Page 181 - July_2023

Rita Danley Distaff Stakes
FIRST FLASHIN
Fby John Moorehouse
or First Flashin, 28 proved to be the lucky number.
As in, her 28th career out, which also signaled her first-ever win in stakes company. She achieved the feat on June 24 at Ruidoso Downs in the $45,000 Rita Danley Distaff Stakes.
First Flashin didn’t leave much doubt in this one; she broke on top from the No. 2 gate and led at every call, sporting a 1-length advantage entering the stretch and drawing clear for a 1 1/2-length margin of victory.
Facing 10-1 odds at the betting window, First Flashin prevailed over a field of New Mexico-bred fillies and mares to reach the winner’s circle for the first time since September of 2022 and she bounced back nicely after two straight finishes off the board. Emilio Tapia piloted the six-year-old mare to victory, completing the 350 yards in :17.729 for an 86 speed index.
Carlos Acosta Jr. trains First Flashin, who brought home a $27,000 payday for owner Victor Marroquin. The mare’s total earnings improved to $130,191.
She was already stakes-placed, taking second in last October’s running of the New Mexico Classic Distaff in Albuquerque, and she also was a finalist in the 2020 New Mexico Classic Derby-G2.Mike Abraham bred First Flashin out of Stevie Six, a 2007 mare.
Wine Dont Lie (Big Daddy Cartel-Fine Wines) finished second for Haskell and Jacque Rich. Marc Jungers trains the filly, who had Christian Ramos in the irons. Eyes On Mollie (Eye On Corona-Mollie Jo Perry), a 16-1 longshot, placed third for Jose Orquiz. The Alfredo Casillas trainee had Ricky Ramirez in the irons. The remaining order of finish saw post-time favorite Touraine (Big Daddy Cartel-Tres of Alice) in fourth, followed by Tina Katarina (First Moonflash- Catch This Scooter), Hearts Mystic Rime (Hearts Miracle-Mystic Rime), Mitey Keymeera (A Revenant- Mitey Moon), Jess To Reel (Jesse James Jr-Hot for Reel), La Bella Julia (Mr Special Cartel-Julia James), and Hs Golden Eagle (Osbaldo-Catchtherain TB).
Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes
LETTY CARTEL
Lby Tracy Gantz
etty Cartel comes from a longtime California
breeding program of EG High Desert Farms that has made its mark at Los Alamitos. The 4-year-
old filly most recently won the June 11 Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes-G2, named for another longtime California owner/breeder.
Cir Lady Moon went off as the 2-1 favorite, while Letty Cartel was an 18-1 longshot. Both broke well, with Cir Lady Moon taking the early lead over the 400 yards. But Letty Cartel, ridden by Irving Lara, came on strongly to win by a nose in :19.689.
Santos Perez trains Letty Cartel for EG High Desert Farms. Letty Cartel finished second in the 2023 Denim N Diamonds Handicap-G3 and 2022 Go Josie Go Handicap and third in the 2023 Miss Princess Handicap-G3.
EG High Desert Farms bred Letty Cartel out of its homebred Letty Bail Regis Out, winner of the 2012 California Breeders’ Debutante Stakes. Letty Bail Regis Out has produced four winners from seven starters, including stakes winners Bail Czech, A Mere Bail, and Diamonds Blue Eye.
Cir Lady Moon (Moonin The Eagle-Cir Mark Of A Queen), ridden by Armando Cervantes, trained by Monty Arrossa, and owned by Daniel & Carol Lee, was second and was coming off back-to-back wins in the Denim N Diamonds and Miss Princess. Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred She Goes Up (Seperate Interest-Up For It) ran third. Jonathan Roman rode the filly for trainer Scott Willoughby. She Goes Up won the 2021 Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG1 and 2022 La Pacifica Handicap. Followed by Sweet Tess (Apollitical Jess- Separate Thoughts), in a deadheat for 5th were Imm Born To Fly (Apollitical Spirit-Flash N The Boys)
& Nymphette (Fly Thru The Fire-Nymph), then Jettin Gigi (KVN Corona-Jet Takeoff), Shez Our Jess (Hez Our Secret-Jess Marcy), and Gotta Corona Jess (Apollitical Jess-Gotta Corona Pop).
Check Her Twice Handicap
FAMOUS SHINING STAR
Fby Tracy Gantz
amous Shining Star has picked off a string of
stakes at Los Alamitos, and she added another one June 11, capturing the $25,000 Check Her Twice Stakes. It was her fourth lifetime stakes victory, all of them at Los Alamitos.
Bettors respected Famous Shining Star, sending her off as the 3-5 favorite. She got away well for jockey Erasmo Garcia and went right to the front. There she stayed, holding off Budder Off Friends by a neck in :17.532 for 350 yards.
Jose Flores trains Famous Shining Star for owner Johnny Trotter. Flores also conditioned the 5-year-old mare to win this year’s Charger Bar Handicap-G1 and the 2022 Virginia Hyland Stakes and Sound Dash Handicap.
Trotter purchased Famous Shining Star with Stan Sigman from breeder Julianna Hawn Holt for $250,000 at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Holt bred Famous Shining Star in Texas from 2004 Rainbow Futurity-G1 winner Thewayouwantmetoo. That mare has produced seven winners from 12 starters, including A Revenant, who won the Rainbow Futurity in 2016 and was voted that year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, and stakes-placed Belle Helene, Luv Supreme, and The Hiway.
Rodrigo Aceves rode Budder Off Friends (FDD Dynasty-Budderfly Effect) to second for trainer Adan Farias and owner David Hinkins. Budder Off Friends has won two previous races.
All Prettied Up (Favorite Cartel-Pretty Jet High), ridden by Diego Herrera, trained by Angela Aquino, and owned by Ashley Garcia, finished third. The 6-year-old mare won the 2020 California Breeders Debutante Stakes.
Followed by Koalition (Apollitical Jess-Nellie Delaney), One Sweet Duck (One Sweet Jess-Duck Dash N Go), and Chrissy Ledoux (FDD Dynasty- Jess One Looke). Hitters Count was scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE July 2023 179
Bailey Ivey, Ruidoso Downs
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Ruidoso Downs • $45,000
350 yards • :17.729 • SI 86
First To Flash
First Moonflash
FIRST FLASHIN, ‘17-m. Stevie Six
Nagano Moon Jumpn
Jess Shakem
Los Alamitos • $100,000
400 yards • :19.689 • SI 92
Corona Cartel
Fast Prize Cartel
LETTY CARTEL, ‘19-f.
Fast First Prize
Bail Me Out Baby
Letty Bail Regis Out
Artesias Merridoc
Los Alamitos • $25,000
350 yards • :17.532 • SI 96
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
FAMOUS SHINING STAR, ‘18-m.
Mr Eye Opener
Thewayouwantmetoo
Hope And Glory