Page 185 - September 2016

Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2
AJS ANNA SMOKE
by Michael Compton
AJS Anna Smoke’s wire-to-wire vic-
tory in the $382,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2 for California-breds at Los Alamitos on July 30 proved an emotional one for longtime owner Rod MacPherson, Jr. AJS Anna Smoke was previously campaigned by his late wife, Anna, who passed away in June following an illness.
Piloted by Cesar DeAlba, AJS Anna Smoke broke sharply and grabbed the lead away from the 3-hole. Despite lugging out early, AJS Anna Smoke got a jump on his rivals leaving the barrier and ran straight and true to the wire without ever being headed, winning by a 1/2-length at the finish. Sent off as the 7-5 race favorite, AJS Anna Smoke covered 350 yards in :17.544 and earned a speed index of 93.
A winner in four of five starts heading
into the Governor’s Cup Futurity, AJS Anna Smoke improved his slate to 6-5-0-0, and the $160,650 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $192,775. AJS Anna Smoke was the fastest qualifier going into the Governor’s Cup Futurity, having won his July 9 heat in similar wire-to-wire fashion by 1 1/4-lengths.
John Copper trains the bay gelded son of Separatist and also trained his sire. According to Cooper, the two horses have similarities beyond their taste for winning races.
“Anna would have enjoyed this so much,” MacPherson said after the win. “I know she’s watching from above and loving this victory. If she was still with us, she would have been here or watching the race at home on TV and would have been so happy with this win. I miss that she’s not here, but I know she’s watching us.”
“This horse knows how
to win,” said MacPherson, who also won the Governor’s Cup Futurity with Separatist in 1999. “He reminds me a lot of Separatist in the way he behaves in the gate. Separatist was per- haps the best horse in the gate that’s ever been at this racetrack. You could not get him to move his head to one side or the other if you tried. He just wouldn’t move. This horse is like that. He’s very good in the gate, just like his father.”
Anna MacPherson bred AJS Anna Smoke in California out of the 3-time winner and stakes- placed mare Annas Babe. The mare finished 3rd in the 2013 Lanty’s Jet Handicap at Los Alamitos.
“I’m excited because I have a full (sibling) to AJS Anna Smoke and also a half-sister to him by Foose,” Rod MacPherson related. “When we
bought his mother, (the 7-year- old mare) Annas Babe, it was because of her potential as a broodmare. I think she’s going to be a great producer.”
Runner-up Worth Doing (Walk Thru Fire-Callan Rocks) offered a game chase but couldn’t catch AJS Anna Smoke and finished 2nd under Tony Guymon. Fawna Knight’s sorrel gelding fin- ished second in the Ed Burke in June and is trained by Mark
AJS Anna Smoke and Cesar DeAlba are never headed in the $382,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2 at Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos $382,500 • 350 yards :17.544 • si 93
Chicks Beduino
Separatist
Separate Ways
AJS ANNA SMOKE, ’14-g.
A Regal Choice
Annas Babe
Babe On The Fly
Million Futurity
Skeen. Edward Allred bred the 3-time winner.
Smell Perfume (Foose-Running Bac) outran her 40-1 odds and rallied late along the inside to finish third under Rodrigo Aceves for owner Dutch Masters III and trainer and co- owner Jaime Gomez. Steve Burns, DVM, bred the sorrel filly in California.
Followed by Stelfast (Stel Corona-The Goodbye Kisser), A Bit Quirky (Stel Corona- Dont Pass Bar), Up For Dashing (Kiddy Up-Thinking Dash), Myfavoritestreaker (Favorite Cartel-Checkoutthestreaker), Seared (Kiddy Up-Escape The Fire), American Force (First Down Dash-American Purse) and Kiddy Up Cowgirl (Kiddy Up-Girls Choice).
SPEEDHORSE, September 2016 183
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos