Page 177 - August 2015

La Villita Stakes
POCITAS VERSION
by Danny Camp
Tap-tap. Ride-ride. Tap-tap. Ride-ride. That was the winning formula used by rider Eduardo Luviano to score in the 330-yard $15,000 La Villita Stakes aboard Pocitas Version at Retama Park on July 18.
Pocitas Version, a 3-year-old filly, was treading the ground in the gate before the starter said go. Her anxiousness caused her to break a little awkward and she was given the ninth call from the gates. The poor start did nothing to discourage her, however, and she regained her stride quickly. She moved into 3rd at the 1st call and, with a hard driving finish, crossed the wire 3/4-lengths to the good in :17.145 to earn a 91 speed index. She also scored her first stakes victory.
The whole field seemed to drift to the inside, causing an inquiry. The stewards decided there was no foul and Pocitas Version had her picture taken. With the $8,250 first place money, the filly has now earned a total of $18,168. Her race record is three wins out of 11 tries. She deadheated for the win in her last out in an allowance at Retama Park on June 26.
Pocitas Version is owned by Val Gonzalez & trained by Gregory Gonzalez. The filly was bred by Cody Dutton in Texas, out of 1997 Retama Park Futurity-G1 winner Pocita O Toole. The mare has produced 100% money earners/ROM from her 6 starters. Although Pocitas Version is her first foal to earn blacktype, Zoomin At Ya is her top earner at over $30,000.
Meduzza (Ragazzo-La Jolla Suspect) ran an even
2nd under Damian Martinez for Jorge Haddad &
trainer Brian Stroud. Riskee Chic (Tinys First Corona- Withalotazoom) was 3rd with a late rush under Russell Hadley for Iris M. Buchanan & trainer John Buchanan. Followed by Menacing Looks (Executive Menace-Sticky N Picky), Cosmo Traffic (Cosmograph-Bac Traffic), Kings Game By Yawl (Yawls Rabbit-Thunder Got Game), Zimpool (Pool-Zimalue), Pool Diva (Pool-Dd Pass), What A Smooth Deal (Delagame-Smooth Money Raiser) & Grey Daze (Captain Courage-Grey Lakes Girl).
Merial ARP Distaff Chal.
KATEILLAC
by Michael Cusortelli
Kateillac, a 4-year-old gray filly, was the prompt 2-1 favorite in the $25,920 Merial Arapahoe Distaff Challenge on the Fourth of July.
Ridden by Ramiro Garcia for owner and trainer
Jose Aguilera of Wichita, Kansas, Kateillac went 400-yards in :20.041. The filly’s margin of victory was 1-length from Midori N Smoke, and she posted an 87 speed index for her effort.
In addition to earning the $12,182 win-
ner’s share of the purse, Kateillac garnered a
berth in the $100,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship-G1 at Lone Star Park this fall, a race in which she ran 2nd last year when it was held at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.
A $7,500 claimer during her sophomore campaign, the filly has won four of 21 outs and has banked $98,094, of which $52,804 has been earned this season.
Kateillac was bred in Oklahoma by Mike Vaughan of Norman. Her dam, the winning 9-year-old mare Wildkate, has foaled 1 winner from 2 starters.
Midori N Smoke (Special Leader-Smokin Corona) is a homebred 4-year-old mare who won the 2013 Cherry Creek Futurity-RG3 at Arapahoe for her owner, Margo Schares. Vince Guerra rode Midori N Smoke for trainer John Hammes.
Silver Inlay (Hiclass La Jolla-Princess Of Dash) finished in third place, 1 1/4-lengths behind Kateillac, for owners Randall and Kasey Hund. Russell Vicchrilli piloted the six-year-old gray mare for trainer Zachary Quezada.
One Famous Swinger (One Famous Eagle- Swingin Cartel) was fourth, followed by Iza Doll Face (Mr Jess Perry-Shazooms Doll), Racy Playgirl (Jess Racy-Eyesa Playgirl), Zoomin Daphne (Azoom-La Reina de la Noche), Rock Princess (Rock Solid Jess-A Classic Serenade) & Madresita (Pappasito-Mongoose Jet Eye).
American Flyer Bonus Chal.
NIFTY FURY
by Michael Compton
Nifty Fury overcame a headwind in excess of 20 miles per hour to capture the $20,150 American Flyer Bonus Challenge Stakes at Arapahoe Park on
July 18.
Ridden by Juan Pulido, Nifty Fury broke sharply
in the 350-yard test and grabbed the lead away from the gate. Racing between runners, the 4-year-old gelding fought off challengers to his inside and out- side and edged A Spring Snow at the finish to prevail by a head. It was the initial stakes score for Nifty Fury, who stopped the timer in :17.671 and earned a speed index of 92 for trainer Chris Gandarilla.
Owned by Margarito Montalvo, Nifty Fury has now won 4 of 12 lifetime starts (4 of 7 at Arapahoe Park), and the $9,269 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $40,821. In addition to this stakes win, Nifty Fury also finished 3rd in last year’s Lucille Rowe Derby.
Bred in Colorado by Richard & Genevieve Herrman, Nifty Fury is out ofthe winning & graded stakes-placed mare Iza Flyin Eye. A winner in 2 of 12 starts, Iza Flyin Eye was 3rd in the 2001 Cherry Creek Futurity-RG3 en route to earnings of $23,635. Nifty Fury is the 2nd stakes winner for his dam, joining 2013 Lucille Rowe Derby winner Iza Sugar N Spice, as well as stakes-placers Iza Flyin Bye and Iza Colorado Lady.
A Spring Snow (This Snow is Royal-Lexines Legacy) was 2nd under Alonso Rivera for owner-trainer Zachary Quezada. Race favorite Im the Key (Shazoom- Royal Classic Chick) was 3rd under Alfredo Triana Jr. for Pat Hernandez & trainer Juan Ortega. Followed by Stel Surprise (Stel Corona-Making Surprise), Im Beau Brown (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Special Smoothie), Agillion (Carters Cartel-My Streakin Heart), Midori N Smoke (Special Leader-Smokin Corona), Beach City Beauty (Ocean Runaway-Quiet Courage), Himalaya Jess (Feature Mr Jess-Stylish Secret) & Built Tuff Enough (Mighty Invictus-Inomuff TB).
Arapahoe Park • $15,000 330 yards • :17.145 • si 91
Holland Ease
The Jubilee Diamond Jody O Toole
Winners Version POCITAS VERSION, ’12-f.
Pocita O Toole
Pocita O Toole
Arapahoe Park • $25,920 400 yards • :20.041 • si 87
Furyofthewind KATEILLAC, ’11 m.
Wildkate
Corona Cartel
Dashing Phoebe Royal Quick Dash Runaway Katie
Arapahoe Park • $20,150 350 yards • :17.671 • si 92
Furyofthewind NIFTY FURY, ‘11-G.
Iza Flyin Eye
Corona Cartel
Dashing Phoebe Mr Eye Opener DG Miss Daisy
SPEEDHORSE, August 2015 175
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