Page 187 - January_2023

Danjer’s winning connections include owners Dean R. Frey, Pat Guthrie’s Downtime Enterprises LLC & Billy G. Smith, trainer Dean R. Frey, and jockey James Flores.
The $182,000 winner’s share of the lucrative Championship purse raised his bankroll to $2,269,068 and improved
his overall record to 33-20-7-3. Danjer is campaigned by Dean R. Frey, Downtime Enterprises LLC, and Billy G. Smith. Frey also bred and trains the gelding. Danjer won five of seven starts in 2022 and recorded Grade 1 wins in the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship-G1, the Debbie Schauf Remington Fall Championship, and the Bank of America Challenge Championship-G1. He also annexed the Bank of America Canterbury Park Challenge Championship-G3.
“You always hope you get a good, clean break and everything. After that, I always have confidence in him,” said Dean Frey. “He’s a sound horse. He was a World Champion for a reason; he enjoys what he does.”
“He has so many fans and supporters out there,” Frey continued. “I have taken him
to all those different racetracks, and people everywhere just love him and want to see him. They like having their pictures taken with him and being around him. It’s really enjoyable for me that he is that popular with people.”
Frey indicated that the accomplished Danjer is taking a short break from the racetrack. After a brief respite of a month or two, he will head to Remington Park for a return to what he does best.
Bred in Oklahoma, Danjer is out of
stakes winner Shez Jess Toxic. She won the 2011 Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge and placed second in the 2012 Evergreen Park Derby Challenge. She also set two New Track Records, both at Grande Prairie for 350 yards
and earned $235,296 during her career. She has produced four winners from six starters. Runner-up KJ Desparado (Apollitical Jess-Tres Veses) saw his three-race win streak
come to a close with his second-place finish. The 12-time winner raced in third position early and fought gamely to the wire under jockey Adrian Ramos. The 3-year-old gelding is owned by John and Kathy Wanda Lee and Ruben Mares and is trained by Wesley Giles. KJ Desparado captured the Texas Classic Derby-G1 in his previous outing at Lone Star Park on Nov. 19. He also won the Ruidoso Derby-G1 and finished second in the Rainbow Derby-G1. The Arizona-bred gelding was bred by L&L Land and Cattle. With the $66,500 runner-up share of the purse, KJ Desparado brought his bankroll to $2,772,603.
Flash Bak (Moonin The Eagle-Checknbac) and jockey Francisco Calderon finished
third for owner Valeriano Racing and trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. Bred in Missouri by
Jim Streelman and Bill Dale, Flash Bak
won the Zia Park Championship-G1 on Dec. 11 in his previous outing. In 2022 he also finished second in the Brad McKinzie Winter Championship-G1, the Go Man
Go Handicap-G1, and third in the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship Stakes and now boasts career earnings of $1,220,233.
Instygator (Ivory James-Eye Popping), Hesa Party Wagon (Hes Relentless-Lil Miss Party Doll), and Political Thinker (Apollitical Jess-Budder Think Twice) completed the order of finish.
CoOwner’s Pat Guthrie of Downtime Enterprises LLC, Billy G. Smith, and CoOwner/Breeder/Trainer Dean Frey with his daughter Dusti.
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SPEEDHORSE January 2023 185
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