Page 193 - September 2020

BOA PRM Champ. Chal.-G2
EAGLES FLY HIGHER
by Michael Compton
The classy campaigner Eagles Fly Higher recorded his third Graded stakes win of the year with an authoritative victory in the $56,007 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2
on Aug. 15, securing himself a berth in the $250,000-estimated Bank of America Challenge Championship-G1 on Oct. 24 during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at The Downs at Albuquerque.
Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Eagles Fly Higher took the lead at the start of the 440-yard test. He increased his advantage from there, leading from start to finish and crossing the wire a clear cut 1 3/4-length victor. Eagles Fly Higher covered the distance in a lively :21.249 for an impressive 111 speed index.
Owned by Darling Farms and trained by Casey Black, Eagles Fly Higher is now a winner in seven of 20 career starts; he has placed in seven others. The $27,443 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $430,741. His two other graded wins this season came in the Sooner State Stakes-G1 and Eastex Stakes-G2, both at Remington Park.
V. H. Harman Jr. and Robert Moudy III bred Eagles Fly Higher out of winner Lone Bet. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from eight starters. Eagles Fly Higher is her second stakes winner and top earner.
Charlies Fury (Furyofthewind-Jess Charlena) finished second under Agustin Silva for owners/ breeders Tom and Kathleen McNally and trainer Michelle Hurdle. Heza Blues Man (Favorite Cartel- Eyesa Blues Girl) and jockey Ramiro Garcia finished third for owner/trainer John Hammes.
Three Olives N Smoke (Jess Louisiana Blue- Smokin Corona), Fast Flash Gordon (Apollitical Jess-Lassie O Toole), Faster Than Hasta (Hasta Be Fast-Leadmetoyourladder) and DF Lord Garvan (Apollitical Jess-Three Green Leaves) completed the order of finish.
Adequan PRM Derby Chal.-G3
ASTRANOMICAL
by Michael Compton
Astranomical scored the first stakes win of her career in the 400-yard $43,010 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby-G3 on Aug. 15.
With Jorge Torres in the irons, Astranomical broke sharply and raced in third position early. A strong rally through the lane carried her to the front, and she drew clear late to score by a 1/2-length. Trained by Stacy Charette-Hill, she stopped the clock in :19.840, earning a 92 speed index.
Owned by M.C. Stucks, Astranomical improved her record to 8-4(1)-0-2(1). The $19,785 winner’s share of the purse boosted her bankroll to $74,522. The sorrel filly was the fastest qualifier to the July 11 Iowa Double Gold Derby where she was outrun as the race favorite. In March, she finished third in the Oklahoma Derby-G3.
Bobby Cox bred Astranomical out of multiple graded stakes winner Quick Moon Sign. She has produced 27 winners from 36 starters. Astranomical is her third stakes winner.
Runner-up Mott The Hopple (Dashair-SR Rode Tah Glory) and jockey Cristian Esqueda finished a game second at odds of nearly 40-1. The gelding, who is still seeking his first career win from four outings, is owned by Mark Cassel and is trained by Casey Black.
Trainer Robert Johnson sent out third place finisher and multiple stakes winner Divas First Moon (First Moonflash-Shake Em Diva) who was ridden by Uriel Cervantes for owner/breeder David Wisdom.
Sizzlin Chick Corona (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Financial Leverage), Apollitical J Julia (Apollitical Jess-Julias Perfection), Summers Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Regally Rare), SFS Happy Tail (Valiant Hero-Taken Her Time), Pollitical Form (Apollitical Jess-Regally Rare), Fastest Leader (Hasta Be Fast- Leadmetoyourladder), and TS Dash to the End (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Dash of Perry) completed the order of finish. Venice Moon was scratched.
ARC PRM Distaff Challenge-G3
THE POLAR VORTEX
by Michael Compton
While a polar vortex typically weakens in sum- mer and strengthens in winter, The Polar Vortex, the horse, flexed her strength, upsetting
a compact field of five to win the A.R.C. Prairie Meadows Distaff Challenge-G3 at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 15.
The Polar Vortex is no stranger to stakes compe- tition, but entered the 400-yard test without a stakes win to her credit. That all changed following 400 yards at Prairie Meadows.
Ridden by Jesus Salazar, The Polar Vortex grabbed the lead after the start and scampered clear to a 1-length advantage early. She was never headed and held on to win by a nose over a fast charging El Oh El, covering the distance in :19.711. The final clocking earned a speed index of 95.
Trained by Jason Olmstead for owner/breeder Thomas Lepic, The Polar Vortex is now a winner in eight of 26 starts. She has placed in 10 others and now boasts earnings of $130,799. She finished second in the Cy-Hawk Stakes at Prairie Meadows in her previous outing, and she also qualified to the Polk County Derby and Iowa Double Gold Derby.
Lepic bred The Polar Vortex out of winner Signs Zoomer. The mare has produced 100% money earn- ers from 11 starters.
The well-traveled multiple stakes-placed El
Oh El (Apollitical Jess-Cute Ivory Girl) ral-
lied strongly to finish a close second under Uriel Cervantes for owner George L. Seward and trainer Robert Johnson. In addition to sending out the winner, Olmstead also saddled third-place finisher Apollitical Mogul (Apollitical Jess-Cash Cartel). Jockey Ramiro Garcia was aboard the odds-on race favorite for owner Tom Maher.
Fosse (Foose-Check N Fetch) and Show Me Girl (FDD Dynasty-Dreamnwideopen) completed the order of finish. Streakin Jesszee was scratched.
RACING NEWS
Prairie Meadows • $56,007 440 yards • :21.249 • si 111
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
EAGLES FLY HIGHER, ‘16-c. Lone Bet
One Famous Lady First Down Dash RR Le Mistral
Prairie Meadows • $43,010 400 yards • :19.840 • si 92
Dominyun ASTRANOMICAL, ‘17-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Runaway Dee Dee
Royal Quick Dash
Quick Moon Sign
Azur Moon Sign
Prairie Meadows • $26,430 400 yards • :19.711 • si 95
Corona Cartel
Jumping Tac Flash Shazoom
Carters Cartel THE POLAR VORTEX, ‘15-m.
Signs Zoomer
Stylish Sign
SPEEDHORSE September 2020 191
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography