Page 65 - 17 August 2012

Zia 870 Championship Stakes
roLLICKIN reD
by Stacy Pigott
rollickin Red didn’t start until he was 3, and then made only two outs finishing no bet- ter than fifth. Returning as a 4-year-old this
year, however, he has been unstoppable. The gelding broke his maiden in a 350-yard race
on Feb. 8 before stretching out to 870 yards, where he is undefeated. His latest win came in the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship on July 29 at Ruidoso Downs.
Owned by the Rollickin Red Partners, Rollickin Red carried a five-race winning streak into the Zia 870 Championship. Following his maiden win, he won three allowance races around the hook, and then the
New Mexico Horseman’s Association Handicap, also at 870 yards. Casey Lambert rode him to that stakes win, and again stepped aboard for the Zia 870 Championship.
Loading into the three post, Rollickin Red got off to a quick start and took a short lead over a tightly-bunched field as they raced down the backstretch. By the time the field reached the turn, Rollickin Red had a half- length on Bullets Brother, who was beginning to fade. Pakea Bay challenged on the outside, while Kokopellis Babycakes also made a bid along the rail. But Rollickin Red had enough
left to handily hold off Kokopellis Babycakes and the late-charging Thoroughbred Affluent Boy, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in :46.124.
Trained by Todd Fincher, Rollickin Red has banked $151,802. Robert Gentry bred Rollickin Red out of the Grade 3 winning mare Deeheiress. Rollickin Red
is her only stakes winner, although half-brother Jess Eye is stakes-placed. His second
dam is multiple champion Deelish, who has also produced APHA Champion Decash and graded stakes winner Da Edge, and is out of the great race mare Such An Easy Effort.
Kokopellis Babycakes (Mr Houston-Ms Kokopelli) held for second with Tanner Thedford up for trainer Jose Dominguez. Dolores Burdine owns the 5-year-old gelding.
Affluent Boy-TB (Lesters Boy-Richie Girl) advanced from seventh early on to finish third for owner Guy Francone. Justin Evans trains the 6-year-old gelding and gave the leg up to jockey Ry Eikleberry.
Rounding out the field were Pakea Bay (Brookstone Bay-Pakea Kai), BRT Opulence (Real Runaway-La Vita E Bella), Bullets Brother (Real Runaway-Alexanders Lady Luck), KC Royal Flush (Sixes Royal-Willie May Dash) and South Oak (Oak Tree Special-Southasofia).
Ruidoso Downs $50,000 • 870 yards :46.124 • si 86
Hennessy
Roll Hennessy Roll-TB
Roll Over Baby
ROLLICKIN RED, ’08-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Deeheiress
Deelish
racing news
john Deere ruidoso juvenile Challenge-G3
roCKIN DISCo
by Stacy Pigott
rockin Disco may have been overlooked in the wagering at odds of 9-1, but the sorrel gelding ignored what the tote board
said and instead raced to a strong victory in the $60,030 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge-G3 on Aug. 4 at Ruidoso Downs. He is now qualified for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championhip-G2, to be held on Oct. 27 at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.
Owned by Rockin J Running Horses and Jack Manning, Rockin Disco won two of five starts prior to the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile. He broke his maiden on April 13 at Sam Houston Race Park, and then won a trial to this race on July 20, setting the third-fastest qualifying time for the finals. Mike Wakefield trains Rockin Disco.
Ridden by Russel Hadley, Rockin Disco was slightly
anxious in the gates while waiting for the start, but broke cleanly from post eight. In mid-pack at the start, Rockin Disco put
his mind to running and doggedly worked
his way to the front of the field. At the wire, Rockin Disco was first by a head, stopping the timer in :17.509 for 350 yards.
Bred by VWP Jr. Inc. in Oklahoma, Rockin Disco is from the first crop of Rock
Solid Jess, and is the first foal out of the unplaced Check Him Out mare Check This Disco. Check This Disco is a half-sister to stakes-placed Bromfield Road. Rockin Disco’s second dam is graded stakes winner Do Ya Disco,
a half-sister to stakes winner Cash From Texas.
Finishing second was Llano Cartel (Teller Cartel- Eyesa Lil Cuervo). Llano Cartel was the co-fastest
qualifier when he dead-heated for the trial win with Fastpass Regard. Heath Reed trains Llano Cartel for owner Wootan Racing. Esgar Ramirez rode the gelding, who was second in the Remington Park Juvenile earlier this year.
Obamano (Oak Tree Special-Red Tomacita) was third with Ricky Ramirez in the saddle for trainer Harvey Baeza. Don Apodaca bred and owns Obamano, who was making his first stakes appearance.
The remaining order of finish was Fastpass Regard (Chicks Regard-Gambeleta Caine), Straightfromtheheart (FDD Dynasty-My Special Phoebe), Celebrity Dasher (One Famous Eagle-A Delightful Legacy), This Stoli Rocks (Stoli-Sixy Rockette), Kingdom Regard (Chicks Regard-Anneopen), Here Chickie Chickie (Chicks Regard-Streakin Hugo), and Mines Bigger (Feature Mr Jess-Corona Curl).
Ruidoso Downs $60,030 • 350 yards :17.509 • si 90
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
Rockin The Tetons
ROCKIN DISCO, ’10-g.
Check Him Out
Check This Disco
Do Ya Disco
SPEEDHORSE, August 17, 2012 63
ruidoso Downs ruidoso Downs