Page 169 - November 2021

Cricket Bars ApHC Futurity
LION KING
by Michael Cusortelli
Gary Vaughan’s Lion King, a homebred son of the Ivory James stallion Ivory King and the eighth-fastest qualifier, broke his maiden in the
$41,735 Cricket Bars Appaloosa Futurity at Will Rogers Downs on Oct. 2.
Prepped by trainer Alonzo Barraza, Lion King covered 400 yards over a sloppy and sealed track in :20.401, and his margin of victory was 1 1/4-lengths from fastest qualifier Hes A Harley. Gonzalo Gutierrez rode Lion King.
Raced exclusively in Oklahoma, the chestnut colt has earned $17,923 from five outs.
Lion King was bred in Oklahoma, and he made his local debut with a fourth-place finish in one of two Cricket Bars Futurity trials on Sept. 18. The colt is out of winner Star Of Olene and he traces back to his third dam, Lady Olene, a stakes-winning daughter of the Three Bars mare Alamitos Bar.
Runner-up Hes A Harley (Hes Relentless QH-Cash An Flash) was coming off of a nose victory in the first of two Cricket Bars Futurity trials, and he earned the $8,097 runner-up share
of the purse from the final. Cordarelton Benn rode the homebred gelding for owner John V. White and trainer Gary Walker.
Emerald Coast (A Revenant QH-Ivory Queen) ran third, 1 1/2-lengths behind Lion King, and banked the $6,073 third-place share of the purse for owner Gary Vaughan. Josh Romero rode the homebred colt for trainer Jesus Ruben Ruiz.
Jess Shakem (Jess Shake Em QH Up-Cha Ching) ran fourth and was followed by Candy Cartel (Cartels Candy Man QH-Starball), First King Kiss (Ivory King-Kiptys First Kiss QH), Mr Apollo Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue QH-Allies Apollo), and Paint Em A Vision (Second Painted Sign QH-Emmas Vision). Sweet Baby Ray and Jettin Jess were both scratched.
AQHA WRD Dist. Chal.-G3
DANCE THE DUST OFF
by Michael Cusortelli
Dance The Dust Off clinched his first career stakes win in the $35,156 AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge-G3 at Will Rogers
Downs on Oct. 3.
Ridden by Nakia Ramirez, Dance The Dust
Off covered the 870-yards in :45.845, earning a 96 speed index for owner/trainer Scott Warr. The brown gelding also landed a starting slot in the Oct. 23, $100,000 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship-G1 at Albuquerque Downs.
Dance The Dust Off was bred in New Mexico by Sarah E. Donaldson Rioux, owner and operator of Born Running Ranch. The gelding is out of winner Magic Yard TB. He traces back to his fourth dam Lady Roberta, winner of the 1980 Honeymoon Handicap-G3 at Hollywood Park.
Dance The Dust Off was coming off of a summer campaign in Wyoming during which the gelding ran fourth, 1 1/2-lengths behind winner Faster Than Hasta, in the June 19, $28,000 AQHA Energy Downs Distance Challenge. Raced in four states, Dance The Dust Off has won five of 16 outs including four of 12 at the 870-yard distance. The $19,687 winner’s share of this purse increasing his bankroll to $55,230.
Seb Ember (Walk Thru Fire-Wisestar) ran second, a 1/2-length behind the winner, for owner Sam Brookover. Stormy Smith rode the filly
for trainer Charlton Hunt. Seb Ember won the Covered Bridge Stakes-G3 earlier this year.
Ms Esther (Afrashad-Tres Down The Cash) finished third for owner/trainer Jordan Baumann. Andrew Samaniego rode the filly. Ms Esther won the Canterbury Park Distance Challenge in July of this year.
SW Artemisia (Second Painted Sign-Snowbound Lady Bug) completed the order of finish. Higher Flyin Eagle & Viva Le Don scratched.
Adequan WRD Derby Chal.
JC WILD KING
by Michael Cusortelli
JC Wild King, the odds-on favorite and second- fastest qualifier, sprinted to a wire-to-wire, 1/2-length victory in the $50,303 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge Stakes at Will Rogers Downs on Oct. 3.
Trained by Fidencio Jimenez for owner Jose Cervantes, JC Wild King went 400 yards in :19.862. The gelding earned a 95 speed index and a berth in the Oct. 23 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G3.
JC Wild King was bred in Oklahoma, and he was coming off of a second-place finish, a neck behind fastest qualifier Quorumm, in the first of two Derby trials on Sept. 12.
JC Wild King has won four of 11 starts, and the $23,139 winner’s share of the purse from his third career stakes score pushed his bankroll to $103,420. His sophomore season record includes a 1/2-length victory in the Speedhorse Derby at Fair Meadows. The gelding ended his 2-year-old campaign with
a second-place finish in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 at Albuquerque Downs.
The gelding is out of Oh Cherokee Rose, who ran third in the 2007 Remington Park Futurity-G1. Apollitical Hero (Apollitical Jess-Belle Of Valor)
ran second for owners Tom Maher, Paul Luedemann, and Dick Tobin. Cody Smith rode the gelding for trainer Jason Olmstead. Quorumm (Tres Seis- Apolitical Pac) finished third under Agustin Silva for owner J.J. Racing and trainer Michelle Hurdle.
Charlenas Relentless (Hes Relentless-Jess Charlena) ran fourth. CC Revv Her (Corona Cartel-Revv It Up) & Charlies Fast Man (Apollitical Blood-Alltherightcurves) deadheated for 5th, Luminositi (Apollitical Jess-Quick Moon Sign)& Viva Le Merica (Wave Carver-Viva Arriba) deadheated for 7th, and All Red No Blue (Apollitical Blood-First Prize Paris) followed. Wicked Sweet Z was scratched.
RACING NEWS
Will Rogers Downs • $35,156
870 yards • :45.845 • si 96
Count Corona
Coronas Blackdiamond
Sheza Fast Jewel
DANCE THE DUST OFF, ‘16-g. Ghazi
Magic Yard TB
Cow’s Yard
Will Rogers Downs • $41,735
400 yards • :20.401 • si 82
Ivory King LION KING, ‘19-c.
Ivory James QH
Sure Nuff Fast
Dash To Chivato
Star Of Olene QH
Olenes Gamble
Will Rogers Downs • $50,303
400 yards • :19.862 • si 95
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
JC WILD KING, ‘18-g.
Apollitical Time
Stoli
Oh Cherokee Rose
Oh What A Perks
SPEEDHORSE November 2021 167
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography