Page 155 - July_2023

Take A Swig of This winning connections include owner Dunn Ranch, trainer Monty Arrossa and jockey Francisco Calderon.
they took between the trials and the finals to work with Take A Swig Of This.
“I stood him in the gates a couple of more times than normal to get ready for this, and he was fine,” said Arrossa.
Added Calderon after the final, “Breaking from the gate was my concern tonight. I just have to credit Monty for getting him ready for tonight.”
In the final, Take A Swig Of This broke on top from post 7 and went right to the front. Hooked N Gone and Eye On The Card came running, but they couldn’t catch Take A Swig Of This, who scored by a 1/2-length in :19.318 for 400 yards.
“We felt that he would break and that we had a good shot,” said Matt. “He broke and did his thing, and we’re excited for the win.”
It was a big night at Remington for Calderon. The jockey won five races on the card and was the leading jockey of the meeting.
Arrossa has trained Take A Swig Of This throughout the gelding’s career. In 2022 at Remington, Take A Swig Of This missed winning the Heritage Park Futurity-G1 by
just a nose. The Dunns then sent him to California with Arrossa, and he won the Feb. 18 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1. Matt said that Take A Swig Of This shipped to Ruidoso Downs after the Heritage Park Derby and will point toward the All American Derby-G1, with perhaps the Rainbow Derby-G1 in between.
“He is one of a kind—very special,” said Arrossa. “I can’t thank the team enough for this win, everyone back at the barn.”
Weetona Stanley bred Take A Swig Of This in Texas by crossing her unraced homebred mare PYC Prize Doll with A Revenant. The mare has produced five winners in 12 starters, including 2020 TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2 winner Jordan Eagle.
Matt purchased Take A Swig Of This for $40,000 at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale from the 6666 Ranch agent, which consigned him for Stanley and Burnett Ranches LLC.
“He’s a well-made individual,” Matt said. “He’s correct, got good size, really smart to be around. When I saw him, I knew that I wanted him. A Revenant puts that size on those horses. His babies are 440 babies.”
Regina Laymon’s homebred Hooked N Gone (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Pretty Girl Kate), the fastest qualifier, finished second. Cristian Esqueda rode the gelding for trainer Victor Ibarra. Hooked N Gone won the 2023 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby-RG1 and 2022 Remington Park Juvenile.
Arrossa also trained third-place Eye On The Card (Docs Best Card-Johns Party Girl), with Juan Pulido aboard. Omar Hernandez and Taos River Ranch own Eye On The Card, who captured last year’s Rainbow Futurity-G1 and FL Lady Bug Stakes-G3.
Completing the field were Tha Duke (RC Me Leaving You-Precious Perry Girl), War Admiral (Moonin The Eagle-Azoomin With Jessie), FDD Cloud (FDD Going Grand-A Noble Jess Elie), King Of Woodbridge (Eye Am King-Posies Woodette), Tyger King (Apollitical
Jess-Cruzin The Wagon), Everythingyouneed (Jet Black Patriot-Rogue To Riches), and Sir James (Coronado Cartel-Simply An Angel).
RACING NEWS
Trainer Monty Arrossa walks with a smile on his face after the win.
SPEEDHORSE July 2023 153
Dustin Orona Photography
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse