Page 31 - 8 August 2012

Live Oak Stakes
DR DRIP
by Tracy Gantz
Dr Drip is nothing if not persistent. Four times he has tried to win the Live Oak Stakes at Delta Downs on Louisiana Showcase
Night. He ultimately succeeded, getting the victory this time around on July 14, closing night of the track’s Quarter Horse meet.
He wasn’t supposed to win this edition
of the Live Oak either. Pagan Stone, coming off of two Delta victories, including one by 9 1/4 lengths, was made the
even-money favorite. Second
choice went to Leading
Patriot, the 2011 Live Oak
winner, while Dr Drip was
sent away at more than 10-1.
Teetotally A Jewel and Leading Patriot battled on the front end early, with Dr Drip in third on the rail, ridden by John Hamilton. As they headed into the turn, Dr Drip grabbed the lead and accelerated around
the bend. He built up a solid advantage, and even though Slinkys Fortune came flying, he couldn’t catch Dr Drip, who won by a neck in :46.162 for the 870 yards.
Now eight, Dr Drip has put together a hard-knocking stakes career. He won the 2010 Magnolia Stakes and Delta 550 Stakes, and he has finished second in four other stakes. He ran fourth in two of his three earlier attempts
in the Live Oak. Anthony Arey owns and trains the gelding, who has career earn- ings of $237,453.
Richard De Vargas bred Dr Drip in Louisiana from the Streakin La Jolla mare High Seas Operator, winner of the 1998 Louisiana-bred Juvenile Fillies Stakes. The mare has produced five win- ners from five starters, includ- ing A Dashing Operator, who won the Live Oak in 2007.
Henry Padgett owns and trains second- place Slinkys Fortune (Dashs Slinky-Chasing A Fortune), who won the Feb. 11 Magnolia Stakes at Louisiana Downs in his previous start. Orlando Baldillez rode the 8-year-old gelding in both races.
Cody Jensen piloted Cat Five Storm (Panther Mountain-She Wants Cash) to third for owner Teddy Abrams Jr. and trainer Frank Cavazos. The five-year-old mare most recently finished second in the May 27 Fine Loom Handicap at Ruidoso Downs.
Completing the field were Streakin King Corona (King Corona-Streakin Pacific), Pagan Stone (Lydgate-TB-Scorpions Heart), Teetotally A Jewel (First Down Jewel-Garotinha-TB), Panther Warrior (Panther Mountain-This Girl A Warrior), and Leading Patriot (Game Patriot- Little Miss Leader-TB).

First Down Dash
First To Shine
Marcy Darling
DR DRIP, ’04-g.
Streakin La Jolla
High Seas Operator
Elegant Appeal
RACING NEWS
Louisiana Starter Stakes
TWO MINUTE WARNIN
by Tracy Gantz
The Louisiana Starter Stakes at Delta Downs may have been run at starter-allowance condi- tions, but Two Minute Warnin had to dash 350 yards faster than the 2-year-olds in the richer Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 and Louisiana Juvenile Stakes on the same July 14 card. That’s because in order to win the Starter Stakes, Two Minute Warnin had to defeat Heza Fast Jess, who set the Delta Downs track record for the distance.
Two Minute Warnin, with Raul Ramirez Jr. in the irons, went right to the front from post position five as the gate opened. Heza Fast Jess and Bigtime Cartel tried to stay with the gelding, but they couldn’t catch him. He scored by three-quarters of
a length in :17.265 for a 102 speed index. That was just .175 slower than Heza Fast Jess’ time when he broke the Delta track record on June 8.
Delta Downs agrees with Two Minute Warnin. The gelding has won all six of his lifetime races at the track. He raced for Roberta Weeks at 2 and 3 in 2010 and 2011, and Ana Lilia Alvidrez has campaigned him this year. Miguel Rodriguez now trains him.
Teryl Soileau bred Two Minute Warnin in Louisiana from Streakin Native Tea. The mare has produced five winners in seven starters,
including $71,122-earner Point Blue Game. Streakin Native Tea is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Lotta Tea, out
of the stakes-winning mare Native Tea.
Second-place Heza
Fast Jess (Heza Fast Dash- Humming Jess) set the Delta track record along with Rumbulling Knight when the two of them dead-heated for victory in a starter allow- ance race. Alfonso Lujan
rode the gelding for trainer Vann Haywood. Owner Two The Max Investments LLC claimed Heza Fast Jess for $5,000 in March at Louisiana Downs.
Bigtime Cartel (Bigtime Favorite-Ariel Cartel) finished third with John Hamilton aboard. He also finished third behind Heza Fast Jess and Rumbulling Knight in the record- setting starter allowance. Heath Taylor trains Bigtime Cartel for owner Michael Taylor.
Completing the field were Hez All
Jacked Up (Heza Fast Dash-Sayin Together), Allusional Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Special Allusion-TB), Beduino Touch (Gros Oreille-JA Touch The Sky), A Solid Dash (Dashin Bye-A Solid Score), Sheezespeciallyfast (Heza Fast Dash-Spice Your Glass), A Special Dasher (Some Dasher-Special Cutie Doll), and Fast Dash Mon (Heza Fast Dash-Mon Ti Fleur).

Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
TWO MINUTE WARNIN, ’08-g.
Streakin La Jolla
Streakin Native Tea
Native Tea
SPEEDHORSE, August 3, 2012 31
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