Page 173 - October 2015

PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2
IMA FEARLESS HERO
by Tracy Gantz
It’s hard to live up to a superstar big brother, but Ima Fearless Hero isn’t letting that stand in his way. His 1/2-brother Heza Dasha Fire
has made headlines the past two seasons and was voted Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding of 2014. Ima Fearless Hero made some headlines of his own when he won the Oct. 3 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2 at Los Alamitos.
The 2nd-fastest qualifier when he won his trial, Ima Fearless Hero was bet down to 9-10 favoritism in the final and drew the outside post. He broke well under Cruz Mendez, who has piloted him in all of his races. They battled throughout the 350 yards with Chalala Jess on the rail, but approaching the wire, Ima Fearless Hero drew off. He won by 1/2-length in :17.626.
“He’s getting better and better each time,” said trainer Jose Flores. “We’ve made equip- ment changes two to three times, and it’s helped the horse do what I want him to do.”
Flores trains Ima Fearless Hero for Don and Kathy Meneely and their son, Shawn.
The Meneely family races under the stable name of S-Quarter K LLC, and they bred Ima Fearless Hero in Washington. Kathy Meneely suggested one of the latest equipment changes, cutting back Ima Fearless Hero’s left blinker to keep him from drifting in.
“I thought it was because he would get ahead of his rivals and would then start going inside because he couldn’t see them,” said Kathy. “I thought that by cutting the blinkers a little bit, it would help him see them and he wouldn’t go inside as much. I mentioned it to Jose and, after he thought it over, he called me back to say that he would try it.
“We have a good relationship in that respect. He listens to me, and I appreciate that. We also trust him a lot. You have to trust the people who work with your horses.”
One change that Kathy wasn’t crazy about at first was gelding Ima Fearless Hero, espe- cially since Heza Dasha Fire is a gelding. Ima Fearless Hero had finished second in his first race, losing by 1 1/4 lengths, prompting Flores to urge the owners to geld him.
“The horse had conformation and balance, but his mind wasn’t there,” said the trainer. “His mind wasn’t on running.”
Don agreed with Flores, but Kathy was at first reluctant. Eventually, however, she came around, and it has helped Ima Fearless Hero focus his efforts.
“We did it three weeks before his maiden win,” said Flores. “He’s a racehorse now.”
Since being gelded, Ima Fearless Hero has won four of five races. He became a stakes winner when he captured the June 21 Ed Burke Memorial Juvenile, and the PCQHR A Breeders’ Futurity was his first start in a graded race.
The Meneelys and Flores
now want to point Ima
Fearless Hero for the trials to
the Los Alamitos $2 Million
Futurity-G1. That was Heza
Dasha Fire’s only loss last year in seven starts.
“This race will set him up nicely for the Two Million trials,” said Don Meneely. “He’ll have seven weeks to get ready for the Two Million trials. That’s an optimum amount of time.”
Ima Fearless Hero is out of Dasha
Freda, who won the 2005 California Derby Challenge-G3 and placed in that year’s La Primera Del Ano Derby-G1 while racing for S-Quarter K. Donna McArthur trained her, and her husband, James, bought the filly as a yearling for the Meneelys at Heritage Place.
Dasha Freda has produced five winners from six starters, including Mexico stakes win- ner Heza Fearless Dasher. But her best has been Heza Dasha Fire, winner of last year’s Ed Burke
Million Futurity and Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and an earner of $1,041,940. Heza Dasha Fire could have become the first horse ever to capture the Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza, the West Coast’s futurity Triple Crown, had he won the Two Million Futurity, but he finished fourth. Heza Dasha Fire successfully returned this year to win the Golden State Derby-G2.
Chalala Jess (Apollitical Jess-Chalala) was 2nd in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity following 2 seconds and 2 wins. Eduardo Nicasio piloted the filly for trainer Felix Gonzalez & owner Alipio Burgos. Betsomemoneyhoney (Mr Jess Perry- Dicey Secret), who was 2nd to Chalala Jess in their trial, ran 3rd in the final for jockey Cody Jensen. Dennis Ekins trains the colt for owner Muller Racing LLC. Followed by Bookish (Walk Thru Fire-Callan Rocks), Fire At Will (Favorite Cartel-What Fire), Our Dicey FFM (First Down Dash-Dicey Secret), Much Better Reason (Good Reason SA-First Down Toll), Romantic Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Romanticist), Docs Best Card (Corona Cartel-Docs First Card) & Senor Gianni (Good Reason SA-Shescheckinumout).
Los Alamitos $375,000 • 350 yards :17.626 • si 90
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
IMA FEARLESS HERO, ’13-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Dasha Freda
Fearless Freda
Ima Fearless Hero & Cruz Mendez are never headed winning the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2
SPEEDHORSE, October 2015 171
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos