Page 157 - January 2016 Speedhorse

A Ransom Handicap
VIVID
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Jose Flores was coming off one of the best weekends of his life, having won the Dec. 12 Champion of Champions with Heza Dasha Fire and the Dec. 13 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity with Ima Fearless Hero. The following Friday, Dec. 18, he saddled Vivid and won yet another stakes, as she captured the A Ransom Handicap.
Vivid doesn’t always get away from the gate quickly, and she broke third in the A Ransom. When jockey Cody Jensen hustled her forward, she responded, making up ground steadily to win by 1/2-length in :17.771 for the 350 yards.
Flores trains Vivid for owner Howard Nichols. The filly won the Ed Burke Memorial Juvenile Stakes and finished second in the Golden State Juvenile Stakes in 2014. In 2015 she ran second in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby.
“She’s a big filly, so she’s not as quick as some of the smaller horses,” said Nichols. “But she’s improved.”
Dr. Ed Allred bred Vivid in California from Realistically, winner of the 2006 Kansas Derby. The mare has produced two winners in six starters, including stakes-placed Smithy. Realistically is a half-sister to stakes winners Really A First, Seldom Happens, and Rarely Happens.
Rodolfo Arvizu piloted Tango In Cash (FDD Dynasty-Bodacious Dream) to second for trainer Guillermo Morales and owner Nerio Ruiz. Tango In Cash had most recently finished second in allow- ance company.
Muller Racing LLC’s homebred Boundless Ocean (Ocean Runaway-A Tempting Chick) ran third with Cesar DeAlba in the irons. Dennis Ekins trains the filly, who has won twice and run second six times.
Old Girl (Stel Corona-Female First) finished fourth, followed by Chicanery (Stel Corona- California Wildfire). Hot Shot was scratched.
First Down Dash Handicap
FRONT AND CENTER
by Tracy Gantz
Rain began to fall at the start of the Dec. 19 Los Alamitos card, and by the time for the First Down Dash Handicap, the sealed track was labeled
sloppy. That didn’t deter Front And Center, who raced to his fourth consecutive victory.
When the gate opened, Remarkableyesapoweer veered out, slightly crowding Front And Center. But Front And Center rallied quickly under jockey Tony Guymon, coming on late to win by a neck in :19.914 for the 400 yards.
Mark Skeen trains Front And Center for Ronald Skeen and Fawna Knight. In 2014, the gelding finished second in the Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders Stakes.
Dr. Ed Allred bred Front And Center in California from winner Katie Katella. The mare has produced five winners from eight starters, including stakes-placed Kickin Your Can and Wait. Katie Katella is a full sister to Champion Flame N Flash and a half-sister to Champions Hawkish and Hawkinson.
Jake Gold BR (Gold Medal Jess - Charlotte Bryan), the South American Champion of 2014, ran second with Cesar DeAlba aboard. Paul Jones trains the 5 year old for owner Clodoaldo de Oliveria Miranda.
Remarkableyesapoweer (Eyesa Special - Remarkable Power) finished third under Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Moreno and owner Jesus Daniel Padilla.
Wilmas Alright Now (Im Alright Now - Wilma The Wizard) and Margaritas N Coronas (Corona Czech - Fly Margarita) finished in a dead-heat for fourth while Joe Legacy (Brookstone Bay - A Diamond Legacy), Mrs Pickens (Walk Thru Fire - Pie Maid), & The Midnite Caller (A Regal Choice - Cee The Blurr) completed the order of finish.
Charger Bar Handicap-G1
QUIRKY
by Tracy Gantz
Quirky began 2016 the same way she started 2015—with a victory in the $100,000 Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos on Jan. 3.
She had a near-perfect year in 2015, and she could improve upon that record in 2016.
In the 2016 Charger Bar, Quirky broke on the lead and entered a three-way battle with Sass Me Blue and Apolitical Zoom. The trio fought to the wire in the 400-yard event, but Quirky received every call and her class carried her to a head victory in :19.808 under jockey Eulices Gomez. The $50,000 first place check boosted her earnings to $393,598.
Jimmy Glenn Jr. trains Quirky for owner-breeder Dr. Ed Allred. In 2015, Quirky also won the Grade 1 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap, California Breeders’ Matron Stakes, and Ivan Ashment Handicap. She captured the Southern California Derby in 2014.
Allred said that he pulled embryos out of Quirky last year and plans to do so again this year before bringing her back for more racing. He bred her in California from Dont Pass Bar, who has produced two winners in three starters.
Sass Me Blue (Valiant Hero-Jess Sass Me), who is owned by the Lucky Seven Ranch, finished second for jockey Cody Jensen and trainer Michael Casselman.
Dennie and Kris Hill’s homebred Apolitical Zoom (Apollitical Jess-K D Zoom) ran third with Cesar DeAlba aboard. Bret Vickery trains the 4-year-old filly.
Completing the field were Political Chick (Apollitical Jess-Fearless Chick), Walk Around Blues (Walk Thru Fire-Queens R Blue), Take A Look (Separatist-Look Her Over), Tallulah Moon (Corona Cartel-Splendifferous), Vivid (Walk Thru Fire-Realistically), Skinny Jeans (Foose-Sables Sixty Six) & Solid Connection (Mr Jess Perry-Dinastia Toll BRZ).
Los Alamitos • $20,000 350 yards • :17.771 • si 86
Walk Thru Fire VIVID, ’12-f.
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino
Separatist
Realistically
Really Rare
Los Alamitos • $35,000 400 yards • :19.914 • si 87
Walk Thru Fire FRONT AND CENTER, ’11-g.
First Down Dash Sweet Beduino
Separatist
Katie Katella
Oh La Proud
Los Alamitos • $100,000 400 yards • :19.808 • si 90
Stel Corona QUIRKY, ’11-m.
Dont Pass Bar
Corona Cartel
Our Lips Are Sealed A Regal Choice Ynot Bar
SPEEDHORSE, January 2016 155
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos