Page 35 - 8 June 2012

Alabama Bred Futurity
CATCH A HEART
by Tracy Gantz
Alabama-breds had a chance to compete against each other in Louisiana when Delta Downs hosted the May 19 Alabama Bred Futurity. Ten qualified in the April 27 trials, and Catch A Heart was the best in a field of nine after one scratch in the finals.
The race had its share of fireworks. Sneaky Quick, the second-fastest qualifier and the 11-10 favorite, broke from post one, ducked in, and then jumped the end
of the rail that separates the chute from the main track. That eliminated his chances, and he finished last.
Meanwhile, the cen- ter group bunched up
and knocked each other around. Catch A Heart drifted in to the point that Raul Ramirez Jr. on Roll
A Six claimed foul, but the stewards disallowed it. The Punkin grabbed the lead,
only to have Catch A Heart and jockey John Hamilton catch her at the wire to win by a nose in :16.980. Fastest-qualifier Alabama Eye Man finished third as the second choice in the wagering.
Catch A Heart debuted in his trial for the Alabama Futurity, finishing second by a head to Alabama Eye Man. That gave him the third-fastest qualifying time, and bettors
sent Catch A Heart off as the third choice in the finals. He earned the winner’s check of $33,200 for his maiden win.
Karl Smith bred Catch
A Heart, who is owned by Roberta Weeks and trained by Doug Weeks. Catch A Heart is out of the Some Dasher daughter Some Dash N Boots, who was unplaced in her only start. Catch A Heart is the mare’s second starter and first winner.
Bobby Joe Nixon owns and trains The Punkin (Spit Curl Jess-Dashin Lela). Jerry Yoakum has piloted the filly in her three starts—a second at Sam Houston Race Park, a third in her trial, and in the final.
Walter Chaney’s homebred Alabama Eye Man (Mr Eye Opener-Funistrada) debuted in his Futurity trial. Ridden by Donell Blake in both of his outings, Alabama Eye Man is trained by Ray Robbins.
Completing the field were KS Thunder Tiger (First Down Straw-Ima Burr Bug), All American Halo (Gran’s Halo-TB-Beduinos Show Off), Wendels Halo (Gran’s Halo- TB-Vals Best), SL The Magic Won (Corona Crash-Bankers Dozen), Roll A Six (Jets Easy Roll-Princess Sixarun), and Sneaky Quick (Quick To Flare Up-Angel’s Touch-TB). Kisses For Papa was scratched.
Delta Downs

Royal Quick Dash
Quick To Flare Up
All Flared Up
CATCH A HEART, ’10-g.
Some Dasher
Some Dash N Boots
Truck N Boots
RACING NEWS
Delta 550 Championship Stakes
LOUISIANA RANGLER
by Tracy Gantz
Not only did favored Louisiana Rangler defeat a field that included the 2011 winner of the Delta 550 Championship, Blue
Louisiana Jolla, he survived a bumping inci- dent at the start of the race to set a new stakes record of :26.587 in taking the 550-yard event.
When the gate opened, Somekinda
Beau and Dr Drip sandwiched and bumped Louisiana Rangler. The incident didn’t bother the 5-year-old gelding or his
rider, Bobby Ransom. They
targeted leaders Martini
Mountain and Louisiana
Panther, challenging them
and pulling even. In the final
strides they edged away to
win by a half-length.
Louis Lee trains Louisiana Rangler for owner Kim McKenzie. The gelding made his racing debut at three in 2010, but did not break his maiden until his first start
at 4 in 2011. He improved throughout the
year to win an allowance race and then the Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2 in December. In his first 2012 start, he finished second in the Mr Jess Perry Louisiana Downs Stakes-RG3. Louisiana Rangler does best at longer distances, with a record of four wins and a second at 440 yards or more.
Gerald Libersat bred Louisiana Rangler in Louisiana out of winner
Rangler Print. From eight starters, the mare has pro- duced four winners, including Tristin Rangler, who won the 2001 John Alleman Memorial Stakes, and stakes-placed Julie Rangler Print. Louisiana Rangler is the mare’s leading earner, with $137,058.
Louisiana Panther (Panther Mountain-Iwanna Dash) held on for second under jockey John Hamilton.
Kenneth Roberts trains the 6-year-old gelding for Sunset Racing Stable Inc., bringing him into the stakes off of two consecutive victories in allowance-optional claiming company.
Elroy Potts Jr. bred and co-owns third- place Blue Louisiana Jolla (Jess Louisiana Blue- Somekinda Rainey) with Watson Land and Cattle. Randy Edison rode the 7-year-old geld- ing for trainer Elroy Potts Sr. Blue Louisiana Jolla won the Delta 550 Championship and the Mr Jess Perry in 2011.
Rounding out the field were Bounce
Bye (Dashin Bye-Jessabeduino), Martini Mountain (Panther Mountain-Glitz Gator), Mr Perrys Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Always My Way-TB), Somekinda Beau (Gros Oreille- Bedawee Beau), Leading Patriot (Game Patriot-Little Miss Leader-TB), and Dr Drip (First To Shine-High Seas Operator).
Delta Downs

Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
LOUISIANA RANGLER, ’07-g.
Rocket Wrangler
Rangler Print
Never Print-TB
SPEEDHORSE, June 8, 2012 33
Nicole Walker: Coady Photography Sierra Sargent: Coady Photography