Page 38 - New Mexico Fall 2020

RUIDOSO DOWNS
by Michael Cusortelli, photos by Coady Photography
Mountain Top TB Futurity (R)
Attila’s Storm
Forest Widcat
Sweet Symmetry
Key To My Warrior
Majestic Warrior
Key To My Heart
MY STORM WARRIOR
A disqualification following a stewards’ inquiry gave My Storm Warrior his first stakes win in the June 20, $163,415 Mountain Top Thoroughbred Futurity-R for New Mexico- bred 2 year olds at Ruidoso Downs.
Racing for Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC and sent to post at odds of 33-1, My Storm Warrior was moved from second to first when 37-1 longshot Fill The Bill was disqualified from first and placed third for brushing with 5-2 second choice One Mark and, in the opinions of the stewards, costing that rival a better plac- ing. Frank Reyes rode My Storm Warrior for trainer Todd Fincher.
”I wasn’t that surprised (by the win) because My Storm Warrior was running down horses in his trial to qualify,” said Fincher. “I thought the pace was pretty strong today, so he was able to close well.”
My Storm Warrior was bred by Dale Taylor and Debbie Taylor. The dark bay gelding became the 22nd black-type stakes winner sired by Attila’s Storm, a son of
the Storm Cat stallion Forest Wildcat. Racing from 2004-07, Attila’s Storm earned $534,983 from 18 starts, and his five wins included the 2007 Toboggan Handicap-G3 at Aqueduct.
Attila’s Storm has sired the earners of more than $12.6 million from 10 crops, including mul- tiple stakes winners Hush’s Storm, Little Vidalia, and Go For A Stroll. The stallion is owned by
the Estate of R.D. Hubbard and stands A & A Ranch at Anthony, New Mexico.
My Storm Warrior’s dam, the winning 10-year-old Majestic Warrior mare Key To My Warrior, has produced four winners from as many starters, including Stormin Fast, a full brother to My Storm Warrior who ran third in last year’s $149,352 Copper Top Futurity (R) at Sunland Park.
My Storm Warrior’s second dam, the Mr. Prospector mare Key To My Heart, foaled eight winners from 10 starters, including Love N’ Kiss S., a half sister to Key To My Warrior who won the second division of the ’01 Pebbles Handicap-G3 at Belmont Park. The gelding traces back to his third dam, the stakes-placed Northern Dancer mare Barbs Dancer, who produced 100% winners, including two stakes winners, from 15 starters, including Eillo, win- ner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Sprint-G1 at Hollywood Park in 1984.
My Storm Warrior’s Mountain Top Futurity victory marked the gelding’s first win in three outs, and the $81,708 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $82,908.
One Mark was placed second and was fol- lowed officially by Fill The Bill, 6-5 favorite Aisle Runner, Jornalero, Seventh Hennessy, Bully Baby, Benjamin Who, and Zesty Jazzman. Finalist Shamefully Sweet scratched.
One Mark is a bay son of the Bernardini stallion Marking and the multiple stakes winning Sir Cherokee mare Cherry One. The gelding banked $32,683 to bring his earnings to $33,483 from two starts for owners Ted Rushing and R. Lee Lewis.
Fill The Bill races for J & SM Inc. which pur- chased the filly at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs. The bay filly has won one of three outs and has earned $22,810.
36 New Mexico Horse Breeder