Page 186 - August 2017

Merial CBY Distaff Challenge
JR ROCK STAR
by Tracy Gantz
In 2016 during the Canterbury Park meeting, JR Rock Star was a solid allowance competitor. She has stepped it up already this year by winning the July 4
Merial Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge. Third in the June 18 Skip Zimmerman
Memorial Stakes, JR Rock Star went off as the 3-1 third choice in the Distaff Challenge. Ridden by Brayan Velazquez, she broke in second and battled for the lead. Never giving up, she prevailed by a head in :20.246 for 400 yards.
Jason Olmstead trains JR Rock Star for owner Don Webb. The $15,525 winner’s share of the purse pushed the filly’s total lifetime earnings to $55,943.
Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches bred the filly in Texas from race placed One Famous Rock Star. She has produced three winners from four starters, including top earner One Famous Hero. One Famous Rock Star is a full sister to One Famous Eagle, 2008 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and sire of World Champion One Dashing Eagle.
David Pinon piloted Blacks Cartel (Streakin Six Cartel-Brandi Whiz) to second for owner Tracy Black and trainer Casey Black. The 4-year-old filly was coming off a second in the Bob Morehouse Stakes.
Casey Black also trains third-place Bye Bye Birdy (Hawkinson-Sweet Bye And Bye), who won the Distaff Challenge in 2016 and suffered a bumpy start this year. Cristian Esqueda rode the 5-year-old mare for owner Barbara Barley.
Completing the field were Corona Springs (Corona Cartel-Aquafina), Thrice Wise (Tres Seis- Another Wise Lady), My Girls Toasted (Toast To Dash-Girling), Marys Ice Dancer (Wave Carver- Corona With Ice), Stelthy (Stel Corona-Perrys Queen Bug), Honeymoon Candy (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Jess Send Candy) and Fast Movin Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Dollars Chick). Kokko Wagon was scratched.
Dash In A Flash Stakes
LOTA JAMES
by Michael Cusortelli
Making his first-ever start at the short 110-yard distance, Lota James sprinted to a head victory in the July 15 Dash In A Flash Stakes at
Canterbury Park.
Lota James tripped the timer in :6.987 while
scoring his first stakes win. Nik Goodwin rode the 4-year-old gelding for owner Whiting Ranch and trainer Allen Hybsha. The $8,850 winner’s share of the $17,700 purse pushed the Lota James’ bankroll to $46,044.
Lota James has won five of 17 races while competing in Oklahoma, Iowa and Minnesota. The Dash In A Flash Stakes marked the gelding’s first start against stakes company.
Lota James was bred by Steve Holt of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and he is one of seven winners from as many starters produced by winner Lotawatah. The mare has foaled two other stakes winners, both of whom are half-brothers to Lota James: top earner Lota PYC, winner of the 2012 Remington Park Futurity; and New Track Record setter Regard Watah, winner of the 2014 Jack Brooks Stakes also run at Remington Park.
Divas Candy Girl (Spit Curl Jess-Some Kinda Diva) finished second for owner Thomas J. Scheckel. Denny Velazquez rode the stakes-winning 4-year-old filly for trainer Jason Olmstead.
L.P. Frank’s Bye Byefreighttrain (Freighttrain B-Bye Bye Bygones) finished third. Cristian Esqueda rode the homebred graded stakes winning 4-year-old gelding for trainer Kasey Willis.
Fast Eddys Eyeyinyou (Eye Yin You-Briefcase Cash) finished fourth and was followed by Dash For Number One (Tempting Dash-Number One Chorreada), Ms Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Miss QH), Iowas Texan TLP (Tempting Dash-Corona Del Rae), and Fast Prize Janie (Carters Cartel-Fast Prize Doll). Eklypz was scratched.
TQHA Futurity
GLIMPSE OF FIRE
by Emily Blankenship
Fastest qualifier Glimpse Of Fire sailed to his first stakes victory in the $34,500 TQHA Futurity at Gillespie County Fairgrounds on July 16.
While coming off a ninth-place effort in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge-G3, the colt had no problem defeating the field in the July 2 trials for the TQHA Futurity.
The track was fast with a 10mph crosswind
when Glimpse Of Fire and jockey Claudio Aguilar shot from the 9-post in the finals. The colt veered out at the start, but was able to hold on to the lead
to finish in front by a 1/2-length. The team covered the 350 yards in :17.908, posting a career high 93 speed index. Glimpse Of Fire took home the $12,075 winner’s share of the purse for owner/breeder Mario Rodriguez and trainer Martin Rodriguez, which boosted his cumulative earnings to $17,475. The colt’s race record is now 5-3(1)-1-0.
Mario bred Glimpse Of Fire in Texas out of win- ner Pie Opener. She is a full sister to graded stakes finalist Opalesce. Pie Opener has produced 100% winners from three starters. Glimpse Of Fire is her top earner and first stakes winner.
Alinas War Princess (The Louisiana Cartel- Prairie War Princess) ran a steady race in second for owner Terrazas Family and trainer Arturo Terrazas III. Rodolfo Fierro did the riding. Noe Villatoro rode Louisiana Fast (The Louisiana Cartel-Fast Fast Fast) to a solid third place finish for owner Mariel Guerra, Jr. and trainer Jorge Barrera.
Coronel Corona (Special Royal Corona-Out Run A Corona) finished fourth and was followed by Tempting Pink (Tempting Dash-Pink Cartel), Lone Star Alibi (Royal Quick Dash-Hempen Chics Alibi), Secret Aces (SSS Ace In The Hole-Secret Sister Code), Driven By Results (Hiclass La Jolla- Sixydeperry) & Nika Sofia (Moon Shake-Raise The Crowd). Hoover Valley Slick scrathed.
Canterbury Park • $33,750 400 yards • :20.246 • si 93
Corona Cartel
Fantastic Corona Jr
JR ROCK STAR, ’13-f.
Special Queen SA
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Rock Star
One Famous Lady
Canterbury Park • $17,700 110 yards • :6.987 • si 98
Ivory James LOTA JAMES, ’13-g.
Lotawatah
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Shazoom
Streakin La Toya
Gillespie County Fairground • $34,500 350 yards • :17.908 • si 93
Relagate TB
Glimpse Of Greatness
GLIMPSE OF FIRE, ‘15-c. Pie Opener
Dueling Maid Mr Eye Opener Kay Pie
184 SPEEDHORSE, August 2017
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