Page 138 - May 2016

West Texas Maturity-G2
ONCE OVER
by Michael Compton
Two years after a stellar 2014 season on the track, Once Over is still going strong at age seven. The California-bred added a game victory to his resume in the $99,704 West Texas Maturity-G2 at Sunland Park on April 24.
Ridden by Hector Aldrete, Once Over chased early leader JM Miracle from second through the early stages of the 400-yard test. Once Over dug in bravely through the lane to post a nose victory over the 2014 All American Futurity winner.
Once Over completed the distance in a lively :18.986, for a 101 speed index, just ticks off of Double Down Special’s 2010 track record of :18.613.
Isidro Rodriguez saddled the winner for owner Jaime Bujanda. It was the fourth stakes score for Once Over. The $46,861 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings total to $218,245.
Bred by Edward C. Allred, Once Over is out of the multiple stakes-winner Look Her Over. The mare has produced 100% money earners from 15 perform- ing foals, including two additional stakes winners and two stakes placers with over $1.4 million in earnings.
JM Miracle (Volcom-Lethal Delight) showed the way before being denied at the finish. Sergio Becerra, Jr. piloted the 4-year-old gelding for trainer Albert Franco & owner J and M Racing and Farm.
PYCS Little Lady (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Fitness Lady) closed ground late to secure the show spot under Manuel Gutierrez. Jaime Dominguez trains the 4-year-old filly for Heysol Howlet.
Testing The Ice (Stoli-Streakin La Tac), See Yacht Sea Jump (Jumpn-Yacht Sea), This Lady Is On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Fitness Lady), Jess Featureme Quick (Feature Mr Jess-One Quick Cookie), Aka Bugga (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Special Smoothie), The Ocean King (Corona Cartel-Runaway Wave) and Kru 82 (Stoli-On a Bunny) completed the order of finish.
James S. Smith Memorial H.
FREAKISH
by Tracy Gantz
ANew Year’s Day claim has made 2016 a good year for trainer Lindolfo Diaz, who claimed Freakish for $16,000 on behalf of his father, J. Francisco Diaz, and now the gelding has scored his first stakes victory in the James S. Smith Memorial Handicap at Los Alamitos on April 9. Freakish won the $11,000 winner’s share, making his total bankroll $38,055.
When the gate opened, Freakish and jockey Jesus Ayala popped out on top. Favored Flay tried to catch them, but Freakish held off the field for the entire 350 yards, winning by a neck and getting the distance in :17.589.
“I got him on a two-way shake for $16,000, and he’s run his heart out for us,” said the trainer.
For Dr. Ed Allred, who bred Freakish in California, the gelding broke his maiden and ran well in allowance company. When Freakish appeared for a tag, Diaz got him out of that victory and then the gelding won an allowance race in February for his new owner.
Multiple winner and G2 finalist Chickafirst is the dam of Freakish. The mare has produced six winners in nine starters, including stakes-placed For Pee Jay. The second dam, stakes-placed Chickasis, is the dam of stakes winners Hot Hitter, Hard Hitting, Lassen County, and Freaking.
Paul Jones bred & trains 2nd-place Flay (Favorite Cartel-Summertime Quickie), & he owns the colt with Thompson Racing Inc. Oscar Peinado rode Flay, who in 5 starts has won twice and run 2nd three times. C.K. & Laurel Allen’s homebred Strawfinders Jessee (One Sweet Jess-Strawfinder) ran 3rd with Tony Guymon up. The filly was coming off 2 consecutive wins. Followed by Coach Carter (Carters Cartel-Wortherweightingold), Apollitical Gamble (Apollitical Jess-Three Green Leaves), Obi Juan Kanobi (First Down Dash-Mama Said Run) & Luv On The Run (Favorite Cartel-Luv In The Wind).
AB What A Runner Handicap
BLABBER
by Michael Cusortelli
Ed Allred’s Blabber, a homebred four-year-old daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Kiddy Up, was a prompt 2-1 favorite in the $15,000 AB What
A Runner Handicap for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos on April 1.
Ridden by Gary Boag for trainer Scott Willoughby, Blabber went 350 yards in :17.648, and her margin of victory was a neck over Foo Who.
Blabber was coming off of a wire-to-wire 3/4-length win in the 350-yard $15,000 Elan Again Handicap on Feb. 28.
“(Foo Who) had me by about a neck once we crossed the paddock area, and my mare found another gear and took off,” Boag said.
Raced exclusively at Los Alamitos, Blabber has won six of 14 starts and has banked $61,325. Her three career stakes victories include last year’s 350- yard California Breeders’ Debutante Stakes.
Blabber is the first starter produced by Thinking Out Loud, an 8-year-old mare by Check Him Out and an Allred homebred. Blabber’s second dam, the homebred stakes-winning Pritzi Dash mare Just Think, ran third in Valiantly’s 2002 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G1.
Foo Who (Foose-Env) is a 4-year-old trained by Juan Aleman for owner Michael B. Zynda. Eduardo Nicasio rode the stakes-winning mare, who was also a finalist in last year’s La Primera del Ano Derby-G3.
Dennie and Kris Hill’s Apolitical Zoom (Apollitical Jess-K D Zoom) finished third, a neck behind Blabber. Cesar DeAlba rode the homebred mare for trainer Bret Vickery. Coincidentally, the Hills, residents of Blackfoot, Idaho, raced AB What A Runner, a two-time AQHA Champion for whom this stakes was named.
Shes Da One On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Da One) ran fourth and was followed by Apollitical Chic (Apollitical Jess-This Dashing Chic).
Sunland Park • $99,704 400 yards • :18.986 • si 101
Walk Thru Fire ONCE OVER, ’09-g.
Look Her Over
First Down Dash Sweet Beduino Check Him Out Oh La Proud
Los Alamitos • $20,000 350 yards • :17.589 • si 92
Stel Corona FREAKISH, ‘13-g.
Chickafirst
Corona Cartel
Our Lips Are Sealed First Down Dash Chickasis
Los Alamitos • $15,000 350 yards • :17.648 • si 90
Kiddy Up BLABBER, ‘12-f.
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Vike
Check Him Out
Thinking Out Loud
Just Think
136 SPEEDHORSE, May 2016
RACING NEWS
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Los Alamitos
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