Page 197 - January 2017

Soliat (#2A) & Takin Cartel (#2) take first and second respectively in the Mexican Breeders Futurity for Rancho El Suspiro
Champion of Champions Classic
ATOUCHE
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Eduardo Silveyra
The traditional Champion of Champions Classic was the race that lowered the curtain on the 2016 racing season at the Hipódromo de las Americas. Together with the Mexican Breeders Futurity and the Juvenile Championship, they attracted a large number of fans of the quarter mile horse. The Champion of Champions Classic was a demanding test of 440 yards with a prize of $413,600 pesos (approximately $20,080 US).
The 10 finalists came from the qualifying races of Dec. 4, where the best record was for A Remarkable Perry at :21.33. However, in the betting windows, he was the second option to win being surpassed by Atouche, who reached a 1.50 bet.
The pace of the race was marked by Atouche (#1) escorted by Tessta Rossa (#4), while on the right side of the field the red bay Volcoms Heart (#8) gave a well-powered flight by Eddi Cuéllar, demonstrating her skills over long distances. However, her attempt was
only good enough to overcome Tessta Rossa, staying 1/2-length behind the mighty Atouche, the wide favorite of the fans under the strong
command of Paul Osvaldo Rodriguez.
When Atouche crossed the finish line, the stopwatch showed :21.46 (99 speed index) to the benefit of a large number of fans, but especially for the team and followers of Cuadra Chilano and trainer Honorio Ramos López.
The five year old is a native of the United States, from the well-known breeder Bobby D. Cox, and is a product of the cross of the great First Down Dash with the Thoroughbred mare Itsmybag (by Bag). As a two year old, Atouche won the Juvenile Championship, and the following year in 2014 he came in first in the AQHA Derby Challenge of Mexico, but was disqualified from the win. It seemed that this would be the end of his sporting career, but he returned in Dec. 2015 to participate in the Champion of Champions Classic in which he arrived sixth but “was granted fourth place” via disqualification of two other par- ticipants. In Oct. 2016 after standing at stud,
Atouche won the Merced Gomez Orozco Classic, dominating his rivals.
Two months later, he was measured in this Champion of Champions Classic where he was confirmed as a horse of power. With only 10 official races, we hope to see him in further action and to
increase his earnings that to date amount to more than 1 million 100 thousand pesos.
With a much improved performance from the trials, multiple Champion Volcoms Heart (Volcom - Lethal Heart) had a formidable clos- ing and captured second place under the guid- ance of Eddi Cuéllar with a time of :21.53. She belongs to Cuadra Estanzuela and was saddled by trainer Fidel Rosado Guevara.
The very consistent Tessta Rossa (Azoom
- Remember Me Rose) placed third with
his rider Moisés Molina Romo for Rancho Amecameca and his trainer Juan José Razo. In the 2016 season, he won the Kisses To Yawl Handicap, also at 440 yards.
Hipodromo de las Americas $20,080 • 440 yards :21.46 • si 99
Dash For Cash
First Down Dash
First Prize Rose
ATOUCHE, ‘11, h.
Bag
Itsmybag TB
Avenger’s Bouquet
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 195
RACING NEWS
Juan Carlos Velazquez