Page 192 - September 2016

TQHA 550 Stakes
IF I WERE FAMOUS
By Michael Cusortelli
Making just the second start of his 6-year-old campaign, C. Dawn Ivey’s If I Were Famous sprinted to a head victory in the TQHA 550 Stakes
at Retama Park on July 29.
If I Were Famous covered 550 yards in :27.670
with a driving finish and posted a season-best 96 speed index against a reported 10-mph head wind. Gaspar Garcia rode the sorrel gelding for trainer Leon Bard.
The $18,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted the gelding’s earnings to $79,102.
If I Were Famous made his season debut with
a second-place finish, a head behind winner Bar Struck, in the 550-yard $15,000 Tower of the Americas Handicap at Retama Park on July 1.
He has won three of 20 starts, including the 2013 AQHA Ruidoso Derby Challenge. The gelding was placed or a finalist in several other stakes events.
If I Were Famous was bred by Ivey, a resident
of Millsap, Texas. If I Were Famous is one of five winners from as many starters foaled by the mare Runnin Oner Mind. The gelding’s second dam, Glittering Coin, ran third in the 1989 Gene Hensley Handicap at Ruidoso Downs.
Bar Struck (Corona For Me-Miss Manolo) ran second under Damian Martinez for owner Julio Cesar Ramirez and trainer Santiago Riojas Jr.
Eyes Your Date (Eyesa Special-Elimidate) was outnodded and finished third. The bay gelding races for Cruz E. Nava from the barn of trainer Jose Sanchez. Eddie Sanchez rode the 5-year-old gelding.
Sophies Special (Visionarian-Special Lassie), Classified Red Bull (Classified Bull-Choice Of Cuervo), Classified Superbull (Classified Bull- Selma Surprize), Fasttimeswith Redoak (Red Oak Special-Rg Miladys Fast Lady), and Oh Yeah Jolla (Adrians Jolla-Call Easters Victory) completed the order of finish.
Benny Pennington Memorial
THE FIELD CRICKET
by Michael Compton
Afield of marathon specialists tangled in the $20,000 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes at Retama Park on July 29. When the dust settled at the conclusion of the 870-yard test, 8-year-old warrior The Field Cricket emerged victorious.
A battle-tested veteran of 45 outings heading into the Benny Pennington, The Field Cricket took advantage of his inside draw, flying away from the gate on the lead under Russel Hadley. The Field Cricket opened a 1 1/2-length in the early stages, stretched it to two in the lane and crossed the wire 2 3/4-lengths ahead of race favorite Stolis Pro for a wire-to-wire win.
In winning his sixth stakes event and recording his 11th win overall, The Field Cricket stopped the clock in :47.226.
Trained by Jesse Yoakum, The Field Cricket races for owner Claud Denson. The $12,000 win- ner’s share of the Benny Pennington purse increased his bankroll to $170,489.
Bred in Texas by Mary Denson, The Field Cricket has multiple Texas Hi-Point awards. He is the top money earner and first stakes winner out of Quick Lil Cricket, who has produced 100% money earners from five starters.
Stolis Pro (Stoli-Veva Jean) offered game chase throughout under Francisco Calderon but had to settle for the place spot for owner Jerry Windham and trainer Leon Bard.
K J Richard Farms’ KJR Tocaille (Mr Jess Perry-Can U Dance) and jockey Damian Martinez finished 3rd for trainer Santiago Riojas Jr.
Dashers Midnight (Some Dasher-Sheza Moon Bar Baby), Captain Creed (Captain Courage-Ms Maggies First), Jess Twice Cash (Jess Louisiana Blue- Twice Cash) and EBW More Whisky (SC Chiseled in Stone-Hustlins My Name) completed the order of finish. Corona La Jolla was scratched.
Colors of the Alamo P&A F.
JUDYS KISS
by Danny Camp
The Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity was held at Retama Park on August 6 with eight Paints stepping into the gates. The 350- yard race carried a total purse of $19,000 and, at the wire, it was Judys Kiss 1 1/2-lengths in front.
Overcoming a late start, Judys Kiss gathered himself and hit another gear with rider Oscar Hernandez aboard. They put the field behind them and the team stopped the clock at :18.374 with a driving finish, earning the first place check worth $11,210. Judys Kiss has now earned a total bankroll of $13,970.
Judys Kiss is owned by Rene Rios and trained
by Noe Rios. The colt previously placed third in the Colors of Houston Paint Juvenile that ran in May of this year. He has hit the board in each of his three outs.
Judys Kiss was bred in Texas by Sandra Garnett- Tatom out of the Quarter Horse winner Kiss And Teller. Judys Kiss is her only APHA foal and first stakes winner and starter. The mare also has one yearling AQHA foal.
El Pecoso APHA (Mr Streakaway QH-La Pecosa) broke good and banked second place money under Juan Garcia, Jr. The geldings connections include owners Ramon Escamilla and Jorge Luis Mendoza, who does double duty as trainer.
Unosuchaspeciallegend APHA (Lonestar Legend-Poruno Special Kity) broke mid-pack and finished third. The sorrel gelding’s team includes owner Zackery N. Rios and trainer Noe Rios. Eliazar Vera was in the saddle.
Dancin Cali APHA (Calibrachoa TB-Dancietta) finished fourth and was followed by Sienna Eyes APHA (Intrinsic Value QH-Bat Them Eyes), Judys Legend APHA (Lonestar Legend-Judys Apollo), Evelyn Lou APHA (El Miguel QH-Evelyn M) and VP Cash Me Out APHA (Intrinsic Value QH-Shawnee Point).
Retama Park • $30,000 550 yards • :27.670 • si 96
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
IF I WERE FAMOUS, ’10-g. Runnin Oner Mind
One Famous Lady Ronas Ryon
Glittering Coin
Retama Park • $20,000 870 yards • :47.226 • si 80
Lead The Field THE FIELD CRICKET, ’08-g.
Quick Lil Cricket
Special Leader Dela Crème Smash Royal Quick Dash Justa Lil Cricket
Retama Park • $19,000 350 yards • :18.374
Special Lineage TB Judys Chick
Teller Cartel
Kiss And Teller QH
Judys Lineage JUDYS KISS APHA, ’14-c.
Jess Because
190 SPEEDHORSE, September 2016
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