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Benny Pennington Memorial
SILVER CITY LIGHTS
by John Moorehouse
Silver City Lights entered the company of stakes winners with his victory in the $53,000 Benny Pennington Memorial, held at Retama Park on July 24.
A Cindi Keeton trainee, Silver Lights was mak- ing his fourth career start at 870 yards—and he’s finished in the money in each race at that distance. This time, Silver City Lights was part of a four-wide battle at the turn but held a 1/2-length lead as he entered the stretch. Urged on by rider Luis Vivanco, the gelding reached the finish line first by a neck. Silver City Lights finished the race in :47.816.
Jack Powers and Jerry Stanfield own the four- year-old gelding, who reached the winner’s circle for the second time this year and the third time in his 15-start career. The $31,800 payday from this race more than doubled his prior career earnings to a new total of $55,807.
Brown Springs Farm LLC bred Silver City Lights out of lightly raced Backwoods Bar B. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from 3 starters. Silver City Lights is her first stakes winner. The gelding’s second dam is Injuns Special, who was a finalist in the Texas Classic Derby-G1 and Texas Distaff Challenge-G3.
Jess A Hilbily Bone (Rock Solid Jess-Imaginiff) finished a game second in his 37th start at the 870 distance. Rockin J Running Horses owns the veteran gelding, a graded stakes winner who is trained by Tammy Johnson and had Victor Urieta Jr. aboard. Stolis Pro (Stoli-Veva Jean), the heavy pre-race favor- ite at 2-5 odds and winner of the 2016 version of the Benny Pennington, finished third this time for P&J Racing Ltd. The Leon Bard trainee had Francisco Calderon in the irons for what marked his debut out of the 2020 campaign.
Native Abu (The Louisiana Cartel-Native American Miss), The Kings Horse (Class King-Fleeta Dif TB) and Love Ta Zoom (Azoom-Loves Easter Bunny) completed the order of finish.
Miss Retama Stakes
SS CLASSYJESS
by John Moorehouse
For all the turmoil that has occurred across the horse racing industry in 2020, it’s been a pretty darn good year for SS Classyjess. The four-year-old
filly tallied her second stakes win and third overall victory of the campaign in the $54,250 Miss Retama Stakes at Retama Park on July 24.
With that recent body of work bolstering her,
SS Classyjess was the post-time favorite for the Miss Retama at less than 2-1 odds. A late rally helped her live up to that favorite status. Running third as then- leader Mystical Jess entered the stretch, SS Classyjess came flying, overtaking the two foes ahead of her and hitting the line first by 3/4-length.
Jose Carrizales trains SS Classyjess, who com- pleted her 350-yard trip in :18.003, logging an 86 speed index. Juan Garcia drew the riding assignment.
Edgar Rosales owns SS Classyjess, who pushed her total earnings into six figures at $101,613 with the $32,550 prize from this event. The majority of that total—more than $52,000—has come this year. The filly tallied her first stakes victory back in January in Division 1 of the Swift Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
Ronnie Stewart and the Double S Farm bred SS Classyjess out of High Class Broad, a 2004 mare owned by Jesus Campa. She has produced 100% money earners from five starters.
Mystical Jess (Apollitical Jess-Traffic Juana) fin- ished second by a neck for Juan Lozano Jr. The Alonso Neri trainee had Manuel Gutierrez in the irons. Zapata Chic (Jumpn Chic-Eying Miss Perry) surprised in third for owner Jose U. Oviedo and trainer Fernando Lopez. Victor Urieta Jr., did the riding. Followed by LJ Moonrise (Separatist-Risen Eagle), Sensational Senator (Louisiana Senator-I Opening Sensation), DM First Talent (Jess Lips-Prime Idol), Mia Favorita (Favorite Cartel-Las Alamitos) and The Dealers On Fire (Dealagame-Fire In The Tank). Moon Bars Delight was scratched.
John Deere RET Juvenile Chal.
HIS TIME TO DEAL
by John Moorehouse
After posting the top qualifying time for the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge, His Time To Deal came back and won the $61,149 stakes final at Retama Park on July 24.
After finishing his 350-yard July 3 trial in :18.130 to top the qualifying ladder, His Time To Deal was even faster in his first-ever stakes final, covering the same distance in :17.996 for an 86 speed index. The gelding broke from the 4-post and was running third at the first call. Then jockey Jose Vega made his big move, and they took the lead by a head entering the stretch and pulling away during the final yards to hit the wire first by 1 3/4-length.
Pete Scarmardo home-bred the rookie geld-
ing, who secured a spot in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge finals as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championship card. Trained by Leon Bard, His Time To Deal is now undefeated through his first two outs, with the $28,129 prize from this race improving his total earnings to $32,929.
Scarmardo also owns Lady Lilia, the dam of His Time To Deal. The lightly-raced 2009 mare has produced 12 starters among 17 offspring—with His Time To Deal becoming the third stakes winner.
John Stinebaugh prepped the horses that finished second and third. William Dale owns runner-up Cartel Creek (The Louisiana Cartel-Rawhide Creek), who had Juan Pulido aboard. Hot Lady Returns (High Rate Of Return-Hottesticketintown), who placed third, is owned by Vanessa Bartoo. Francisco Calderon drew the riding assignment.
Followed by Elegant Tres (Tres Seis-Elegant Debut), A Sweet Capo (Capo De Capi-Jess A Sweet Chic), Super Fly B (EC Jet One-Kar Dash Ability B), Viva Le Merica (Wave Carver-Viva Arriba), Kiss My Happy Hips (Kiss My Hocks-Mystical Eye), Averys Volcom (Volcom-I Sa Chick) and High On Royce (Kiss My Hocks-Kix N Giggles).
RACING NEWS
Retama Park • $53,000 870 yards • :47.816
Unbridled’s Song Proposal
Feature Mr Jess
Backwoods Bar B
Silver City TB SILVER CITY LIGHTS, ‘16-g.
Injuns Special
Retama Park • $54,250 350 yards • :18.003 • si 86
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
SS CLASSYJESS, ‘16-f.
Royal Shake Em
High Class Broad
Rockin The Tetons
Streaking Out
Retama Park • $61,149 350 yards • :17.996 • si 86
Game Patriot
Dealafly
First Down Dash Lady Tenaya
Dealagame
HIS TIME TO DEAL, ‘18-g. Lady Lilia
SPEEDHORSE August 2020 149
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography