Page 188 - September 2016

Governor’s Cup Derby-RG3
UNCLAIMED DIVIDEND
by Michael Compton
In a roughly contested renewal of the $195,000 Governor’s Cup Derby-RG3 at Los Alamitos on July 30, 36-1 long shot Unclaimed Dividend
emerged unscathed and took down top prize in the 400-yard test.
Handled by Jesus Ayala, Unclaimed Dividend broke alertly and on the lead from his inside post and assumed command away from the gate. Odds-on favorite
Thermonuclear Energy broke
just a step slow one gate
away, but was hustled into
contention. With Unclaimed
Dividend clear of the field, he
lugged out slightly in the lane.
Unclaimed Dividend kept to task late in the
lane and defeated a game Thermonuclear Energy at the finish by 1/2-length. The winner stopped the timer in :19.972 and earned a speed index of 86 for the
wire-to-wire win. It was the initial stakes win for Unclaimed Dividend, who finished third in his July 10 trial heat, and just his second win overall. The EG High Desert Farms California homebred registered his only other victory in breaking his maiden in May of last year.
“He ran several nice races as a freshman, but he had some bad luck and some rough trips,”
noted Enrique Gonzalez of EG High Desert Farms. “He ran a nice race tonight and scored a nice, surprising win.”
Unclaimed Dividend is the first stakes winner produced from 4-time winner Chavela Magic. The mare is the dam of 100% money earners from three starters. All of them are winners as well. Unclaimed Dividend is her top money earner and first stakes winner.
Runner-up Thermonuclear Energy (Walk Thru Fire-Terrific
Energy) chased the winner gamely after breaking a bit slowly under Rodrigo Aceves. The sorrel filly is owned by Parsons Family Limited Partnership and is trained by Christopher O’Dell. Checkn Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Check Her Running) finished a close third under Cruz Mendez. Sent off at odds of 40-1, Checkn Fire races in the colors of Francisco Diaz and is conditioned by Lindolfo Diaz.
Phoebes Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-PJ Flying Phoebe), Fervents Dynasty (FDD Dynasty- Fervent), Sale Topper (Walk Thru Fire-Special And Proud), Makin Moments (Favorite Cartel-Enjoy The Moment), Chicks Fayvorite (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell), Zendaya (Foose- Red Hawk Chick) and Snitching (Walk Thru Fire-Departing) completed the order of finish. Snitching was disqualified from 6th and placed 10th for interfering with Zendaya past the eighth pole.
Los Alamitos $195,000 • 400 yards :19.972 • si 86
The Chocolate Rocket
A Mere Chocolate
A Mere Classic
UNCLAIMED DIVIDEND, ’13-g.
Hawkinson
Chavela Magic
Magic And Rhythm
RACING NEWS
Zia Derby-RG2
PLAY MISTY FOREME
by Danny Camp
Four of the horses that qualified to the Zia Derby-RG2 were scratched due to positive tests. That meant Play Misty Forme only had
to outrun five horses, and outrun them he did. The sorrel gelding broke fourth from the
4-gate, was bumped and drifted in. But he dueled to finish a nose in front under jockey Sergio Becerra, Jr. Play Misty Foreme won his July 18 trial heat in the same fashion, by a nose, and came in with the
third fastest qualifying time. The Zia Derby had a total purse worth $163,843 and the
first place check was worth $77,319. Play Misty Foreme has now earned $116,273
and has a race record of three wins out of nine outs. He
was also a finalist in the 2015 Mountain Top Futurity-RG3. His connections include owner Robert D. Smith and trainer Shae Cox.
186 SPEEDHORSE, September 2016
Play Misty Foreme was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms out of the New Track Record setting/Graded Stakes winner Arbor Mist, who won the New Mexico State Fair Breeders’ Derby-RG3 back in her day. The mare has produced 11 winners and 15 ROM earners from 17 starters. Play Misty Foreme is her first stakes winner and top money earner.
Trainer Shae Cox said, “This horse has really matured. He seems to run just fast enough to win.
He takes care of himself and has no soundness issues.”
“He practically drug me back to the barn after the test barn.” Cox continued,
“Credit to Sergio Becerra, Jr., who does a good job and fits this horse very well. As
far as the scratched horses,
we were subject to out of com- petition testing also and we passed.” The trainer added,
“Next up for Play Misty Forme is the New Mexico Derby in Hobbs.”
Pilot Ricky Ramirez rode a great race aboard Datona Doll (Jesse James Jr-Maggies Miracle LX). They finished nose behind the winner for second place. That money went to owners Mark & Annette McCloy and trainer Blane Wood. A steady effort earned third place money for Mahallo Moonflash (First Moonflash-Pocketfullachime TB). His team includes owner Pablo Carrasco and trainer Umberto Belloc. Fernando Castillo, Jr. was at the helm.
Blazin Moon Force (First Moonflash- Blazin Force), Jess Beer Money (Jesse James Jr-Posies Woodette) and Hard Streaker (Hard Hitting-Tres Veses) completed the order of fin- ish. A Blazin Flash, Jess Cruzin On By, Sic Em Sixes and Super Star Smith scratched.
Ruidoso Downs $163,843 • 400 yards :19.857 • si 87
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
Loose Lips
PLAY MISTY FORME, ’13-g.
Blushing Bug
Arbor Mist
Famous Chapelle
Coady Photography Los Alamitos