Page 148 - March 2016

KOFX Radio Handicap-G2
FAITH MOUNTAIN
by Michael Compton
Fernando Villela’s Faith Mountain scored the first stakes win of her career, springing an 18-1 upset in the $52,400 Grade 2 KFOX-FM Handicap at
Sunland Park on Feb. 26.
Making her first start since last September
with Jesse Levario aboard for trainer Taurino Gutierrez, Faith Mountain broke last from the 3-post and raced at the back of the pack early.
She paid little attention to her longshot odds, however, and took the lead by the top of the stretch. Faith Mountain drove home to a narrow victory in the 350-yard dash, beating DM Ada Kat by a neck at the finish and clocking the distance in :17.767.
It was the third win for Faith Mountain from 13 lifetime starts. The $30,000 winner’s share
of the purse boosted her total lifetime bankroll to $63,272.
Fourteen Ranch Inc. bred Faith Mountain in Oklahoma out of the winning mare Ms Optical Illusion. She is the dam of four winners from nine starters. Faith Mountain is her highest money earner and first stakes winner.
Derrell Riggan’s DM Ada Kat (Gonna Ro Sham Bo-Kat Kora) led early and finished a neck behind in second with Oscar Cordova in the irons for trainer Clifford Lambert Sr.
The Ocean King (Corona Cartel-Runaway Wave) dueled throughout and finished a game third under Alejandro Luna. Trained by Oscar Carrete, the 5-year-old horse is owned by Barron Hugo Sierra and Ronald and Denise Van Amburgh.
Mad About the Moon (First Moonflash- Streaking Power), Queen Arabella (Heza Motor Scooter-Wild Winter Child), Six Episodes (Tres Seis-Eye of an Episode) and The Devils Rainbow (Gol-The Red Rock Rainbow) completed the order of finish. Bone Chillin and Cement Flats were both scratched.
Magnolia Stakes
FIRST CORONA PRIZE
by Tracy Gantz
Racing around a turn can sometimes lend itself to more disqualifications than shorter races. That was the case in the 870-yard Magnolia Stakes on
Feb. 6 at Louisiana Downs. Rakin In The Jax fin- ished first, but the stewards disqualified him, giving the victory to First Corona Prize.
Sheza Gamer, First Corona Prize, and Rakin In The Jax dueled for the early lead. Rakin In The Jax was on the inside, and he had to check around the turn. At the top of the stretch, he angled out, crowding First Corona Prize and two others. Raking In The Jax outfinished First Corona Prize by 3-lengths, but the stewards disqualified Raking In The Jax to last.
Antonio Alberto piloted First Corona Prize for trainer Kelli Smith and owner Joseph Landreneau.
It was the 5-year-old gelding’s first stakes victory. The $15,000 winners share of the purse boosted First Corona Prize’s total earnings to $81,365. Charles and Irma Lyles bred First Corona Prize in Louisiana from unraced Raise A Corona. The mare has pro- duced five winners from six starters.
McGehee Horse & Cattle Co. LLC’s Sheza Gamer (Game Patriot-Dealafly), who finished third, was moved into second. Randy Edison rode the 4-year-old filly for trainer Danny Mittag. Sheza Gamer finished third in the 2015 Races And Aces Stakes.
The disqualification raised fourth-place KR Jess Hopeful (Jess Louisiana Blue-Blankie) to third. Ray Robbins trains the 5-year-old gelding for R & R Racing Inc., and Donell Blake rode him. KR Jess Hopeful won the 2015 Races And Aces.
Fifth-place finisher Chicks Saint Patriot (Game Patriot-Louisiana Chicks) was elevated to fourth, with Rakin In The Jax (Rakin In The Cash-Alcohol And Ambiance) last. Cosino Winner, Heza Fast Corridor & Streak Of Music were scratched.
Mr Jess Perry Stakes-RG3
SCOOPIES LEAVING YOU
by Tracy Gantz
Though Scoopies Leaving You’s recent record is probably more responsible for his winning the Mr Jess Perry Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Feb. 27, the karma in his pedigree couldn’t hurt. His third dam, Scoopie Fein, is the dam of Mr Jess Perry.
Though he didn’t break on top, Scoopies Leaving You still proved much the best. Under regular rider Donald Watson, he quickly grabbed the lead in the 350-yard Mr Jess Perry, winning by a 1/2-length in :17.798.
Kevin Broussard trains Scooopies Leaving You for owner Joel Galindo. The 5-year-old horse was winning his fourth consecutive stakes, having taken the Sam’s Town Stakes at the end of 2015 and then capturing the Harrah’s Dash Stakes and Swift Stakes this year.
Gerald Libersat bred Scoopies Leaving You in Louisiana from stakes-placed Ms Scoopies Toast, the dam of two winners in four starters. The second dam, Scoopie Dash, is also stakes-placed.
Running Game Patriot (Game Patriot-Eyesa La Tac), ridden by Aron Hunt, took second. He
is owned by Pete Scarmardo and trained by Dave Correll. Running Game Patriot also ran second in the Swift.
Zoomin For Bugs (Zoomin For Bux-Toast To Bugs), piloted by Gilbert Ortiz, came in third.
Joan Rood’s Zoomin For Bugs, trained by Danny Mittag, was coming off a win in the 2015 Louisiana Champions Day Derby-RG3.
Completing the field were Louisiana Jambalaya (Jet Black Patriot-Iwanna Dash), LD Streakin N Leavin (Coronas Leaving You-Streakin Juanita), JT Cruiser (Game Patriot-JT Joy Ride), TM Dees Prize (Fast Prize Dash-Call Her Dee), JLS Mr Bigtime (Bigtime Favorite-Psalmist), Little Blue Dove (Jess Louisiana Blue-Hurried Connection) & Party With Braxton (Swingin Jess-Holy Effort).
Sunland Park • $52,400 350 yards • :17.767
Meter Me Gone
Panther Mountain
FAITH MOUNTAIN, ’11-h.
Cash This Runner
Mr Eye Opener
Ms Optical Illusion
Sweet Illusion
Louisiana Downs • $25,000 870 yards • :48.091
Mr Jess Perry
First Prize Dash
Corona Cartel
First Prize Perry
FIRST CORONA PRIZE, ’11-g.
Raise A Corona
Raise You Nine
Louisiana Downs • $25,000 350 yards • :17.798 • si 90
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
SCOOPIES LEAVING YOU, ’11-h.
Toast To Dash
Ms Scoopies Toast
Scoopie Dash
146 SPEEDHORSE, March 2016
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
Ann Switalski/Hodges Photography
Ann Switalski/Hodges Photography