Page 152 - April 2017

Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2
BLUE EYED FANCE
by Dillon Hamilton
Blue Eyed Fance continued her two-year-old season in winning fashion with her first stakes victory in the $271,463 Mardi Gras
Futurity-RG2 on March 18.
The 2-year-old bay filly started her career
off by breaking her maiden in the trial race like most of the other horses in the field. She qualified 7th when she bested the trial field by 1 1/4-lengths under jockey Eddie Sanchez, who opted to ride 2nd fastest qualifier Shesa Diamond Diva in the final.
Owner Alejandro Moya had high expecta- tions for Blue Eyed Fance leading up to the race. “I wasn’t nervous because I knew we had an advantage, but there were many other good horses on the track. She comes from a good bloodline and I knew she would perform well.”
His confidence in his filly was confirmed when she broke from the 3-hole sharply. “Once she broke, I knew that she wasn’t going to be caught,” Moya said.
Trainer, and jockey Eddie Sanchez’s father, Jose Sanchez shared Moya’s confidence in the filly’s ability from the gate, but was less sure the results would be favorable. “I had three horses in the race. This is my first year of training, so I was nervous. I was very excited,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez broke the filly in November and keenly watched her development over the past five months. He knew Blue Eyed Fance would be capable of special moments on the track because of the close time he had spent with her. Both he and Moya believed her key moment would come out of the gate. They were correct.
Blue Eyed Fance broke sharply from the gate and led the field straight away under Francisco Calderon. She led by a head at 150- yards but stretched the lead to 3/4-lengths at the line with a solid try, beating her trial time by three-tenths of a second.
The hard work paid off as the afternoon crowd at Louisiana Downs watched the racing pair scamper down the 300-yard fast track in :15.365, earning a speed index of 98.
Moya and Sanchez were both pleased
with the filly’s performance, claiming her start from the gate and an open lane down the track were key in her victory. But, Moya credited Sanchez for a job well done. “He’s a really good trainer and pays attention to all of his horses,” Moya said.
Although his son wasn’t atop the filly in the final, Sanchez expressed his satisfaction
with Francisco Calderon’s riding, claiming he put the filly in a great position to run a great race. “I really like him. He’s a good rider and he’s light, which is always important.”
Blue Eyed Fance’s first stakes victory brought home the $122,282 winner’s share of the purse for Moya. This brings the filly’s overall earn- ings to $125,882.
Both owner and trainer expect more big things to come from the talented 2 year old. Moya was especially proud of all who contributed to the win.
“I have a pretty good team. As long as I keep my team and the filly performs well, I have high expectations,” Moya said.
Sanchez’s eyes are also on the future after the good performance on the big stage. “She’ll be one of my best and I hope she stays sound. I want her to stay ready for the big races,” Sanchez said.
Moya bred Blue Eyed Fance out of Fance Loretta in Louisiana. The filly is Fance
Loretta’s third stakes winner out of sixteen starters, includ- ing multiple graded stakes winner/New Track Record setter/Texas Hi-Point Aged Mare and top earner This Snow Is Cold, and New Track Record setter/graded stakes winner Miss Snow Royale.
Cos I Get It (Tee Cos- Come An Get Me) broke in and surged late under Damian Martinez to finish
second for owner Abraham Huitron and trainer Eusevio Huitron. TTT Kas (Kas I Said So-Ima Georgiababy) dueled and was a game third under Raul Ramirez, Jr. for owner Jorge Meraz and trainer Jose Sanchez.
Shesa Diamond Diva (Struttin To Beduino- Sheza Fortune), Sir Edward L Perry (Sir Runaway Dash-Rebels Loyal Lady), Paretti (Jess Cuervo-Afri), Angiesprizedpatriot (Game Patriot-Fast Prize Angie), Party From Hail (JLS Party Wagon-Alysa M), JRS Natural Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-BJS Cute N Natural) and HQH Runaway Gal (Sir Runaway Dash-Magic Gal TB) completed the order of finish.
Louisiana Downs $271,463 • 300 yards :15.365 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
BLUE EYED FANCE, ’15-f.
Reckless Dash
Fance Loretta
Savannahs Fance
150 SPEEDHORSE, April 2017
Blue Eyed Fance and Franciso Calderon win the $271,463 Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2
RACING NEWS
Hodges Photography