Page 161 - November_2023

Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse Dustin Orona Photography
Vytaliti’s winning connections include owner Victor Diaz, trainer James Gonzales III and jockey Francisco Calderon.
Vytaliti put on a superb performance as the 7-1 fifth choice.
With jockey Francisco Calderon in the irons, Vytaliti broke well in second and then had to get by Shesa Relentless Gal to her inside. That filly came out slightly, but Vytaliti soon motored past that rival and got up late to win by a neck in :19.841 for 400 yards.
“She ran a good race,” Victor said. “She loves that distance. Nobody bothered her and she picked them up at the end.”
James Gonzales III trains Vytaliti for Diaz. She ran third in the 2022 Rainbow Oaks-G1 and earlier this year captured the Q-Racing Video Lone Star Distaff Challenge.
“As a 2 year old we didn’t have much luck with her,” Diaz said. “She won a trial at Ruidoso but didn’t qualify. We knew that she could run, but as a baby, 300 and 330 yards wasn’t her.”
Diaz bought Vytaliti for $47,000 from breeder Bobby Cox at the 2020 Texas Quarter Horse Association yearling sale.
“The pedigree is pretty nice, and she has nice conformation,” Diaz said. “We thought about buying a brother to her at Heritage Place.”
Diaz is hoping to pull an embryo out of Vytaliti next year and then continue to race the filly. She could give him still another Challenge victory in 2024.
A Texas-bred, Vytaliti is out of Zenergy, who has has produced 10 starters, all
winners, including stakes winners Zenergetic, Enthusiastique, and Hallmarke.
No Fees, Vytaliti’s second dam, raced for Cox and was undefeated in six starts, winning
three stakes. In addition to Zenergy, No Fees’ foals included stakes winner Hawkeye and stakes-placed Sinuous, the dam of World Champion Whistle Stop Cafe.
Paint Your Lips P (Jess Good Candy-Jess Paint Your Lips), ridden by Jimmy Brooks, trained by Eddie L. Willis, and owned by Priscilla Yvette Arredondo, finished second.
Bryan Candanosa piloted Pops First Lady (Apollitical Jess-Shazooms Pop Pop)
to third for trainer Robi Meche and owner Ruse Ranch.
Kiss The Cartel (Kiss My Hocks-A Snowy Cartel) was fourth, followed by Pattys Saint (Jess Got Easier-SP Saint Patty), Shesa Relentless Gal (Hes Relentless-A Snowy Cartel), Here Comes Candy (Jess Good Candy-Candy Cartels Cat), Sawyer Strange (Lota PYC-Ms Haulin Chic), and Sally
Soul Smasher (Mr Jess Perry-Thewayouwantmetoo). Lynnder 16 was scratched.
Vytaliti and Francisco Calderon return to the winner’s circle.
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