Page 189 - July 2016
P. 189
Universal City Handicap
SPEED BOK
by John Moorehouse
Alate rally propelled Speed Bok to her second career stakes victory as she won the $15,000 Universal City Handicap held at Retama Park on June 11.
A five-year-old mare, Speed Bok reached the winner’s circle for the seventh time in 28 career outs. John Boegner owns, bred and trains Speed Bok, who also won last year’s version of the Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes held at Retama and finished second in the San Marcos Handicap. Of her seven wins, five now have come at the 870-yard distance.
Breaking on top from the 3-post, Speed Bok ran in the middle of the pack at the first call then started to make her move. The Field Cricket and Speed Bok separated themselves from the rest of the field by the stretch by a distance of 3-lengths, with The Field Cricket leading by a head. Speed Bok drew clear of her rival, however, and won the race by 1-length.
Ridden by Jacquelyn Bobroff, Speed Bok fin- ished her trip in :47.303, posting an 80 speed index and bringing home an $8,850 payday that pushed her lifetime earnings to $57,087.
Boegner also home-bred Wish I Dustem, the dam of Speed Bok. A 2000 mare, Wish I Dustem has produced seven offspring, six of whom have made starts. Although Speed Bok is the only foal to succeed in stakes company, all six of her starters are money earners.
The Field Cricket (Lead The Field-Quick Lil Cricket) finished well clear in 2nd under Russel Hadley for owner Claud R. Denson and trainer Jesse Yoakum. Stolis Pro (Stoli-Veva Jean) placed 3rd under Francisco Calderon for owners Joe and Elaine McAnally and trainer Leon Bard. Followed by Dashers Midnight (Some Dasher-Sheza Moon Bar Baby), CC Carter (Carters Cartel-Check This Disco), Jack Ketel (Ketel Won-Sheza Moon Bar Baby) Corona La Jolla (Tinys First Corona- Mary La Jolla). Snowbound Cowboy scratched.
Ben E. Keith Stakes
MY MOMENT OF FAME
by John Moorehouse
My Moment Of Fame produced one memorable moment for his connections at Retama Park, winning the $15,000 Ben E. Keith Stakes to tally his
first-ever victory in stakes company on June 25. Competing in his third stakes race, My Moment
Of Fame broke well from the inside starting gate and led by a 1/2-length as he reached first call. The geld- ing maintained that separation entering the stretch and widened the gap to 3/4-length by the time he reached the finish line.
With Luis Vivanco aboard, My Moment Of Fame finished the 330-yard out in :16.775, posting a career-best 105 speed index. The gelding already was stakes-placed, finishing second in last year’s Retama Juvenile Challenge. He also finished fourth in this year’s running of the Sam Houston Derby-G3, which marked his most recent prior out.
A three-year-old gelding owned by Holly Hooper, My Moment Of Fame now holds five wins in nine career starts and increased his total bankroll to $54,104 with the $9,450 payday from this event.
Sarah Huskey bred My Moment Of Fame and owns his dam, Moment Of Epiphany, a 2002 mare who has produced three starters among four total offspring. My Moment Of Fame becomes the first in the brood to win a stakes race.
Dash Dont Cheat (Down N Dash-Special Cheat) finished second by a head for owner Pete Scarmardo and trainer Leon Bard. Francisco Calderon drew the riding assignment.
Kelly Perez owns Scarface Cartel (The Louisiana Cartel-Time For Lilly), the pre-race betting favorite, who placed third. The Edelmiro Carrizales trainee had Santos Carrizales in the irons.
Bos Big Shamoon (Shamoon-Bos Arrival), Jess Ronas Dash (Ragazzo-Cool Eve) and Shazooming Episode (Shazoom-Lasting Episode) rounded out the order of finish.
Towers of the Americas H.
BAR STRUCK
by Danny Camp
Six horses lined up for the running of the Tower of the Americas Handicap at Retama Park on July 1. The total purse for the 550-yard contest was $15,000 and it was Bar Struck who ran down the field to pocket first place money worth $9,450.
There was a head wind and the track was
fast when the starter said go for the Tower of the Amerias. Bar Struck broke well from the 6-post, but he gave the field a bit of a head start.
A quarter of the way down the track, however, rider Juan Garcia started urging his mount and they dueled to the finish line. Bar Struck came on with a driving finish and was able to cross the line a head in front.
The bay horse has earned a total of $90,593 with the addition of this $9,450 winner’s share. This was his first win in two years and he can now brag about 8 wins from 31 tries, including the 2013 TQHA 550 Stakes and being named that year’s Texas Hi-Point Aged Stallion.
Bar Struck is owned by Julio Cesar Ramirez and trained by Adrian Huitron. He was bred in Texas by Joe Kirk Fulton out of winner Miss Manolo, who has pro- duced two winners. Bar Struck is her first stakes winner.
If I Were Famous (One Famous Eagle-Runnin Oner Mind) ran a similar race with a late rush to the wire. He took second place for his team, which includes owner Dawn Ivey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Gaspar Garcia was handling the reins.
Corona La Jolla (Tinys First Corona-Mary La Jolla) showed great class and took home third place money for owner Donna G. Mushinski and trainer Kie Mushinski. Luis Vivanco was in the saddle.
The field followed like this: Sophies Special (Visionarian-Special Lassie), Sol Mecheemupjess (Hiclass La Jolla-Shan Checks Her Out) and The Field Cricket (Lead The Field-Quick Lil Cricket). Jet Eye was scratched by the trainer.
Retama Park $15,000 870 yards :47.303 si 80
Boknaai SPEED BOK, ‘11-m.
Wish I Dustem
Mr Jess Perry
Lil Bit Dash
Rydin And Wishin TB Dusty Creek Dancer
Retama Park $15,000 330 yards :16.775 si 105
Chicks Beduino
Imjumpn
MY MOMENT OF FAME, ‘13-g.
Relagate TB
Moment Of Epiphany
Jumpn Chic
Good Ole Memories
Retama Park $15,000 550 yards :27.779 si 94
Corona Cartel
JD Me Too
Strawfly Special Fashionisanattitude
Corona For Me
BAR STRUCK, ‘08-h. Miss Manolo
SPEEDHORSE, July 2016 187
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