Page 158 - June 2016

Merial HOU Distaff Challenge
TIME FOR WINE
by Michael Compton
Time For Wine overcame a bumped start and steward review, but in the end, the connections of the 4-year-old filly were able to raise a glass as their charge emerged the official winner of the $26,100 Merial Sam Houston Distaff Challenge on April 30.
Ridden by Francisco Calderon, Time For Wine broke sharply at the start of the 400-yard fixture despite being bumped and forced in. She ran strongly through the lane, rolling across the finish line 1/2-length in front of runner-up Lil Effortless Reign.
A claim of foul was lodged against the riders
of Time For Wine and Sure Fire Flyer for interfer- ence soon after the start, but no action was taken. It was the third career win for Time For Wine, who stopped the timer in :20.074 which was good for a 96 speed index.
Owned by Pete A. Scarmardo and trained by Leon Bard, the $12,528 winners share of the Merial Sam Houston Distaff Challenge purse boosted Time For Wine’s lifetime bankroll to $27,993. The sorrel filly was the 2015 Texas Hi-Pt Three-Year-Old Filly. Bred in California by Vessels Stallion Farm
LLC, Time For Wine is out of the 4-time win-
ner and Grade 2 stakes finalist Fine Wines. The mare has produced 100% money earners from
six starters, including multiple stakes winner Onemoreglassofwine and stakes placed/multiple stakes finalist Mr Perrys Wine.
Runner-up Lil Effortless Reign (He Will Reign- Effortless Love) raced in the colors of Scarlett Hill Farm under Noe Villatoro & was saddled by Judd Kearl. Race favorite Kitty Kat Galore B (FDD Dynasty-Fast Prize Ginger) was 3rd for Byron Gardner & trainer Judd Kearl. Rodrigo Vallejo was in the irons. Followed by Shiner Blond (Make It Anywhere-Blond Cartel), Vital Temp (Tempting Dash-Vital Time), N Bee C (Apollitcal Jess-Full Moon Dasher), Sure Fire Flyer (Mr Piloto- Segura) & Cabana Girl (Pool-Magical Affection).
Governor’s Cup Marathon
JESS TWICE CASH
by Tracy Gantz
The first time Jess Twice Cash attempted 870 yards, owner/trainer Ty Remington claimed him for $5,000. That was back in mid-2014, and since then the horse has proved himself adept at that distance, scoring yet again in the Governor’s Cup Marathon at Sam Houston Race Park on May 7.
“We didn’t get the best distances at Hialeah; 870 yards is definitely where he belongs,” said Remington.
With jockey Julio Rodriguez as a last-minute replacement, Jess Twice Cash broke on top and settled into fourth. He rallied three wide to get up in the final strides and win by a neck in :45.140. The $15,000 payday from the $25,000 purse boosted his earnings to $90,390.
Garlyn Shelton bred Jess Twice Cash in Texas from the Joe Kirk Fulton-bred mare Twice Cash. Shelton raced Twice Cash, and she won and earned a AAA speed index from only two starts. The mare has produced 100% money earners/ROM from her first three starters, but 2015 Texas Hi-Pt Aged Stallion
Jess Twice Cash is her only stakes winner. The second dam, stakes-placed Its Called Class, has produced stakes winners Its Called Splash and Its Called Special and is a half-sister to Champion Pie In The Sky.
Alejandra Carrion’s EC Cartel (Tinys First Corona-Twayna Too), a 2-time stakes winner late
last year, ran 2nd for jockey Donell Blake and trainer Judd Kearl. The 7-year-old gelding went off as the
6-5 favorite. Elaine and Joe McAnally’s homebred Dashers Midnight (Some Dasher-Sheza Moon Bar Baby) finished 3rd. Russel Hadley rode the 9-year-old gelding for trainer James Gerhards. Dashers Midnight is a multiple stakes winner. Followed by Iknow Heknows Iknow (Tres Seis-Dashing Patriot), The Field Cricket (Lead The Field-Quick Lil Cricket), EBW More Whisky (SC Chisled In Stone-Hustlins My Name), and First Prize Dive (Ivory James-First Prize Pearl). Corona La Jolla was scratched.
Texas Twister Stakes
RED CORONA WARRIOR
by Michael Compton
Red Corona Warrior capitalized on an alert start in the 110-yard Texas Twister Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on April 30, darting to a
1/2-length score in the $15,000 event.
With Francisco Ramirez Jr. in the irons, Red
Corona Warrior jumped to the lead at the break and was never headed. The 4-year-old gelding stepped the distance in a lively :6.786, earning a 115 speed index. The final time just missed The Hot List’s 2012 track standard of :6.736.
Trained by Josue Ponce, the gelding is a winner in three of 16 lifetime starts and boasts earnings
of $120,629. While the Texas Twister was his first stakes score, Red Corona Warrior is multiple stakes- placed, having finished second in both the 2014 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG2 and that year’s Gillespie County Fair Futurity. He was also third in the 2015 Hialeah Derby.
The Terrazas Family homebred Red Corona Warrior out of the unraced mare Prairie War Princess. From 3 starters, Red Corona Warrior is her first stakes winner.
My Glory Dash (Shazooms Glory Dash-Eye Can Flirt) was a game second. Donald Guynes piloted the 5-year-old mare for trainer J. Plunkett and owner Mary Lou Zoeller.
Fly Lil Curl (Spit Curl Jess-Fly Bonus) flashed early zip for jockey Claudio Aguilar and held third. Trainer Yasmine Fierro sent out the 5-year-old mare for owner Dora Martinez.
Kid Can Dash (Down N Dash-Quickid Perry), Ipolito (Apollo TB-Seychelle), Last Man Standin (Jodys Money Pop-La Jollas Game), Surviving Legend (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Surviving Success), Shezarealfast (Hez Fast As Cash-Shezarealsissy) and Mighty Zapata (Mighty Corona-Eying Miss Perry) followed. Snipes And Bites scratched.
Sam Houston Race Park • $26,100 400 yards • :20.074 • si 96
Mr Jess Perry TIME FOR WINE, ’12-f.
Fine Wines
Streakin La Jolla Scoopie Fein First Down Dash Dashin Sandy
Sam Houston Race Park • $25,000 870 yards • :45.140 • si 106
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS TWICE CASH, ’10-h. Twice Cash
The Louisiana Girl Panther Mountain Its Called Class
Sam Houston Race Park • $15,000 110 yards • :6.786 • si 115
Corona Cartel
Coronas Fast Dash
Dash Fast Girl
RED CORONA WARRIOR, ’12-g.
Dashin Is Easy
Prairie War Princess
Prairie War
156 SPEEDHORSE, June 2016
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography