Page 153 - June 2022

home 1 1/4-lengths on top and qualified the fastest with a time of :17.900 for 350 yards despite bumping early.
That didn’t earn him favoritism in the final, however, due to the presence of Graded stakes winner San Lorenzeaux, who was sent off at 1-2. Bettors made Special Apollitical the narrow second choice at 5-1 over stakes winner BP Fling In A Wagon.
Special Apollitical performed extremely professionally in the final. He stood quietly in the gate, ready for the break, and when the bell rang, he came out running. Special Apollitical went right to the lead, and he scored by an easy 1/2-length in :18.303.
Vivanco rode him back in the final. The jockey was first aboard Special Apollitical
in the Texas Classic Futurity trial, making the partnership of the gelding and Vivanco a perfect three for three.
Smith was ecstatic with the Derby victory.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” said Smith. “My grandfather, dad, and brother all owned Quarter Horses. I said I’d never do it, but here I am.”
Keaton was at Ruidoso Downs, and his wife Cindy saddled Special Apollitical in the Derby.
“We’ve worked with his attitude a little bit, and he’s been much better,” said Smith. “We are very grateful that we have put him in the hands of Toby and Cindy. He’s been nothing but a delight this year. We have high hopes for him this year.”
Toby Keaton won the 2000 Sam Houston Derby with Bens Coasting, a son of Holland
Ease owned and bred by Ernesto Guerra Jr. He noted that Special Apollitical will head to Ruidoso and is paid into the All American Derby-G1.
Smith bred Special Apollitical in Oklahoma. Out of a half-sister to stakes winner Pretty Special Perry, Special Apollitical’s dam Scouts Special Wagon went through the 2020 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale in foal to Kiss My Hocks. Marty Powers consigned her to the sale as agent, and Jerry Chapman purchased her for $15,000. Scouts Special Wagon produced a colt by Kiss My Hocks in 2021.
Harrah’s Futurity-G3 and third in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2.
They were followed by Gulf Coast Flyer (Bogart-Bluebonnetbelle), BP Fling In A Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Southern Fling), Dealarunner (Dealagame-Elle Of A Girl), Mr De Capi (Capo Di Capi-Redheads Run Hotter), and Just A Perfect Grace (JA Jess Perfect-BZ Amazin Grace). Jess Delight (Apollitical Jess-Cartel Karma) and Running A Big Wave (Big Daddy Cartel-Wave Running) finished ninth and 10th, but Jess Delight was disqualified for interference and placed 10th, moving Running A Big Wave into ninth.
Raul Ramirez Jr. rode San Lorenzeaux (Carters Cartel-Scoopie Coochie) to second for owner Rogelio Marquez Jr. and trainer Jesus Marquez. San Lorenzeaux won
the 2021 LQHBA Sale Futurity-G2 and ran second in the 2021 Lee Berwick Futurity-G1 and LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-G1.
Lucky Dice (One Sweet Jess-Fodice), ridden by Manuel Gutierrez, trained by Pedro Lopez, and owned by J and J Stone Co. Inc., finished third. Last year, the
colt ran second in the
Special Apollitical winning the Sam Houston Derby-G3.
RACING NEWS
Special Apollitical’s winning connections include owner Adam B. Smith, trainer Toby Keeton, and jockey Luis Vivanco.
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