Page 176 - July_2023

RACING NEWS
Sam Houston 550 Stakes
ONTHEROCKS
Oby John Moorehouse
nthrocks rolled to a wire-to-wire victory in the
$54,250 Sam Houston 550 Stakes, held June 17 at Sam Houston Race Park.
There was no catching Onthrocks in this one. He broke on top from the No. 7 gate and stayed in front for the entirety of the 550 yards, opening a 1-length lead in the stretch and holding on to win by that same margin.
Raul Ramirez Jr. rode Onthrocks across the wire in :27.707, registering a 97 speed index. The $32,550 winner’s share of the purse increased the gelding’s total bankroll to $76,087. Esteban Rubio trains Onthrocks, who has hit the board in nine of 12 lifetime starts.
It marked the first win in stakes company for Onthrocks, a four-year-old gelding who was making his 12th overall start and reached the winner’s circle for the fourth time in his career.
Home-bred by Ware Racing and Ranching LLC, Onthrocks already had black type, finishing third in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes-G2 in May, which also was his most recent prior out.
Viva Le Don (Rock Solid Jess-Viva Arriba) failed to reach the winner’s circle for the first time in four total outings at Sam Houston. Rockin J Running Horses owns the gelding, a Tammy Johnson trainee who had Jose Vega in the irons. Shockinglyfamous (One Famous Eagle-Shockttime TB), the heavy post-time favorite, faded late and ended up third. The seven-year-old stallion is owned by Kasey Willis and Stone Chase Stables LLC. Willis also trains Shockinglyfamous, who had Benito Baca aboard.
The remaining order of finish was DM Preacher Man (A Revenant-Mary La Jolla), Eye Am Tuff (Carters Cartel-Loves Easter Bunny), Master Reigns (Dash Master Jess-Dancee Reigns), and One Mighty Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Kates Dynasty). Hes Jess Dealin and Rey Donovan scratched.
Sam Houston 250 Stakes
JESS A DASHIN ANGELA
Jby John Moorehouse
ess A Dashin Angela pulled off a stunner in
the $56,500 Sam Houston 250 Stakes, as Sam Houston Race Park closed out its Quarter Horse meet for 2023.
Jess A Dashin Angela broke from the No. 3 gate and led by a head as she entered the stretch. She held on from there, hitting the finish line first by a neck.
Frank Mendez trains Jess A Dashin Angela, who finished the 250-yard event in :13.316 for a 98 speed index. Noe Villatoro had the riding assignment. Jess A Dashin Angela’s lifetime bankroll now approaches the quarter-million milestone at $244,005 with the $33,900 payday from this event.
The Dash Mastter Jess Partnership owns Jess
A Dashin Angela, who opened her 2023 campaign with this victory. It was the third stakes win for Jess A Dashin Angela, and all of them have come at the 250-yard distance. The five-year-old mare has won the past two versions of the TQHA 250 Stakes at Retama Park.
Cesar Rosales bred Jess A Dashin Angela and owns her dam, Mi Angela, a 2010 mare with a six- figure bankroll of her own.
Two stakes winners, post-time favorite Hallmarke (Duponte-Zenergy) and Phreedom (Tempting Dash- Liberte), finished in a dead heat for second. Laney Fowler owns Hallmarke, a Justin Powell trainee who had Gilbert Ortiz aboard. Phreedom is owned by Three Bar T Quarter Horses, trained by Toby Keeton, and had Raul Ramirez Jr. in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was Mr Teco (Man Who Wouldbe King-My Cold Corona),
Mo Delirio (Desirio-Mo Anita Cartel), D Golden Fortune (The Golden Bowl-Ms Brileys Fortune), Hes No Average Bear (Hes Relentless-Nice Hustle), Shes Racey (Stoli-Racey Winner), Speedy Lil Number (EC Jet One-Speeding), and Amateur Night (Kiss My Hocks-Just Another Natural).
Willie Hickman Memorial
JESS THE LEADER
Jby John Moorehouse
ess The Leader out-nodded post-time favorite
Jet Black Grace to score his first win in stakes company, prevailing in the $55,000 Willie Hickman Memorial on June 17 at Sam Houston Race Park.
A John Stinebaugh trainee, Jess The Leader had no equal. He led by a head at the first call, maintained that narrow separation going into the stretch, then held on to win the 400-yard race by a nose. Ali Rivera was in the irons for a :20.003 trip that produced a 99 speed index running into an 8 mph headwind.
Home-bred by Pete Scarmardo, Jess The Leader tallied his fourth win in 16 lifetime starts, and the $33,000 first-place share of the purse increased his total earnings past the quarter-million milestone to $258,178. This may have been the first stakes victory for Jess The Leader, but the four-year-old gelding is no stranger to stakes company. He placed third in the 2021 runnings of the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 and the TQHA Sale Futurity-G2.
Scarmardo bred Jess The Leader out of Cartel Leader, a stakes-placed 2002 mare.
Jet Black Grace (Jet Black Patriot-Thrill And Grace), the heavy favorite at less than 1-2 odds, placed second for Carlos Ponce and trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. Jose Herbert had the riding assignment.
A stablemate of Jess The Leader, His Time To Deal (Dealagame-Lady Lilia) placed third. Owned by Scarmardo and trained by Stinebaugh, His Time To Deal had Gilbert Ortiz aboard.
The remaining order of finish was DM Moonpie (Moonin The Eagle-DM Bella Mia), JB Shiner Bok (Boknaai-Streakin N Dancin), You Look Famous (One Famous Eagle-Mi Angela), Won Famous Dash (Giorgino-Lil Famous Dash), D Cosmic Cartel (The Louisiana Cartel-Special Love Shack), Rock Solid Stones (Rock Solid Jess-Precious Serendipity), and Biden Record (Pool-Shesa Crazy Chick).
174 SPEEDHORSE July 2023
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Sam Houston • $56,500
250 yards • :13.316 • SI 98
Mr Jess Perry
Dash Master Jess
Dash Master Miss
JESS A DASHIN ANGELA, ‘18-m.
Jet Black Patriot
Mi Angela
Dashin Follies
Sam Houston • $54,250
550 yards • :27.707 • SI 97
A Revenant ONTHROCKS, ‘19-g.
Stol A Bunny
Mr Jess Perry
Thewayouwantmetoo Stoli
On A Bunny
Sam Houston • $55,000
400 yards • :20.003 • SI 99
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS THE LEADER, ‘19-g. Cartel Leader
The Louisiana Girl Corona Cartel
Decided Leader