17.405 • si 94
Game Patriot CAMERONS GAME, ’12 f.
Shes Lils FG
Chicks Beduino
Fire And Nice
Embrujo FG
Midknight Magnolias
SPEEDHORSE, August 2015 169
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Coady Photography