Page 140 - March 2016

Los Alamitos Winter Championship-G1
MOONIST
by Michael Compton
The highly-anticipated clash between AQHA Champions Moonist and Heza Dasha
Fire in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Feb. 14 at the California track lived up to all of its billing.
This marked the third meeting between the pair of top-class warriors—Heza Dasha Fire won the first round in last year’s Champion
of Champions-G1 to seal the title of AQHA World Champion.
Moonist, however, captured the rematch in the Los Alamitos Winter Championship trials on Jan. 24, making a wire-to-wire run over Heza Dasha Fire to finish 1/2-length on top. His :19.506 clocking topped the qualifying ladder to the finals.
The Los Alamitos Winter Championship-G1 was, as expected, a two-horse race.
Ridden by regular pilot Cesar DeAlba, Moonist grabbed the lead from the five-hole at the start of the 400-yard fixture. The five-year- old gelding never relinquished his advantage.
Heza Dasha Fire lost his best chance soon after the gates flung open, breaking out and bumping, but still rallied gamely in the lane.
Moonist held Heza Dasha Fire’s stern chal- lenge at bay and received every call in the con- test. Moonist hit the finish line 1/2-length in front of his rival, stopping the timer in :19.497,
Futurity-G1 in 2001 and
that year’s AQHA Champion Two Year Old and Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Your First Moon won seven of 19 career starts en route to earnings of $750,726. Your First Moon
is also the dam of additional graded winners Stray Cat and Jess My Moon and stakes winner Moonin the Eagle.
Heza Dasha Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Dasha Freda), with
Cruz Mendez aboard for owner S-Quarter K LLC and trainer Jose Flores, finished a clear second, checking in 2 1/4-lengths in front of third-place finisher Walk the Catwalk (Walk Thru Fire-Alley Cat Cartel)with Ruben Lozano aboard for owner Steve Burns and trainer Michael Casselman.
Jake Gold BR (BRZ) (Gold Medal Jess- Charlotte Bryan), Fiery Kimbo (Walk Thru Fire-Kimbo With Class), Dr. Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Eye for Corona), Jiffy James (Jesse James Jr-Ms Klee), French Fury (Stoli-Streakin Jessie Gail), Sugardaddy B (Bigtime Favorite-LS Honey Brown) and Wilmas Alright Now (Im Alright Now-Wilma the Wizard) completed the field.
good for a speed index of 98. With the victory and
a winner’s share worth $58,674, Moonist increased his earnings to $864,168.
Moonist also earned an automatic berth in the 2016 Champion of Champions to be held on Dec. 10.
A winner in 22 of 32 lifetime starts, Moonist is trained by John Cooper and races in the colors of Ronald Hartley.
“I’m 76 years old and I’ve owned horses since I was 16, but this is without a doubt my greatest win ever,” Hartley told the press.
“I’m breathless right now,” he contin-
ued. “This was round three of this matchup between two Champions, and all I can say is that it was a great race. Moonist has outrun a great World Champion twice now. Wow, all I can say is wow. I guess this is what horse racing is all about.”
Bred in California by Vessels Stallion Farm, Moonist is produced from the multiple Grade 1 winner & multiple Champion Your First Moon. Winner of the Governor’s Cup Futurity-G1 and the Los Alamitos Millon
Los Alamitos $139,700 • 400 yards :19.497 • si 98
Chicks Beduino
Separatist
Separate Ways
MOONIST, ‘11-g.
First Down Dash
Your First Moon
Moon Arisen
138 SPEEDHORSE, March 2016
Moonist & Cesar DeAlba go wire-to-wire in the $139,700 Los Alamitos Winter Championship-G1
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Los Alamitos