Page 55 - 8 August 2012

Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity
LA PETITE ROSE
by Tracy Gantz
La Petite Rose demonstrated great versatility when she kept her undefeated record perfect in the July 17 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity at
Ajax Downs. In her first two races, she cruised to the lead from the start. But she had to catch a determined Sugar Bar in the Futurity, and she did it with flair.
Sugar Bar flew to the lead right out of the gate. Though La Petite Rose broke slightly outward from post 10, she
straightened her path under
regular rider Michelle Love. La Petite Rose accelerated with a rush toward the wire, devouring ground to pass Sugar Bar and win by a neck in :17.140 for the 330 yards.
Trainer David Ward unveiled La Petite Rose for the first time in a maiden race at Ajax on June 3. Over a muddy track at 250 yards, the filly won by a neck. She
turned in an even more impressive perfor- mance in her Futurity trial on June 26, scor- ing by 1 1/4 lengths to post the second-fastest qualifying time.
Gary and Marlene McNichol own La Petite Rose, and they bred her from their homebred mare Two Tears Dot Com. Racing for Marlene McNichol and Rick Laszlo, Two Tears Dot Com won the 2001 Alex Picov Memorial
Futurity and finished second in the 2002 Maple Leaf Derby. Five of the mare’s six starters have won, including $78,889-earner and allowance winner North Of Seven.
Sugar Bar (Sugarman Perry- Hannas Rare Bar) has started four times, all at Ajax and with Tony Phillips in the saddle, and they won their Futurity trial. Greg Watson trains the gelding for Full Circle Racing, Ray Renaud, and Robert Van Camp.
Watson also trains Eye Zoom (Eye Dash- Azooma), who finished third under Chelsey Willick. Owned and bred by Full Circle, the gelding ran second in his initial outing and posted the fastest qualifying time in winning his Futurity trial.
Completing the field were Heza Wylie Coyote (Star Fire Dash-Sheza Biker Chick), Jess Tex Me (Mr Jess Tex-Rippin Dash), Eye Is A Belle (Eye Dash-Dinah Carolina), Jess Call Me Tex (Mr Jess Tex-Fusee), Straitfromtheghetto (Unlikely Hero-Ghetto Fabulous Girl), Taxi Fare Cash (Down Home Dash-Taxing Queen Creek), and Manhatten Mist (Fire Finder-Bac
To Center). The Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity is restricted to 2-year-olds that
are Ontario sired, as recorded with the Program Registry.

Walk Thru Fire
Fire Finder
Finder
LA PETITE ROSE, ’10-f.
Junos Back
Two Tears Dot Com
Teardrops N Laughter
RACING NEWS
Princess Stakes Futurity
FIRST DOWN THE TRACK
by John Moorehouse
First Down The Track lived up to her name in the Princess Stakes Futurity. The young filly shot between two horses to grab the lead
late in the 350-yard futurity, and emerged vic- torious after a photo finish with Stolen Ivory to claim winner’s honors in the $54,936 stakes held July 10 at Ajax Downs.
Owned by DK Training Centre and Richard Wincikaby, First Down The Track improved to 2-1-0 through
the first four outs of her
career. The payday from this
win was $21,974.
First Down The Track broke from the No. 3 gate without any trouble and established herself as one of the immediate contenders. Then jockey Brian Bell made his bold move, steering First Down The Track between Stolin Ivory and Calimero and into the lead. Stolin
Ivory had enough left to make one more
bid for the win, and both horses hit the line together. First Down The Track won by a nose, flipping the script from their trial where Stolin Ivory nosed out First Down The Track for the win.
Don Reid trains First Down The Track, who finished her first-ever stakes race in :17.980. Five days after the Princess Stakes, Reid
became one of only 33 trainers to ever win 1,000 races. Reid has since 1980 trained the winners of 1,001 races, includ- ing 48 stakes, from 4,352 starts. They have earned more than $4.1 million.
With the win, First Down The Track joins her dam, First Down Runner,
as a stakes winner. First Down Runner won the 2005 Southern California Derby at Los Alamitos—the highlight
in a five-win career that reaped more than $176,000 in prize money. Lance Robinson and Max Anderson bred First Down The Track, who was foaled in Utah.
The other two horses to hit the board, Stolin Ivory (Ivory James-A Sixes Cowgirl) and Calimero, are both trained by Greg Watson. Guylaine Paquin owns Stolin Ivory and Helen Vanek did the riding. Full Circle Racing and John Labrie co-own Calimero (FDD Dynasty- Seditious), who was ridden by Scott Sterr.
The remaining order of finish was MCM Tres Episode (Tres Seis-Sheza First Episode), Im So Caliente (Corona Caliente-Make Us A Miracle), Lindas Furrs Aflying (Furrtreeous- Sir Alibi Linda), Jess Fancy Pants (Sugarman Perry-Ethoria TB) and Ima Good Karma (Mr Jess Tex-Royal Promises). Bella Bellini and Hi N Dry were scratched.

Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
FIRST DOWN THE TRACK, ’10-f.
First Down Dash
First Down Runner
All Runner
SPEEDHORSE, August 3, 2012 55
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