Page 37 - September 2016

2016 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY QUALIFIERS
IM
WA
PE
G
R
O
IA
N
LE
TA
A
L
G
E
L
S
E
si
S
9
I
9
9
,
0
$
,
1
$
6
4
5
8
,0
,3
6
8
1
7
1
Race record: 5-3-2(1)-0
Imperial Eagle & Esgar Ramirez surge clear & win by 1 3/4-lengths
Day 1, Race #15
The classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards proved to be just what Imperial Eagle needed. The gelding showed his talent from the 1st time he stepped on the racetrack, qualifying to the 300-yard West Texas F. in
his first start. He crossed the wire 5th in the finals and was moved all the way to 2nd via multiple medication DQ’s.
After leaving Sunland Park, trainer Tony Sedillo took Imperial Eagle to the mountain for Ruidoso Downs’ Triple Crown 2-year-old races. Despite win- ning his trials to the 350-yard Ruidoso F. and 400-yard Rainbow F., Impe- rial Eagle failed to qualify for either million-dollar race. That all changed in the 440-yard All American Futurity trials, when Esgar Ramirez piloted the gelding to a 1 3/4-length win in the 15th and final trial on the 1st day of qualifying. The winning time of :21.499 was the day’s fastest & guaranteed the Fredda Draper-bred gelding a spot in the prestigious finals. Charles Robinson, of Southern Pines, NC, owns Imperial Eagle, a $48,000 sale yearling last year. His dam, stakes winner Jenuine Joy si 104 ($382,230), also produced Political Mess, who won the 10th trial on Aug. 19 in a non- qualifying time of :21.852. Imperial Eagle is sired by One Famous Eagle, who was represented by 3 qualifiers the 1st day and one on the 2nd day.
Coronas First Diva will be the 2nd-richest in the All American Futurity field thanks to an early-career triumph in the $420,000 Oklahoma Futurity- G3 at Remington Park. Duke Shults has carefully managed the filly’s schedule, starting with the trials & finals of the Okla- homa Futurity in March. She was2ndbyanoseinhertrial& returned to overcome trouble
in the finals to win by 3/4-length. After a 6-week break, Coronas First Diva lined up for a trial to the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity-G1. The fast-breaking filly powered her way to a 2 1/4-length win, sending her into the finals as the favorite. A uncharacteristic poor start left her with too much ground to make up in the 350-yard finals, where she finished in a dead heat for 5th. Shults opted not to give the filly an out over the Ruidoso Downs surface prior to the All American trials, and she proved she didn’t need it as she turned in a convincing win under James Flores. Her 1 1/4-length margin of victory and :21.500 winning time topped
the 2nd day of trials & grabbed a ticket for her connections. Sara Leann Morgan owns the Corona Cartel filly who was bred by the Lepic-Mixer Partnership. Mor- gan co-owned Coronas First Diva’s dam, 3-time Champion Spit Curl Diva si 114 ($829,353). Spit Curl Diva has already produced 7 winners from 8 starters and 2 stakes winners, but this will be her first All American Futurity finalist.
COROHNOASRSFEIRNSTADMIVEAsiS?I?9,0$,?$?240,773
2
Race record: 5-3(1)-1-0
Coronas First Diva & James Flores win their heat by a convincing 1 1/4-lengths
Day 2, Race #14
SPEEDHORSE, September 2016 35
Linda Earley Linda Earley
Linda Earley
Linda Earley