Page 189 - January 2017

Sunland Park Winter Juvenile Championship
IMPERIAL EAGLE
by Danny Camp
Imperial Eagle closed out his 2016 season with a big win in the $200,000 Sunland Park Winter Juvenile Championship on Dec. 31.
Imperial Eagle, with rider Esgar Ramirez aboard, broke on top from the 5-hole after a brief brush with the horse next to him. The long striding grey gelding quickly righted and maintained his lead for a wire-to-wire finish
a nose in front. The pair stopped the clock at :19.735 for the 400-yard event, earning an 82 speed index. With first place earnings worth $80,000, Imperial Eagle now boasts lifetime money of $1,721,507.
The gelding’s connections include owner Charles E. Robinson and trainer Tony Sedillo.
Imperial Eagle was bred in California by Fredda Draper out of New Mexico Hi-Point Aged Mare Jenuine Joy. The multiple graded stakes winner holds victories in the the Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap-RG1 and Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2, among others. She has produced 100% money earners from four starters, including Political Mess who finished third in the Dash For Cash Futurity-G2. This year’s All American Futurity-G1 and Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1 winner
and West Texas Futurity-G2 second-placed Imperial Eagle is her top earner and first stakes winner.
“This horse is all heart,”
said Sedillo. “He doesn’t get
away from the gate the best,
but when he hits his stride
he seems to know where the
wire is and wants to win.
Imperial Eagle has quieted
the people who were doubt-
ing that he could run 400
yards. He breaks hard, but once he hits his stride he’s a winner.”
It had been raining off and on for a few days and the track seemed a little heavy, but that didn’t bother this horse. “He pulled up good and he ate all his feed this morning,” the trainer continued. “He will get some time off till spring and then we will start up again. He deserves a little rest. He has won three Grade 1 races and I am wondering if he qualifies to be World Champion.”
Sedillo has been in the racing industry his whole life and when asked if this was the best
horse he’s ever trained he replied, “I had a horse named Southern Beduino who was similar to this horse. Every time out he gave 150%. These two horses are similar in that they are all heart.”
JM Mister Destiny (Mr Jess Perry-Dinastia Toll BRZ) gained ground on the leaders to finish in 2nd under Manuel Gutierrez for owner J and M Racing and Farm and trainer
Paul Jones. Chainman (Separatist-Ask The Question) ran steady and even to take 3rd for owner Benito Brito Arenivas and trainer Harvey Baeza. Bonificio Quiroz was up. Followed by A Fancy La Jolla (Fantastic Corona Jr–Babydoll La Jolla), Mahoney N Tacklebery (Favorite Cartel- Fountain Bleu), Silk On Fire V (Apollitical Jess- Silk Mountain), Dash Ta Desirio (Desirio-Wire Ta Wire), Eaglelistic (Flyingwitheagles-American Gator), Apollitical Dreaming (Apollitical Jess- Chalala), Jess Prize Me (Mr Jess Perry-Fast Prize Zoom) and Mojo Perry (Mr Jess Perry-Jump Down First). Valorus was scratched.
Sunland Park $200,000 • 400 yards :19.735 • si 82
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
IMPERIAL EAGLE, ’14-g.
Genuine Strawfly
Jenuine Joy
Super Perla Negra
Imperial Eagle & Esgar Ramirez go wire-to-wire in the $200,000 Sunland Park Winter Juvenile Championship
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 187
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography