Page 168 - August 2016

Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1
WATERGIRL B
by Michael Cusortelli
Vanessa Bartoo’s Watergirl B, the ninth- fastest qualifier and a 42-1 longshot in the, broke her maiden in the 350-yard Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 for Louisiana-bred 2 year olds at Delta Downs on July 9.
Ridden by Gilbert Ortiz for trainer John Stinebaugh, Watergirl B stopped the timer in :17.615 and posted a lifetime-best 88 speed index. The $345,147 winner’s share of the $690,295 purse, the richest of Delta Downs’ annual spring-summer meet, increased the filly’s bankroll to $354,997.
Bartoo, a resident of Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, is no stranger
to winning big races. She also campaigned gelding Double Down Special, winner of both the Grade 1 All American and Ruidoso derbies in 2010.
“This filly has never failed to light the board, and she’s always shown improvement,” Bartoo said of Watergirl B. “We had a feeling she was one or two races away from her showing her best. We were shocked at the 42-1 odds.”
Watergirl B was coming off of a second- place finish, 1/2-length behind fourth-qualifier Blue Eyed Cartel, in the third of 15 Lee Berwick Futurity trials on June 18.
The filly was bred by
C. Edward Taylor of Tyler, Texas, and is one of three winners from five starters produced by Thats Injunuity,
a winning 14-year-old mare. Watergirl B is a half-sister to James Wild Injun, a finalist
in the 2013 Four Corners Futurity-G3 at SunRay Park. Watergirl B’s second dam,
the winning mare High
Cotton Doll, was a finalist in the Dash For Cash Futurity-G1.
Raced exclusively at Delta Downs in Louisiana, Watergirl B has won one of her
four starts. Bartoo said that the filly will
be pointed toward the 400-yard $1-million Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Futurity-RG1 at Evangeline Downs this com- ing November.
Louisiana Jewels (Jess Louisiana Blue- Jewels Fortune), the fastest qualifier and 3-2 favorite, finished second, 1/2-length behind Watergirl B. The $117,350 runner-up share of the Lee Bewrick Futurity purse bumped the filly’s earnngs to $284,356 from four outs.
A $42,000 buy at last year’s Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Yearling Sale, Louisiana Jewels was ridden by Joe Badilla Jr. for owner Eric Johnson’s Harlow Stables LLC and trainer Michael Taylor.
Third-fastest qualifier Tellem Im Pumped (Stoli- Pump It Teller) ran third,
a head behind Louisiana Jewels, for the Ten For Ten,
LLC partnership. The gelding, a $8,200 purchase at the 2015 LQHBA Yearling Sale, was ridden by David Alvarez for trainer Michael Taylor.
Shez The Bomb (Heza Fast Dash-Mornin Jess), First Prize Bourban (Coronas Leaving You-First Prize Pearl), Swinginstar (Swingin Jess-Lil Rising Star), Cats Last Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Connors Cat), Blue Eyed Cartel (Sizzlin Cartel-The Louisiana Lassie), TF Racee Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-Racee Rainbows), and RDD Lajollanfastdash (Heza Fast Dash-La Jollan Queen) com- pleted the order of finish.
Delta Downs $690,295 • 350 yards :17.615 • si 88
Chicks Beduino
Game Patriot
Fire And Nice
WATERGIRL B, ’14-f.
Invisible Injun
Thats Injunuity
High Cotton Doll
166 SPEEDHORSE, August 2016
Watergirl B & Gilbert Ortiz lead at every call winning the $690,295 Lee Berwick Futurity at Delta Downs
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Coady Photography