Page 229 - Speedhorse April 2019

Mesilla Valley Speed H.-RG3
MAJOR BITES
by Michael Cusortelli
Israel Bordier’s Major Bites successfully defended his title in the $85,000 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap-RG2 for New Mexico-bred sprinters at
Sunland Park on Mar. 16.
Prepped by Jimmy Guerra and sent to post as
the 2-1 second choice in a field of nine, Major Bites covered 350 yards in :17.485 for a wire-to-wire vic- tory, 3/4-length ahead of 17-1 longshot Magnifico Dragon. Hector Aldrete rode Major Bites.
The 6-year-old gelding was shortening in distance off of his second-place finish in the 440-yard Dona Ana County Handicap at Sunland Park on Jan. 19.
Major Bites was bred by Carlos Paez, and he was coming off of a 5-year-old campaign during which he banked $458,000 from seven starts, all in New Mexico, and his five stakes wins included a 1/2-length victory in the 2018 Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap, and a 1-length score against open company in the 440-yard $200,000 Zia Park Championship-G1 in December.
All told, Major Bites has won 11 of 29 races, including seven stakes, and the $51,000 winner’s share of the Mesilla Valley Speed Handicap purse pushed his earnings to $771,012.
Magnifico Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Cassies Mag) was second for owner, Daniel Balderrama. Mauro Salcedo rode the gelding for trainer Cynthia Gonzalez.
Karina Aldavaz’s Marcus Medallion (Jesse James Jr-Houstons Medallion) finished third, 1 1/2-lengths behind Major Bites. Jaime Leos rode the gelding for trainer Jaime Aldavaz Jr.
Moon River (First Moonflash-A Medley Of Chicks), CD Mamas Boy (First Moonflash-Mama Rosa B), Daddys Blushing (Big Daddy Cartel-Sandy June Bug), Jesse Lane (Jesse James Jr-Champagne Lane), Regard The Rose (Chicks Regard-Not Sable Shes Rose) and Mr Klee (Jesse James Jr-Ms Klee) completed the order of finish.
Eastex Stakes-G2
POLITICAL ATTRACTION
by Michael Cusortelli
Sent to post as the 11-10 favorite in a field of nine aged runners, Political Attraction sprinted to a 3/4-length victory in the $60,420 Grade 2 Eastex Stakes at Remington Park on March 23.
Political Attraction covered the 350 yards in :17.363 and earned a 94 speed index while aided by a reported 5-mph tail wind. James Flores rode the gelding for owners Rogelio Marquez Jr. & Kathy Robinson and trainer R.L. “Rick” Robinson. Political Attraction was making his first start since Sept. 2, when the sorrel gelding finished fourth, 1-length behind eventual 2018 World Champion Bodacious Eagle, in the $200,000 All American Gold Cup-G2 at Ruidoso Downs. Campaigned in Oklahoma and New Mexico, Political Attraction has won seven of 15 starts, and the $37,284 winner’s share of this purse from his fourth career stakes score pushed his bankroll to $388,390. His three graded stakes victories include the 2017 Speedhorse Futurity-G3 and Black Gold 350 Futurity-RG3.
Ron Lyles bred Political Attraction out of lightly raced Gunsight Peak. Political Attraction is her first starter. Lyles sold the gelding for $10,000 at the 2016 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City.
Mi Amor Secreto (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin In Secret) was 2nd for owner Kelly Perez. Santos Carrizales rode the gelding for trainer Marcos Carrizales.
Jack Smith Farms’ Hes Limitless (Corona Cartel-PJ Chick In Black) ran third under Agustin Silva for trainer John Stinebaugh.
Born To B Bad (Freighttrain B-Dosvedanya), Admiral Sting (Apollitical Jess-Sting Scorpion Sting), Myst Fit (Separatist-Mystifying), High
Rate Of Motion (High Rate Of Return-Brimmers Motion), JA Big Bad Gol (Gol-JA Free Bird), and JFR Moonshine (First Moonflash-Totally A Looker) completed the order of finish.
Mighty Deck Three Stakes
ADMIRAL STING
by John Moorehouse
Making his 14th career out, Admiral Sting col- lected his first-ever win in stakes company, out- sprinting the other competitors in the $72,750 Mighty
Deck Three Handicap during the opening weekend of Remington Park’s 2019 meet held March 8.
Eddie Willis trains Admiral Sting, who showed no signs of rust from his four-month layoff. The colt broke on top from the 2-post, led by a head going into the stretch, then held off any challengers to reach the wire first by 3/4-length. Ridden by Jimmy Brooks, Admiral Sting finished in :13.111, posting
a 95 speed index. This marked just Admiral Sting’s second career start at 250 yards, and he is now 2-0 at that distance.
Jahree Standridge home-bred Admiral Sting, who notched his fifth career win and brought home a $40,650 bankroll that pushed his lifetime earn- ings into six figures at $115,717. The colt already had black type, finishing third in last November’s running of the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Derby.
Standridge bred Admiral Sting out of Sting Scorpion Sting, a 2004 mare who won the 2006 run- ning of the Quicksilver Stakes at Remington.
PV Queen Bee Candy (Cartels Candy Man-Ima Lazie Too) was second under Esgar Ramirez for owner Gordon Pevehouse and trainer Clinton Crawford.
Valiant Rogue (Valiant Hero-Azoom Babe) and Rodrigo Vallejo finished third for owner Wyok Ranch, LLC and trainer James Padgett II.
First Of 15 (Apollitical Jess-Tinys Corona Queen), Disco Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Check This Disco), Bout Tree Fiddy (Ivory James- Hollie Jollie), Bird Train (Freighttrain B-Laico Bird Chic), Hazel Dazel (Corona Cartel-Huckleberry Mojito) and Eye Eye Captain (Captain Courage-Eye My Alexis) completed the order of finish. Peighnt Your Fate scratched.
Sunland Park • $85,000 350 yards • :17.485 • si 91
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
Loose Lips Major Rime
MAJOR BITES, ‘13-g. Dyna Mo Rime
Dynamic Ego TB
Remington Park • $60,420 350 yards • :17.363 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
POLITICAL ATTRACTION, ‘15-g.
Separatist
Gunsight Peak
Tomatillo
Remington Park • $72,750 250 yards • :13.111 • si 95
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
ADMIRAL STING, ‘15-c.
Apollitical Time
Strawfly Special
Sting Scorpion Sting
Sting Baby Sting
SPEEDHORSE, April 2019 227
RACING NEWS
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Dustin Orona Photography
Dustin Orona Photography