Page 189 - January_2023

Evangeline Downs Derby
B LEAVING
by Danny Camp
BLeaving captured his third stakes victory in the $124,290 Evangeline Downs Derby hosted at Evangeline Downs on Dec. 16. Fastest qualifier from the No. 18 trials, B
Leaving stepped away from the 8-post in third under jockey Gilbert Ortiz in the finals. By the first call they were already in first and at the halfway point they were 1 1/2-lengths to the good. They demolished the field with a 2 1/4-length victory, stopping
the timer at :19.579 to earn a 96 speed index. The gelding also earned the $62,145 winner’s share of the purse, which ups his lifetime earnings to $262,736.
His race record stands
at six wins from 15 career starts, including three stakes victories. He has won his last four of five races, including the Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge on Aug. 27 and
Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile-RG2
XTRA
by Michael Cusortelli
Xtra got the initial stakes win of his career in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile-RG2 for state-bred 2 year olds at Evangeline Downs on Dec. 17.
Ridden by jockey Victor Urieta Jr., they led at every call enroute to a 1 1/2-length victory. Xtra covered 350 yards in :17.389, while posting a career-best 97 speed index. Josue Ponce trains the gelding, who banked the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse, which pushed his bankroll to $96,634.
Raced in two states, including Texas, Xtra has won five of eight starts. He has lit the board in every start except for placing fourth once. He broke his maiden back in May and has won three trials prior to this race.
Xtra was purchased by Alex Castaneda for $67,000 at the 2021 LQHBA Yearling Sale.
the Mr Master Bug Stakes-G3 on April 16. He also placed second in this year’s AQHA Derby Challenge Championship-G3 and the Heritage Place Derby-G2.
Trainer Zachary Stinebaugh saddled all three of the top horses. “This is a great horse,” said Stinebaugh. “We picked up this horse when he got done in Ruidoso. We took him to Indiana where he finished second. This guy has trouble
leaving the gate, he breaks so hard its hard for him to keep his footing. Once he gets rolling its over. B Leaving has a quirky personality he likes to make sure his rider is paying attention at all times. He is his own man and he thinks his own thoughts.”
Owned by Alfredo Garza Rodriguez, B Leaving was bred in Oklahoma by Homer A. Hill, out of Jess B Mighty, who won the Oklahoma Bred Derby
and the Miss Olene Handicap in 2010. She has produced 100% winner’s from seven starters.
Hes Jess Dealin (Dealagame-Jess Marcy) came into the finals with the ninth fastest time, he stepped up his game to place second under jockey Francisco Calderon for owner Pete A. Scarmardo.
Secret Romeo (Corona Cartel-PJ Chick In Black), with a gritty performance placed third under jockey Sergio Dominguez. He is owned by Stinebaugh Equine Enterprises LLC.
Followed by No Secret Knockout (No Secrets Here-Alolph Tres Knockout), JJS Lace (Five Bar Cartel-Lethal N Lance), Mr De Capi (Capo
De Capi-Redheads Run Hotter), Apollitical Crystal (Apollitical Jess-Walk Thru Crystal), Lett It Happen (Jet Black Patriot-Don’t Lett Her Down), Mighty Revenant (A Revenant-Mightys First Call), JLA Double Down Dash (Corona Caliente-Miss Shiney Streak).
The gelding is owned by Tabasco Racing LLC. He was bred by Ryan and Jude Robicheaux, out of First Lady B, a lightly raced mare. She has produced two winners from three starters.
The sorrel gelding traces back to his third dam, Tinys Effort, a winning daughter of World Champion Special Effort. Tinys Effort placed in multiple stakes races including third in the 1990 Black Gold Futurity
Championship-RG1. Tinys Effort has produced six winners from seven starters with earnings of $1,124,380.
Runner-up Cool Ya Jets (Jet Black Patriot-MCM On Thin Ice) earned $17,000
to bring her bankroll to $145,136 from eight races for her owner, Pete Scarmardo. The filly is trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr., who had Benito Baca in the
irons. Cool Ya Jets was the
runner-up in the $525,000 LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1 at Delta Downs on Sept. 3
Toast To Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Sante Mon Amie) finished third, 2-lengths behind Xtra, while pocketing $10,000 for owner and trainer Martin Trejo. Gilbert Ortiz piloted the colt. He previously won the LQHBA Sale Juvenile Stakes at Delta Downs on Sept. 3.
Hes A Fast Blood (Apollitical Blood-MCM Sheza Fast Cutie) finished in fourth, then Konnan Cartel (Five Bar Cartel-Jet Black Chiraq), San Lorenzo Moon (Apollitical Blood-Dashnunder Afullmoon), JRs Tonyas Majestic (Majestic Cartel-Tonyas Statement), Happy Flyer (You Drive I Fly-Surfin In Stilettos), Ovation (Jess Louisiana Blue-Dont Lett Her Down), and RH Senor Milagro (Mr Piloto-Miss Mandy Marie) completed the remaining order of finish.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE January 2023 187
Coady Photography Coady Photography
Evangeline Downs
$124,290 • 400 yards :19.579 • si 96
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
B LEAVING, ‘19-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Jess B Mighty
Mighty Doll
Evangeline Downs
$100,000 • 350 yards :17.389 • si 97
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Blood
Brazilian Dasher
XTRA, ‘20-g.
Jess Louisiana Blue
First Lady B
First Down Energy