Page 163 - June 2022

La Plata Stakes
TLC SIGNATURE
Eby Michael Cusortelli
milio Perez’s TLC Signature sprinted to a
3/4-length victory in the 400-yard La Plata Stakes at SunRay Park on May 1.
Ridden by Agustin Silva, TLC Signature earned a 110 speed index while stopping the timer in :19.288. Omar Vargas prepped the gelding, who banked $45,001 from the $75,000 purse.
Raced in three states, including Oklahoma and Texas, TLC Signature has won four of 15 starts and he has earned $169,039. The gelding’s 4-year-old season resume last year included a second-place finish in the Lovington Stakes-G2 at Zia Park on Nov. 21.
TLC Signature was bred in Texas by Bob and Jerry Gaston, and he was coming off of a second- place finish, a neck behind winner Mitey Political, in the $96,850 West Texas Maturity-G3 at Sunland Park on March 20. A $6,000 purchase at the 2018 Texas QHA Yearling Sale, the brown gelding is
out of Sheza Rusty Lady, a homebred daughter of
the Heza Fast Man stallion Heza Fast Dash. TLC Signature traces back to his third dam, Lil Bit Rusty, who won three graded stakes at Los Alamitos from 1990-91, including the ’90 QHBA Distaff Classic-G1.
In second was Everybodyneedsahero (Valiant Hero-Beg Stel Or Borrow) for owners Luis Sanchez, Calixto Iturralde, and Alfonso Molina. Noe Garcia Jr. rode the gelding for trainer Lee Gutierrez.
KJ Frankie B (Apollitical Jess-Xquizit) ran third for owners John Lee, Wanda Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares. Adrian Ramos rode the gelding for trainer Wes Giles.
Runaway Witch (Sir Runaway Dash-Im A Lil Witch) finished fourth and was followed by Cers Final Try (One Dashing Eagle-BP Shes All Corona), Entrepenewer (Dominyun-Corona Edge), Rarin (Inseperable-Rare Kayoh), Ocean Voyage (Ocean Runaway-Cassies Jet Voyage), Thrill My Socks Off (Kiss My Hocks-License To Thrill), and Hearts Mystic Rime (Hearts Miracle-Mystic Rime).
AQRA Presidents Open Spring F.
LAVEEN EAGLE
Lby Danny Camp
aveen Eagle is undefeated from two starts with his
latest victory being the $72,987 AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity at Turf Paradise on April 27.
The colt demolished the field in the April 6 trials as the fastest qualifier and returned to the final to do the same. Ridden by Emilio Tapia, Laveen Eagle broke in second from the 1-post and confidently secured the lead. The team crossed the wire 1/2-length in front.
They completed the 300 yards in :15.485 while posting a 98 speed index.
Trained by Rigoberto Guillen, Laveen Eagle scored the $39,956 winner’s share of the purse for owner Ricardo Ramirez, which boosted the colt’s total lifetime earnings to $44,774.
Salvador Pimienta bred Laveen Eagle out of multiple winner Sonora Cartel, who was a finalist in the 2008 AQRA Turf Paradise Futurity-G3 and 2009 Mile High Derby-G3. She has produced five winners from six starters, including stakes placed El Saucito, who was a runner-up in the 2019 Rillito Park Foundation Stakes. Laveen Eagle is her first stakes winner.
Gemologist (Jess A Chicks-Pops Lil Princess) and jockey Luis Martinez finished second for owner Jose Mendoza Aguilar and trainer Eloy G Navarro.
Jess Good Taki (Jess Good Candy-Takiana Romanova B) ran a steady and even race to bank the third place money under Mauro Salcedo. The Wesley Giles trainess is owned by Jimmy and Dinah Negrete and Orona Racing LLC.
Luv My Five Bar (Five Bar Cartel-Luv Supreme), Counter Attack (Fly Thru The Fire- Attack The Cartel), Hocked Up (Kiss My Hocks- Pjs Babe G3), Vs Mr Pilotos Image (Mr Piloto-Ms Muskogee Colours) and Friday Night Fire (Apollitical Jess-Ms Fast First Prize) completed the order of finish. Keep On Feeling was scratched.
AQRA TUP Open Spring F. Juv.
BUBBA LEW
Rby John Moorehouse
ookie colt Bubba Lew didn’t make the field for the
AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity but got a nice consolation prize by bouncing back and winning the $28,000 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity Juvenile, which was held April 28 at the Arizona track.
Bubba Lew left little doubt in the 300-yard
event. He broke on top from the No. 4 gate, opened a 1/2-length lead going into the stretch, then continued to separate himself, hitting the wire first by 3/4-length. Prepped by Jesus Olivas-Valenzuela, Bubba Lew finished the race in :15.768, registering an 89 speed index. Adrian Ramos had the riding assignment.
Manuel Flores owns Bubba Lew, who captured
a $16,492 payday that improved his total earnings to $16,870. This marked just the second out of his career.
Bubba Lew finished fifth in his trial for the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity but fared far better here—and was higher rated. Oddsmakers tabbed the two-year-old as the post-time favorite at 3.6-1 odds.
Deb Newenhouse bred Bubba Lew, who was foaled in Oklahoma out of Rootn Tootn Cowgirl, a 2007 mare who made 30 outs as a competitor.
One Fabulous Dog (Dog Daze Afternoon-One Fabulous Choice) placed second for owner Rene Chavez and trainer Norma Reyes. David Reyes- Frisby was in the irons. John Grey (Seperate Interest- Chics On Fire) placed third for Martha Wells. The Ralph Fales trainee had Luis Valenzuela aboard.
The official remaining order of finish saw Rayshas Pink Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Rayshas
Pink Sky) in fourth, followed by VF First Shake (Apollitical Blood-Shake It First), who was placed fifth after a disqualification, Prize To The End (Fast Prize Cartel-Dash To The End), Red Texas Showdown (Corona Cartel-Red Texas Sunset), Toothy (Fly Thru The Fire-With A Smile), Sapphire Boots (Fishers Flash-Saras Boots) and Secretaryacht (Freighttrain B-Lets Play Yacht Sea).
RACING NEWS
Turf Paradise • $28,000
300 yards • :15.768 • si 89
Big Lew BUBBA LEW, ‘20-c.
Corona Cartel
Executive Looks
Oak Tree Special
Rootn Tootn Cowgirl
Toots Bullette
SunRay Park • $75,000
400 yards • :19.288 • si 110
Corona Cartel
The Louisiana Cartel
TLC SIGNATURE, ‘17-g.
The Louisiana Girl
Heza Fast Dash
Sheza Rusty Lady
Rustys Lil Lady
Turf Paradise • $72,987
300 yards • :15.485 • si 98
One Famous Eagle
One Dashing Eagle
LAVEEN EAGLE, ‘20-c. Sonora Cartel
One Sweet Dash Tres Seis
Corona Blurr
SPEEDHORSE June 2022 161
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Leslie Simmons, Speedhorse