Page 59 - 8 August 2012

Rocky Heinzig Stakes
JESSE IN TOWN
by John Moorehouse
Jesse In Town continues to flourish in stakes company as he ages. The 5-year-old gelding most recenlty prevailed in the Rocky Heinzig Stakes, claiming the winner’s share of the purse in the $20,000 stakes on July 14 at Fair Meadows.
Jesse In Town now holds three stakes wins. This marked his first win in three outs in 2012, though he was second in the Golden Driller and third in the City Of Hialeah Stakes.
There was no stopping Jesse In Town in this out. He made a smooth break from the eight hole and soon took the lead. Heza Awesome Blue made his own bid for the victory from the inside, but could not catch Jesse In Town, who won by a neck under jockey Cody Smith. A Jackie Kirby trainee, Jesse In Town covered the 350 yards in :17.386. The win was worth $11,784 for owner Mary Passmore, and improved Jesse In Town’s lifetime earnings to $99,192 with seven wins in 24 starts.
Charles and Sharon Gray bred Jesse In Town, who is the only stakes winner for his dam, stakes winner Whatsthatfillysname. She has eight starters from 10 offspring, including two stakes-placed runners.
Cynthia and Charles Warren Sr., the owners of Heza Awesome Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Prissys Awesome Form), settled for the runner-up share
of the purse. The gelding is trained by Guillermo Valdivia and had Randy Wilson aboard. Paint
A Famous Candy (PYC Paint Your Wagon-This Candys Famous) finished third for owner Carl Pevehouse. The Clinton Crawford trainee was ridden by Tony Bennett.
The remaining order of finish was Game Show Special (Game Patriot-Pretty And Special), BV Eye Am First (Mr Eye Opener-Lady Telia), BP Valiant Man (Valiant Hero-JA First Lady), First Klas Fred (Fredricksburg-She Flies First Klas), Eyesa Romantic (Eyesa Special-How Romantical) and Dash For Phoebe (Make It Anywhere-Pals Miss Phoebe).
Jack Rhoden Mem. Bonus Ch.
VODKA WITH ICE
by John Moorehouse
It had been a long time since Vodka With Ice last visited the winner’s circle, but the 5-year-old geld- ing ended the drought on July 14 at the Crooked
River Roundup, winning the $17,020 Jack Rhoden Memorial Bonus Challenge Stakes. Owned by Oscar Jaime Diaz, the veteran gelding’s most recent victory prior to this was on March 29, 2009 in the Manor Downs Handicap II. His record wasn’t devoid of highlights during that winless stretch. Vodka With Ice hit the board in four stakes, most recently a second-place finish in last year’s Emerald Downs Championship Challenge.
In the Jack Rhoden, Vodka With Ice made a sharp break from the two gate under jockey Joe Crispin and held the lead at every call of the 250- yard sprint. He reached the finish line first by a half- length. Vodka With Ice collected his eighth career win in 38 outs, with half of that victory total coming in stakes company. A Rodney Hyde trainee, Vodka With Ice completed the race in :13.240. He brought home an $8,850 payday that raised his lifetime earnings to $124,180. In addition to this stakes win, Vodka With Ice won the Elko County Derby, and the Manor Downs Handicap twice.
Michael Pohl bred Vodka With Ice out of Hips So Fine, a stakes-placed mare with 15 offspring, 11 of which are starters. Vodka With Ice is one of two stakes winners, joined by half-sister Rump Shakin. His second dam, Hip Harmony, is a full sister to Hug Tiny, the dam of Champion Merganser.
Favored Vodka Soda No Fruit (Shazoom-Cash Curve) finished second for Bob and Scott Giltner. Trained by Kurt Calton, the 6-year-old gelding had Never Marin in the irons. Vodka Soda No Fruit had finished in the top three in all three of his 2012 starts at three different racetracks prior to the Jack Rhoden. He previously ran at Sun Downs, Les Bois Park, and the Jerome County Fair.
Shezahawk (Hawkinson-Miss Jazzi Kip) placed third by a neck. The mare is owned by Clifford Gates and trained by Juan Marquez. Jose Guerrero did the riding. Shezahawk has strung together four straight third-place finishes dating back to last sum- mer. The 5-year-old mare has hit the board in 12 of 16 lifetime starts.
Junosnoking (This Snow Is Royal-Junos Pretty Girl) and Uncle Sam Sweetfly (Hawkinson-Shes Sweet N Can Fly) completed the field in the
Jack Rhoden Memorial Bonus Challenge Stakes. Hannibal Lector, J Mancuso and L Bar D Snow Princess were scratched.
Bonnett-Brodon Futurity
KR WORKING MAN
by John Moorehouse
KR Working Man is starting to make some waves in the Canadian province of Alberta. The 2-year- old gelding recorded his second straight win on July
21, winning the $18,982 Bonnett-Brodon Futurity at Evergreen Park after posting the top qualifying time. During qualifying, KR Working Man covered
the 300 yards in :15.880 to top the sheet heading into his first-ever stakes final. The Laurie Ferguson trainee showed even more speed in the futurity itself, leading at every call of the event.
Jockey Juan Garcia brought KR Working Man out of the outside starting position in the eight-horse field at the front of the pack. KR Working Man led Sparkling Hy by a head going into the stretch, then ran away from the competition to win by a length.
This time, KR Working Man made the 300-yard trip in :15.490, posting a 102 speed index. The gelding’s owners—Phil Dennis, along with Jeremy and Naia Giambi—collected $8,542 for the win that improved the gelding’s lifetime earnings to $11,374.
KR Working Man is the first starter for his dam, KR Ladyhawk, a 2006 mare homebred by Ed and Mary Kyler. The Kylers also bred KR Working Man, and own three generations of this family.
Sparkling Hy (Hez Choice Property-Ms Mini Monna) finished second by daylight for owner Isaac Fehr and William Leech. Jockey Craig Wonnacott drew the riding assignment.
Show finisher My Chica Chica (Eye Take Time- Tag Me If You Can) is owned by Shane Carter Ray and trained by Janice Sather. Jose Guerrero rode the filly, who was the second-fastest qualifier.
The remaining order of finish was The Southern Girl (Special Fly Bye-Patience 109), Beautitude (Streakinisanattitude-Burners Beauty), Roc N Attitude (Streakinisanattitude-Roco On The Run), Jssweet Sassymolassy (Its All About Speed-Splashy Pizazzy) and Optimeyes (Eye Take Time-Royal Rumors).

Feature Mr Jess JESSE IN TOWN, ’07-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Brendas Feature
Takin On the Cash
Whatsthatfillysname
Moveable Feast

Stoli
VODKA WITH ICE, ’05-g.
Hips So Fine
First Down Dash Strawberry Silk Extra Easy
Hip Harmony

Captain Courage KR WORKING MAN, ’10-g.
KR Ladyhawk
Mr Jess Perry Corona Chick Hawkinson
Little Orphan Glory
SPEEDHORSE, August 3, 2012 59
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