Page 157 - June 2016

Sam Houston Classic-G2
JESSIES FIRST DOWN
by Tracy Gantz
Jessies First Down has returned stronger than ever in 2016. The gelding tailed off at the end of his 4-year-old season in 2015 after scoring his first stakes victory, but this year he has vindicated himself, winning or finishing second in each of his six starts. His most recent victory came in the Sam Houston Classic-G2 on May 7.
A second stakes win in this year’s Miami-Dade County Stakes and a second in the Sam Houston Championship Challenge-G2 made him the favorite in the Sam Houston Classic. With regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo aboard, he broke in midpack. Jessies First Down caught leader Fly Thru The Fire late in the 440-yard event to score by 1/2-length in :21.521. The $30,000 winner’s share of the $50,000 purse increased the gelding’s earnings to $241,528.
Judd Kearl trains Jessies First Down for owner Ted G. Abrams, who bred the gelding in Texas. Jessies First Down, who also won the 2015
Hialeah Maturity, is out of Abrams’ multiple winning homebred Jess A Classy Lassy. She has produced 100% money earners from four starters, all winners. Jessies First Down is her top money earner and first stakes winner.
Fly Thru The Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), also trained by Kearl, held on for second under jockey Noe Villatoro. King Camden Running Horses Inc. owns the 5-year-old horse, who captured the City of Hialeah Stakes earlier this year. Jerry Yoakum piloted Poker Chip 831 (Fantastic Corona Jr-Takeoff Royally) to third for trainer Esteban Rubio and own- ers Katsy and Monte Cluck. The 4-year-old gelding has won three of nine starts. Followed by Jess Toast Winner (Toast To Dash-Runaway Jessy), Dashin For a Prize (Heza Fast Dash-Fast Prize Angie), Jumpn Streak (Jumpn Chic-Juanas Streak), Kool Design (First N Kool-Mitey Good Design) & Quemados Version (Winners Version-A Royal Lead).
Adequan HOU Derby Chal.
BM CASINA ROYALE
by John Moorehouse
BM Casina Royale registered a career-best 106 speed index while running to victory in the $44,640 Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge
on May 16. Home-bred by Bobby W. Myers, BM Casina Royale scored her first win in stakes company and fifth overall victory in 10 starts. A three-year-old filly, BM Casina Royale placed third in last year’s Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge.
She was easily the best in this race, breaking well from the 6-gate and drawing away to a 1 1/4-length victory. A Judd Kearl trainee, BM Casina Royale had Rodrigo Vallejo aboard for the 400-yard trip, com- pleted in :19.700. BM Casina Royale was the second- fastest qualifier from the April 23 trials, finishing second by just a head to top qualifier Brookside.
The win produced a $20,534 payday, increasing her total bankroll to $47,943, and qualified BM Casina Royale for the $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G3 to be held Oct. 29 at Los Alamitos.
Myers also owns Joyalty, the dam of BM Casina Royale. The mare was stakes-placed as a competi-
tor and 2 of her offspring are also stakes-placed. BM Casina Royale becomes the 1st stakes winner in the brood. Joyalty has 7 foals/starters/money/ROM earners.
Mazzimo (The Louisiana Cartel-Las Alamitos) was 2nd under Esgar Ramirez for Jorge Haddad, who does double duty as owner/trainer. SR Esmeralda (Red Storm Cat-Lets Get Fiscal) took 3rd under Noe Villatoro for Silvia Robles after Mad Max Cartel was DQd for inter- ference. Followed by Brookside (Brookstone Bay-I Fly American), Juanny Futbol (Red Storm Cat-TK Twirl), Swifter Deal (Dealagame-Eye Be Swift), Love Is Great (Jess Louisiana Blue-Next Great Love), Moonraker Thoughts (First Moonflash-Thoughtofasqueen) and Max Max Cartel (Cartel Success-Eye Can Flirt). Ima Dashing Gator was scratched after breaking through the starting gate, which led to a delay of approximately 20 minutes before the race.
John Deere HOU Juv. Chal.-G3
MAXX
by John Moorehouse
Maxx joined his highly successful dam as a stakes winner, making a driving finish to take the $69,390 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile
Challenge-G3 on May 16. The two-year-old brown colt broke his maiden in this stakes event, his second career out for owner Irma Vargas. With this win, Maxx quali- fies to the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 to be held Oct. 29 at Los Alamitos.
Maxx has a way to go to match the win total of his dam, Bullions N Garters, who holds 11 stakes victories and over $480,000 in earnings. But winning this race & banking the $31,919 winner’s share is a good start.
Maxx qualified to the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile after finishing second in his April 22 trial to fastest qualifier Teardrops At The Bar. In the finals, Maxx broke well from the 5-hole under Manuel Gutierrez. The colt led by a head at the first call, main- tained that advantage into stretch, and held on to finish first by a neck. Trained by Rolando Almanza, Maxx covered the 350 yards in :17.502. Almanza also trained last year’s winner of this event, Undivided Atemption.
Jim Gubas bred Maxx and owns his dam Bullions N Garters, who has produced 100% money earners from 7 starters. Maxx becomes the second
of her foals to win in stakes company, joining SM Chicks N Garters with over $126,000 banked.
Brian Stroud trains the other 2 horses who hit the board. Teardrops At The Bar (Separatist-Eye Shine Special) was 2nd under Luis Vivanco for James Ray Hrabovsky & Joye Leann Nalls. Jayronimo (Jess Zoomin- Dashing Patriot) took 3rd under Jose Alvarez for Michael S. Amburn. Followed by Gustafame (Freighttrain B-Kensey Ann Fame), Pool Runner (Pool-Cherished Dance), Chase The Rainstorm (Furyofthewind-Cold Stone Sissy), Shez Freaky (TR Dasher-Dulce Bye N Bye), Wishing Rock (Rock Solid Jess-Keep On Wishing), Mulliner (Ivory James-No Fees) & R Imperial Princess (Walk Thru Fire-Thatsa Blazin Chick).
Sam Houston Race Park • $50,000 440 yards • :21.521 • si 105
FDD Dynasty
First Down Dash
Dinastia Toll Brz
JESSIES FIRST DOWN, ’11-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Jess A Classy Lassy
Mighty Classy Lassy
Sam Houston Race Park • $44,640 400 yards • :19.700 • si 106
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
Royal Shake Em Euphoric
BM CASINA ROYALE, ‘13-f. Joyalty
Sam Houston Race Park • $69,390 350 yards • :17.502 • si 99
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
MAXX, ‘14-c.
Dashin Follies
Bully Bullion
Bullions N Garters
Guns And Garters
SPEEDHORSE, June 2016 155
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography