Page 116 - July 2015

Ruidoso Derby-G1
BF FARM BOSS
by Tracy Gantz
Oregon-bred BF Farm Boss has never lost in three starts at Ruidoso Downs, but those first two victories came in trials. It was much
more satisfying the third time, when he scored in the $815,180 Ruidoso Derby-G1 on June 6. “I thought it was a great day,” said co-owner
Don Boyle. “It was a good test for him. He came through, and we were really tickled with him.”
Boyle owns and bred BF Farm Boss with his wife, Peggy. In addition, Wade Siegel is a silent partner on the colt. “Even though Wade isn’t listed, he’s been a partner on a lot of our horses,” said Don. “He’s been an integral part of our whole racing package.”
With the Ruidoso Derby the first big race of the year for BF Farm Boss, Boyle admitted to being a little nervous.
BF Farm Boss had won his trial by 1/2-length as the fifth-fastest qualifier. Last year, he won the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2 and finished second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1. He went off as the 5-2 favorite.
Drawn into post 4, BF Farm Boss came out of the gate well under jockey Ramon Sanchez, who has ridden him throughout his career. The horses on either side of him tightened things up for a moment, but they moved off
of him quickly. BF Farm Boss took the lead midway through the 400 yards, and he held off the closers to win by a neck in :19.492.
“He was more ready in the gate than in his trial,” said Sanchez. “About halfway through, I knew I had it won.”
Paul Jones, the all-time Champion trainer with 13 consecutive national titles, trains BF Farm Boss.
“We knew that he likes this track, and he just keeps getting better,” said Jones. “He’s just a wonderful horse.”
The victory meant even more because last year BF Farm Boss won his trial for the All American Futurity-G1, but didn’t qualify for the final.
“We were in the very first trial of the first day, with a 16 mph headwind, the stiffest head- wind of the trials,” Don said. “He handled the field pretty easily out of the one hole. He ran a really nice race. It was just unfortunate and the luck of the draw. Everybody takes that chance.”
The Boyles had to suffer through the long day of trials, as times improved once the head- wind died down and the tailwind picked up.
“We stayed in the top five well into the day until the winds switched,” Boyle said. “Paul still says he thinks we’d have had an excellent shot
of winning if we had gotten in. But, that’s horse racing.”
The rich All American
Derby-G1 is still ahead. Boyle
said they would probably skip
the Rainbow Derby-G1, for
which they would have to sup-
plement, so that BF Farm Boss
can go into the All American
Derby as a fresh horse.
The Boyles could have
a triple crown of sorts if BF
Farm Boss could win the All
American Derby. Champion Strawkins, his full brother, won the 2006 Rainbow Derby, setting the track record of :20.736 for 440 yards that still stands.
“He’s a lot like Strawkins,” Jones said of BF Farm Boss. One difference—BF Farm Boss is still a colt, while Strawkins is a gelding. The Boyles, who live in Madras, Oregon, have given Strawkins perhaps the best retirement ever. He has his own paddock, and the Boyles’ grandchildren visit frequently.
“He loves people,” said Don. “He just comes over and lays his head on their shoulder and wants to be scratched.”
BF Farm Boss and Strawkins, both by Hawkinson, are only two of the many good runners the Boyles have gotten from the mare Shirleys Strawfly. They have owned her since she was a yearling, and she’s also a favorite.
“She’s nice, and her off- spring are also exceptionally nice to handle,” said Don. “They have dispositions that are out of this world.”
Shirleys Strawfly has 15 winners from 19 starters. But the real test of her prowess is in her stakes horses. In addition to BF Farm Boss & Strawkins, her 5 other stakes winners are Mr Eye Will, Raining Fresh Daisys, Summit Bid, BF Farm Boy &
BF Farm Girl. Plus, she has stakes-placers Spring Bling, Current Sea & OC City Girl. The Boyles have several more foals from Shirleys Strawfly, including four 2 year olds and 2 yearlings. They only have one 2015 foal, a colt by Stel Corona, but the mare has 4 embryo transfers for 2016.
Jones also trains Glock (Foose-Babe On The Fly), 2nd under L.S. Martinez for Paul Blanchard. JM Onfire (Walk Thru Fire-Special Copauino) was 3rd under Felipe Garcia-Luna for Ruben Marquez & trainer Albert Franco. Followed by Tempting Destiny (Tempting Dash-Dashingfordestiny), Bone Chillin (First Down Dash-Jess Ought To
Go Now), JM Specialwynn (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), First Famous Effort (One Famous Eagle-Tiny First Effort), Cobalt Creek (Walk Thru Fire-Checknbac), Fast Copy Kat (FDD Dynasty- Fast Copy Miss) & Thunderball B (FDD Dynasty- Hollywood A List).
Ruidoso Downs $815,180 • 400 yards :19.492 • si 97
First Down Dash
Hawkinson
Oh La Proud
BF FARM BOSS, ’12-c.
Strawfly Special
Shirleys Strawfly
Nylas Girl
114 SPEEDHORSE, July 2015
BF Farm Boss & Ramon Sanchez duel to win the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby
RACING NEWS
Ruidoso Photography