Page 179 - August 2015

TQHA 550 Stakes
JRC CALLAS FIRST
by Danny Camp
It’s always a pleasure to watch a true champion at work. True champions overcome adversity, and such was the case in the $33,500 TQHA 550 Stakes at
Retama Park on July 24.
2014 World Champion JRC Callas First
overcame a slip as he stepped away from the 1-post. Damian Martinez knew he was riding a Champion, so he just sat chilly and waited. The 5-year-old bay gelding made a stellar run to the wire, 550 yards away. He had a 2-length lead at the first call and
the farther he went the more light he put between him and the field. At the top of the stretch he was 3-lengths in front and he coasted to the wire, finish- ing 2-lengths in front.
JRC Callas First stopped the clock at :27.521, earning a 96 speed index and the $20,100 win- ner’s share. Including this check, he has now a total bankroll of $276,731. His race record stands at 13 wins from 22 starts, including 7 additional stakes wins and a 550-yard New Track Record set last year at Retama Park.
JRC Callas First is owned by Dana L. and Brian Stroud, who also trains the gelding. Bred by J. R. Cass in Texas, out of the Calla Missy Jane, JRC Callas First is his mare’s only starter although she does have a weanling filly who should hit the tracks next season.
On the outside it was Sophies Special (Visionarian-Special Lassie), who made a steady run under Juan Garcia to pick up 2nd place money for owner Donna G. Mushinski & trainer Kie Mushinski. Msg Image Of Sixes (Streakin Sixes-Fetching Image) fought a good fight and came away in 3rd under Luis Vivanco for Pedro Gallegos and trainer Cornelio Salazar. Followed by The Field Cricket (Lead The Field-Quick Lil Cricket), Stolis Pro (Stoli-Veva Jean), Hamburg Gig (Jet Cartel-Go You Must) & Bar Struck (Corona For Me-Miss Manolo).
King William Handicap
JESS A COMMENT
By Danny Camp
From the get go to the get gone . . . that’s how Jess A Comment won the 350-yard $20,000 King William Handicap at Retama Park on July 4. Jess A Comment
had run 2nd in last year’s version of the race, but this year the 5-year-old gelding turned things around.
He left the 6-post on top, was briefly challenged by DB Captain King at the 1st call, but then re-took the lead and drove to the wire. Like the mature run- ner he is, the farther he went the more he gained over his competition. Jess A Comment finished a length in front under regular pilot Luis Ramirez. They stopped the clock at :17.868 for a 90 speed index.
With the $11,400 first place check, Jess A Comment has now earned $173,890. His record is 7 wins from 24 outs, winning his last 3 out of 4 starts. Jess A Comment has additional stakes wins in the Retama Park Derby Challenge & TQHA 250 Stakes, as well as a host of stakes-placed finishes. He was the Texas Hi-Point Aged Gelding in 2013.
Jess A Comment is owned by Michael S. Amburn and trained by Mike Robbins. He was bred by Raymond R Loup in Texas, out of stakes winner and New Track Record setter Jess Quick Fun. The mare has produced 10 winners & 12 ROM from 14 starters. Jess A Comment is her top earner & only stakes winner.
Db Captain King (Captain Courage-Lizarun) got away well on the inside & ran steady to hold on for 2nd under Santos Carrizales for owner Nancy R. Biggs & trainer Lewis Jordan. Treys Diamond Cartel (Carters Cartel-Little Diamondette) was squeezed, but ran hard up the lane to finish 3rd under Eduardo Luviano for owner Robert Gordon & trainer Benjamin Garza. Followed by Ja Jess Perfect (Mr Jess Perry-Ja Curiosity), Fly Lil Curl (Spit Curl Jess-Fly Bonus), Don’t Text That (Jet Cartel-Go You Must), Jess A Dashin Man (Dashin Bye-Spin The Pages), Dm Just Jumpin (Jumpn-Dm Bella Mia) & El Chinito Boy (Sss Ace In The Hole- Willys Little Filly). Runaway Siesta was scratched.
Benny Pennington Mem.
SPEED BOK
by Danny Camp
Three wins in a row. That’s what Speed Bok has done. The 4-year-old filly has only won a couple of races in her career, two out of 20 to be precise. But, that was before she went wire-to-wire to win the $23,500 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes at Retama Park on July 24.
Speed Bok seems to have hit her groove. The
filly left the 2-post on the lead. She took the rail and lengthened her margin to a whopping 4-lengths at the top of the stretch. With a couple of unnecessary taps from Donald Guynes, who was in the saddle, Speed Bok demolished the field. The filly finished the 870-yard contest 6 3/4-lengths in front. This filly has found her calling.
She stopped the clock at :46.299, earning a speed index of 91 and the first place winner’s share of $14,100. Speed Bok has now earned $39,021 from
a record of 5 wins from 22 starts. This is her first victory in blacktype.
The hard-knocking filly is bred, owned and trained by John Boegner. She is out of the mare Wish I Dustem, who has produced 100% money earners from five starters. Speed Bok is her first stakes win- ner and top earner.
The other part of the entry, Bling Bling Bok (Boknaai-Shiney Creek Dancer), was gutsy enough to get second place money. She is also runs for the owner/trainer John Boegner.
Francisco Calderon picked up the riding assignment. A grueling try down the stretch netted third place for Droppin Timber (First Timber- Droppindead Gorgeous) for owner Frank J. Greenhaw Jr. & trainer Orrin Cogburn. Juan Garcia was in the irons.
Followed by Signitcosino (Cosino-Sign It Love), Corona La Jolla (Tinys First Corona-Mary La Jolla) & Portugee (One Famous Eagle-Oodles Of Cash). Fire On The Fly & The Field Cricket scratched.
Retama Park • $33,500 550 yards • :27.521 • si 96
Winners Award JRC CALLAS FIRST, ’10-g.
Runaway Winner
Sweet Miranda
Dirty Coup
Calla Missy Jane
Missy Joyce
Retama Park • $20,000 350 yards • :17.868 • si 90
First Comment JESS A COMMENT, ’09-g.
Jess Quick Fun
First Place Dash Pw Comment
Mr Jess Perry
Quick Fun
Retama Park • $23,500 870 yards • :46.299 • si 91
Boknaai SPEED BOK, ’11-f.
Wish I Dustem
Mr Jess Perry
Lil Bit Dash
Rydin And Wishin TB Dusty Creek Dancer
SPEEDHORSE, August 2015 177
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