Page 166 - August 2016

Rainbow Derby-G1
VALIANT ROGUE
by Tracy Gantz
Job transfers can be difficult, especially when a person’s spouse has a good job
at home. That was the case for Kevin and Crystal Brown, but it also ultimately led to Valiant Rogue’s victory in the July 23 Rainbow Derby-G1 at Ruidoso Downs.
Kevin works in the refining business in Vera, Oklahoma, while Crystal has a longtime position as president of a credit union. Kevin’s job sent him to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a time, where he became friends with co-worker Tammy Rosenlund and her husband, Jay.The two couples ultimately decided to own race- horses together, first as Cheyenne Cartel and now as Wyok Ranch, LLC, better reflecting
the two states where they live. Their runners include Valiant Rogue, trained by Judd Kearl and the fastest qualifier for the Rainbow Derby.
Tanner Thedford piloted Valiant Rogue in both the July 10 trial and the final. “In the trials, he ran big,” the jockey said.
First Valiant Sign, who finished first, second, and fourth in all three of Ruidoso’s big futurities last year, went off as the 8-5 favorite in the Rainbow Derby, with Valiant Rogue the second choice at 7-2. Both are by Valiant Hero. But, the race belonged to Valiant Rogue.
“Today they false broke in the gate and he stayed still,” said Thedford. “When we broke,
he stayed on his task.” Valiant Rogue took the lead early in the 440 yards, and it appeared from early on that he would dominate. He crushed the competition by 1 3/4-lengths in :21.545, earning the $514,285 winners share of
the purse. Valiant Rogue has now earned $597,807 in total lifetime earnings.
“We were confident going
into the finals,” Kevin said.
“Judd knew he could run, and if he got away from there clean and didn’t have any trouble, Judd thought he’d run a big race. He sure did. Judd had him ready to go.”
Kearl purchased Valiant Rogue for $20,000 at the 2014 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for the partners.
Kearl broke Valiant Rogue, who has blos- somed as a three year old. “He has always been a big colt, and now he is mentally mature. He loves 440.”
Kevin Brown praised Kearl and his crew for working with Valiant Rogue in the gate. “He would throw his head around, and he wouldn’t pay attention,” Kevin said. “They spent hours and hours working on the gate with him. Now
that we’ve got that fixed, he’s pretty tough to outrun.”
Bollenbach Farms bred Valiant Rogue in Oklahoma out of Azoom Babe, who
won the 2010 Fair Meadows Belles Stakes and was three times stakes-placed in her race career. The mare has produced two winners in four starters.
Boogies Special Dash (Walk Thru Fire-Boogie Special) finished second for
jockey Cesar Gomez and trainer Kasey Willis. Kenneth Ruthardt owns the gelding, who has won three of eight starts.
Jose Alvarez piloted Two Feather Series LLC’s Stevie B First Cash (First Down Dash-Spit Curl Diva) to third for trainer Bret Vickery. The colt was coming off two consecutive victories.
Completing the field were First Valiant
Sign (Valiant Hero-First Painted Sign),
Miss Feet Down First (Dominyun-Feet
Down First), Boxwineizfine (Separatist- Onemoreglassofwine), Appolitical Streak (Apollitical Jess-Streak Of Sixes), TF Im That Guy (First Down Dash-TF Ms Special Perry), Significant Runner (Foose-Jess Significant), and Big Lew (Corona Cartel-Executive Looks).
Ruidoso Downs $1,224,488 • 440 yards :21.545 • si 89
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
VALIANT ROGUE, ’13-g.
Azoom
Azoom Babe
Miss Stocks N Bonds
164 SPEEDHORSE, August 2016
Valiant Rogue & Tanner Thedford take the $1,224,488 Rainbow Derby by 1 3/4-lengths
RACING NEWS
Gay Harris