Page 152 - August2020.indd

RACING NEWS
King William Stakes
MPSHINNING
by John Moorehouse
Aformer winner of the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity, Mpshinning scored his first stakes victory in more than 18 months by winning the $30,000 King William Stakes by a neck at Retama Park on July 4.
Mpshinning has raced exclusively in stakes com- pany this year and was coming off a finalist attempt in the Leo Stakes-G1 held May 2 at Remington
Park. The Adrian Huitron trainee got stronger as the 350-yard race progressed. The gelding broke from the gates near the back of the eight-race field, but worked his way up to third by the time he entered the stretch. That late surge continued, as Nestor Duran urged his mount to come flying to the wire first by a neck.
The gelding’s latest stakes-winning trip took :17.716, registering a 94 speed index. Owner
Larry Boudreaux banked a $17,700 payday, which improved Mpshinning’s cumulative bankroll to $716,045. Mpshinning now holds eight wins in 17 career starts. That now includes victories in three stakes events.
Jon and Donna McPherson bred Mpshinning out of unraced Shinningperrydash. She has produced 100% money earners from four starters. Mpshinning is her first stakes winner.
Krash Course (Krash Cartel-Rare Eye Opener), another Huitron trainee, finished 2nd under Pedro Espinosa for owner Martha Nevarez. Kiss My Whuut (Kiss My Hocks-Not My Choice) and Juan Pulido
hit the board in 3rd for owner Three Bar T Quarter Horses and trainer Cindi Keeton. Mi Amor Secreto (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin in Secret) was fourth and was followed by Temptingsecretfly (Tempting Dash-Belle of the Cartel), Carry the Memories (Dash Master Jess-Processing Speed), Jess Master Angel (Dash Master Jess-Mi Angela Jet) and Serendipity Rocks (Rock Solid Jess-Precious Serendipity) Pa Cha Ching and Woulda were scratched.
Towers Of The Americas Stakes
VIVA LE DON
by John Moorehouse
Viva Le Don put down a blistering 108 speed index en route to the second stakes win of his career, taking the $30,000 Towers of the Americas Stakes at Retama Park on July 4.
He broke from the 5-post, was fourth at the first call and then came flying. Jockey Jose Vega had Viva Le Don in front by a head going into the stretch, then turned on the jets to finish with a comfortable 1 1/4-length margin of victory.
Tammy Johnson trains Viva Le Don, who finished the 550-yard race in :27.092 and secured a $17,100 payday. That increased the gelding’s total earnings to $268,987.
Rockin J Running Horses owns the four year old, who won the 2018 running of the Black Gold 350 Futurity at Will Rogers. Viva Le Don has raced exclusively in stakes races this year, and was coming off a third-place effort in March’s Remington Park Championship Challenge-G2.
Johnson and Jack Manning bred Viva Le Don out of winner Viva Arriba. She has produced 100% money earners from three starters. Viva Le Don is her first stakes winner.
Five Bar Jewel (Five Bar Cartel-First Down Hemp) finished second for Jose Ernesto Guzman. The Alonso Neri trainee had Victor Urieta Jr. in the irons.
Last year’s runner-up in this race, Jax Louisiana Game (The Louisiana Cartel-Thunder Got Game) placed third under Lucas Constantin for owner Reta Hamilton and trainer Leon Bard.
The remaining order of finish was Salados Man (Country Chicks Man-Salado Sis), Favorite Kool Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Rustys Kool Lady), Silver City Lights (Silver City TB-Backwoods Bar B), TH Maverick (American Runaway-Shes Jess Special), Jess C Me Zoom (Jess Zoomin-Lajollaslastthought) and Hiclass Ice (Streakin Sixes-High Snow Silver). Aces Over Five scratched.
Selma Stakes
HOPEY CHICK
by John Moorehouse
Three horses battled to the wire in the Selma Stakes, but it was underdog Hopey Chick that emerged victorious by a neck in the $30,000 race held at Retama Park on July 4.
Facing 13-1 odds at the betting window didn’t slow Hopey Chick, a five-year-old mare who regis- tered the fourth win of her career and her first-ever victory in stakes company. Owned by Heavy Hitters Racing Stables, Hopey Chick was making her 16th career out and the $17,700 first-place share of the purse pushed her total earnings to $86,952.
This marked Hopey Chick’s debut at Retama Park and she made the most of it. The mare broke well from the inside starting gate, led by a head at the first call, and stayed out front at every remaining call in the 350-yard race. Joel Valeriano Jr. trains Hopey Chick, who finished the race in :17.830 for a 91 speed index. Raul Hernandez Jr. did the riding.
Bob McClure bred Hopey Chick and home-bred her dam, Take Off Babe, an unraced 2006 mare. All four of Take Off Babe’s offspring have made starts, but with this surprise effort, Hopey Chick becomes the first of the bunch to win a race in stakes company.
Saratoga Return (High Rate of Return-Johns Party Girl) finished second by a nose for owner Marili Mendez. The Alonso Neri trainee had Juan Pulido in the irons.
SS Classyjess (Rock Solid Jess-High Class Broad) hit the board in third for Edgar Rosales. Jose Carrizales is the trainer and Juan Garcia was aboard.
Rounding out the order of finish were Quemados Royal Moon (First Moonflash-A Royal Lead) in fourth, followed by Apolitical Snow (Apollitical Jess- This Snow Is Cold), Olena Sangria (Dashair-MT Rob This Corona), Ricardos Cartel (Carters Cartel- Miss Shivers) and Frost Dalena (Chicks Regard- Forced To Win). DM First Talent was scratched.
Retama Park • $30,000 350 yards • :17.716 • si 94
Mr Piloto MPSHINNING, ‘16-c.
Mr Jess Perry
Ms Pilot Point
First To Shine
Shinningperrydash
Perrys Splash N Dash
Retama Park • $30,000 550 yards • :27.092 • si 108
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
VIVA LE DON, ‘16-g. Viva Arriba
Rockin The Tetons PYC Paint Your Wagon Arriba Reba
Retama Park • $30,000 350 yards • :17.830 • si 91
Chicks Beduino
First Regard Take Off Jess
Chicks Regard
HOPEY CHICK, ‘15-m. Take Off Babe
One Slick Babe
150 SPEEDHORSE August 2020
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography