Page 175 - July_2023

Sam Houston Juvenile
DOLLAR BILL
Dby John Moorehouse
ollar Bill added his first-ever stakes win to an
impressive body of work as a rookie, taking the $51,315 Sam Houston Juvenile on June 3 at Sam Houston Race Park.
The gelding broke on top from the 3 post and never looked back. He led by a head going into the first call, widened the gap to 1/2-length entering the stretch, then drew clear during the final yards to win the race by 1 1/2-lengths. Trained by Juan Diaz Jr., Dollar Bill completed the stakes-winning trip in :16.647 for a 106 speed index. Jose Herbert had the riding assignment. Owner Celeste Martinez banked a $13,855 payday that increased Dollar Bill’s total bankroll to $79,293.
A runner-up finish in this spring’s Louisiana Downs Futurity-G2 is the lone time in four outs that the two-year-old sorrel gelding has not gotten to the winner’s circle. Dollar Bill won his qualifying heat for the Sam Houston Futurity, but his :17.184 time in the 330-yard trial wasn’t enough to make the futurity field. Still, Dollar Bill was the post-time favorite for the juvenile at 3-2 odds and lived up to those expectations.
Tyler and Naia Graham bred Dollar Bill out of Jakes Painted Wagon, a 2014 mare. The gelding sold to Martinez for $39,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.
The Grahams also bred Hock Tree Special (Kiss My Hocks-Lamont Lady), who finished second for owner Jessica Mendez and trainer Daniel Luna. Luis Vivanco was in the irons. Line Drive Dash (Tempting Dash-Shazooms Pop Pop), another Diaz trainee, placed third for owner Alan Duran. Nestor Duran was aboard.
The remaining order of finish was Just A Piloto (Mr Piloto-Just Be) in fourth, then No La Deja (Hes Relentless-La Deja Blue), Chilitas (Apollitical Jess- Mary Me Anna), Mr Prize B (Freighttrain B-Fast Prize Shana), and Cowgurl Up (Flying Cowboy 123-Passem Up Perry). Dashin Hocks and JB Kool Jess were scratched.
John Buchanan Memorial
LIPSTICK PROMISE
Lby John Moorehouse
ipstick Promise scored the first win of her sophomore
campaign at a fine time, taking the $54,250 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes on June 3 at Sam Houston Race Park. At 15-1 odds, Lipstick Promise paid off handsomely at the betting window. She broke from the 8 gate and was still running fifth among a crowd going into the stretch. Then jockey Froylan Ramirez urged Lipstick Promise into a late surge, dashing to the front and hitting the wire first by a neck.
Kie Mushinski trains Lipstick Promise, whose 350-yard trip took :17.718 and produced a 98 speed index. The $32,550 payday more than doubled her existing bankroll to a new total of $58,824.
Jerry Lee Davis’ home-bred three-year-old filly entered black type with this result. It was also her stakes debut; she tried to qualify for last year’s Dash For Cash Futurity. Lipstick Promise also got to the winner’s circle for the first time in almost a calendar year–with her most recent prior victory June 18 at this same track in an allowance. In fact, in six career outs, all three of Lipstick Promise’s victories have come at Sam Houston.
Davis bred Lipstick Promise out of A Passionate Lady, a 2012 mare owned by Donna Mushinski. Suzie Que (Apollitical Blood-Seis Passes) took runner-up honors by a nose. The filly is owned by
Carlos Ponce, trained by Juan Diaz, Jr., and had Victor Urieta, Jr., in the irons. Passage Of A Woman (This Cartel Is Gold-Mountain Woman) hit the board in third as part of a blanket finish. Owned by Victor Villarreal, the Martin Rodriguez trainee had Francisco Giles up. The remaining order of finish saw post-time favorite Dakota Gurl (Muddy Watters- Runaway Charli) in fourth, followed by Lj Luna Llena (KVN Corona-Risen Eagle), Five Bar Willie (Five Bar Cartel-Take The Cash Willie), Essential Kiss (Kiss My Hocks-Essencia), and Flight Song (A Revenant- Carters Sixty Six). Tiffany Twistedd was scratched.
Leon Bard Memorial
TIC IT TO THE DANCE
Iby John Moorehouse
n his fourth try in stakes company, Tic It To The
Dance scored his first career stakes win on June 3 at Sam Houston Race Park in the $54,250 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes.
Tic It To The Dance outdueled Eagle Powers for
the victory in this one. Tic It To The Dance broke well in second from the 3 gate, led by a head at the first call, was second going into the stretch, and then beat Eagle Powers during the final yards to reach the wire by a neck.
Oscar Constancio Jr. trains Tic It To The Dance, who finished the 350-yard stakes in :17.708 for a
98 speed index. Froylan Ramirez had the riding assignment. The $32,550 first-place prize increased the gelding’s total earnings past the six-figure milestone to $105,929.
Joe Ruiz Jr. owns the three-year-old gray gelding, who notched his fourth victory in his ninth lifetime start. Tic It To The Dance already had black
type, finishing second in last year’s running of the Sam Houston Juvenile. Tic It To The Dance also competed in last year’s Dash For Cash Futurity-G2 and the Sam Houston Derby-G3 this past May.
Bob and Jerry Gaston bred Tic It To The Dance out of Double Down Darling, a lightly-raced 2010 mare.
Alvin Francis Jr. trains the other two horses who hit the board. Runner-up Eagle Powers (This Is An Eagle-DF Girly Girl) is owned by Gilbert Martinez Jr. and had Luis Vivanco aboard. Heavy Hitters Racing Stables owns third-place finisher Brock Landers (FDD Dynasty-Ms Highmaitenance), who was ridden by Ali Rivera.
Rounding out the order of finish, Symbolic (Duponte-Shesa First Ratify) was fourth, followed by Phreedom (Tempting Dash-Liberte), Leaving On a Eagle (RC Me Leaving You-One Risin Eagle), One Loves Cartel (One Sweet Jess-Love First Cartel), and Hes No Average Bear (Hes Relentless-Nice Hustle). Zooming For Muddy was scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE July 2023 173
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Sam Houston • $51,315
330 yards • :16.647 • SI 106
Tempting Dash
Romancing Mary
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Kiss My Hocks
DOLLAR BILL, ‘21-g.
Jakes Painted Wagon
Jakes Charming Jody
Sam Houston • $54,250
350 yards • :17.718 • SI 98
Mr Jess Perry
Thewayyouwantmetoo
Mr Eye Opener
A Passionate Lady
A Revenant LIPSTICK PROMISE, ‘20-f.
Hope And Glory
Sam Houston • $54,250
350 yards • :17.708 • SI 98
Streakin La Jolla
Scoopie Fein
TIC IT TO THE DANCE, ‘20-g.
Fishers Dash
Double Down Darling
Mr Jess Perry
Pamper Me Special