Page 146 - July_2023

RACING NEWS
Lets Leave’s winning connections include owner Barron Racing LLC and Empire Racing, trainer Eric Valenzuela and jockey Sergio Becerra Jr.
According to Mario Perea, the owners of Lets Leave dedicated this win in loving memory of his late son Jose Antonio Perea.
The connections had a large group of people with them at Ruidoso Downs.
“That was the most enjoyable part,” Valenzuela said. “In this sport you spend a lot of time away from family just getting these horses ready. There were a lot of people there, and that’s what made it even greater. It was the icing on the cake.”
Valenzuela has been involved with Lets Leave since Barron Racing purchased the colt as a yearling for $122,000 from breeder Dr. Ed Allred at the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.
“There were a lot of heavy bidders there,” Valenzuela said. “They just really liked that horse and said, ‘We’re not leaving here without him.’ We’re just lucky we got him for $122,000.”
Valenzuela praised Lets Leave’s attitude from the very beginning all through the colt’s early lessons at Valenzuela’s farm in Anthony, New Mexico.
“He has a great head on his shoulders,” the trainer said. “That’s what separates him from the rest. You wouldn’t even know he’s a colt. He’s so calm; he’s collected. He has no wasted energy in the stall. He’s just always been very professional.”
Lets Leave debuted in his trial for the West Texas Futurity-G2 at Sunland Park. After he won the trial by 1 1/4-lengths, the owners decided to supplement him to Ruidoso’s three major futurities.
The colt suffered his only loss in the West Texas final, losing by only a neck to KJ Little Duce Coup. Lets Leave then dominated his Ruidoso Futurity trial by 5 1/2-lengths, with Valenzuela even more impressed because he had to do it against a strong headwind.
The Ruidoso Futurity is Valenzuela’s biggest win. Originally from Arizona, the trainer
moved to New Mexico after the success of Captain Mazurk, who set a New Track Record for 440-yards in winning the 2020 Rillito Park Championship Trial.
“She’s the one who got me to where I’m at,” Valenzuela said. “She only cost me $5,600. Without her I wouldn’t have been able to make the jump to New Mexico.”
Allred bred Lets Leave in California from his homebred mare Time To Leave, winner of the 2019 Denim N Diamonds Handicap. Allred bred the first three dams in the pedigree.
Lets Leave is Time To Leave’s first foal and starter. Time To Leave is a 1/2-sister to Vessels Maturity-G1 and Go Man Go Handicap-G1 winner Snitcher.
Wired 440 (Tempting Dash-Time For Jess) finished 2nd under jockey Esgar Ramirez for owner Alberto Villanueva Jr. Wired 440 debuted in his Futurity trial, winning by 2-lengths.
Luis Martinez piloted Irish Seis (Tres Seis- Sassy Irish Lassie) for owner CHR Racing and trainer Jesus Rondan Jr.
Completing the field were Trump This Record (Apollitical Blood-Oweitalltograce), Kiss My Wine (Kiss My Hocks-Mr Perrys Wine), Relentless Eagle (Hes Relentless- Volcoms Delight), Trusty Jess (Jess Good Candy-Entrust), Caramel Macchiato (Good Reason SA-Amore La Blue), and AR Victorias Legacy (Mr Jess Perry-Peace Fire). KJ Little
Trainer Eric Valenzuela
144 SPEEDHORSE July 2023
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse