Page 185 - October 2015
P. 185
First Moonflash Derby
ASTICA
by John Moorehouse
Astica continued her fantastic sophomore campaign on Sept. 27, winning the 400-yard $146,578 First Moonflash Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque.
The top qualifier for the First Moonflash Derby, Astica broke second from the inside starting gate, promptly grabbed the lead and never relinquished it. The filly led by 1/2-length at the first call, doubled her advantage entering the stretch and then cruised to the wire to win by 3/4-length. Trained by Wesley Giles, Astica completed her latest stakes-winning trip in :19.548, registering a 94 speed index. Jockey Adrian Ramos drew the riding assignment.
A three-year-old filly, Astica has won six consecu- tive races—a streak that includes an unblemished 5-0 record thus far during the 2015 season. That run includes three stakes wins. In addition to the First Moonflash, Astica holds victories in this year’s ver- sions of the Pelican Stakes and Zia Derby-RG2.
Astica was home-bred by Mac & Janis Murray’s MJ Farms. The filly pushed her lifetime earnings to $224,263 with the addition of the $73,289 winner’s share. MJ Farms also home-bred multiple stakes winner Alice K White, the dam of Astica. The mare, who earned nearly $280,000, is the dam of 7 starters from 13 foals. Astica is her first stakes winner.
Giles also trains the 2nd & 3rd place finishers. Major Moonflash (First Moonflash-Prima LD),
was 2nd under Ricky Ramirez for Leslie & Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. Seeyalateralligator (Winners Version-Stars In My Eye) took 3rd under L. Salvador Martinez for Jason Giles & Ezra Elton Lee. Followed by Blazin Version (Winners Version-Shes So Blazin), Pretty Woody Jesse (Jesse James Jr-Woodbridge Duchess), La Estrella De Oro (Sixes Royal-Majorly Easy), JM Blu Moonflash (First Moonflash-The Blues Girl), Perrys First Flash (First Moonflash-Ms Perry Mason) & Regal First Moon (First Moonflash- Regal Fly). Fullmoon Flash scratched.
Eastern Idaho State Fair Chal.
SIGN OF CORONA
by John Moorehouse
Sign Of Corona obliterated the 400-yard track record at Blackfoot on Sept. 11, winning the $16,808 Eastern Idaho State Fair Bonus Challenge for the second straight year.
RTM Stables, LLC and Carol McKinney own Sign Of Corona, who registered his sixth win in 13 career starts. Of those six wins, five have come in stakes company.
Sign Of Corona’s latest triumph came in record time; he covered the 400 yards in :19.373, surpass- ing the standing record of :19.536 that had been set nearly four years ago to the day on Sept. 10, 2011, by A Regal Blue Sky.
James Hanson trains Sign Of Corona, who had Eddie Aceves in the irons for the record-setting run. The gelding posted a career-best 118 speed index.
After breaking well in third from the 6-gate, Sign Of Corona seized the lead by a 1/2-length as
he reached the first call. He remained in control the rest of the way, with a 1/2-length margin at the top of the stretch. The gelding pulled away late to win by 3/4-lengths.
The win produced an $8,232 payday that boosted the gelding’s lifetime earnings to $85,253.
In addition to his two consecutive victories
in the Eastern Idaho State Fair Bonus, Sign Of Corona holds wins in the 2013 Rocky Mountain Spring Classic, the 2014 running of the Les Bois Derby Challenge and in the Les Bois Championship Challenge held earlier this year.
Greg Creager bred Sign Of Corona and home- bred the gelding’s dam, Electric Sign. The 2003 mare won two races and earned her ROM in racing. She is also an AQHA show money earner. In 2008, she was a finalist in the AQHA Regional Experience Barrel Racing and AQHA Regional Experience Pole Bending. She is the dam of 100% ROM/money earners from her two starters.
Bigtime Carter (Carters Cartel-Ms Dashin Bigtime) finished second by a 1 1/4-length margin. Abel Romero owns and trains the gelding, and Raphael Romero drew the riding assignment.
Margaritas N Coronas (Corona Czech-Fly Margarita) finished third for owner Robert Hickman and trainer Bret Vickery.
R Chump Change (Cashin Man-Jewel Cartel), Bogue (Brimmerton-Cool N Sixy TB), Ill Be A Dasher (Carters Cartel-First Down Dream) and Snowboundbeast (Snowbound TB-Going Single) completed the field.
Mypassionspeed scratched.
Alex Picov Mem. Champ.
JETTASTIC
by Danny Camp
The 440-yard $91,113 Alex Picov Memorial Champ. at Ajax Downs in Ontario, Canada, was run Sept. 28 on a cloudy day with just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes out of your ears. Jettastic was 4th in his Sept. 6 qualifier under Mike Holmes for the 7th fastest time coming out of the trials. In the finals, Jettastic received the 2nd call from the 9-post. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going keep getting what you’ve been getting. Holmes, who had ridden him for the 1st time in the trials and was in the saddle for the finals, understood this. He was encouraging his mount right handed without much luck, so he switched to the left hand and Jettastic rose to the occasion.
They finished a neck in front, tripping the timer at :21.650 for a 105 speed index. With the $35,905 first place check, the 4-year-old brown colt has now banked $184,717. His record is 8 wins from 17 tries, winning his last 7 of 9. Jettastic also won last year’s QHRAI Derby and the Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby, and was named AQHA’s Central Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Colt.
Jettastic is owned by Raise The Bar Performance Horses LLC and is trained by Anthony Cunningham. The colt was bred by Norm Crawford out of Man Sheza Fast, who won 2 races in her career and also equaled the 440-yard track record at Rillito Park. The mare is the dam of 10% money earners from her first 4 starters.
In 2nd was Mesa Marvel (Foose-Straw Flying Lady) under Yordanis Amarro for Full Circle Racing & trainer Stephanie Keeble. In 3rd was Jesskissmytexas (Mr Jess Tex- Strawfly Fortune) under Brian Bell for Richard Wincikaby & DK Training Center and trainer Kim Ito. Followed by Mr Victory Six (Tres Seis-Judinell Jo), Sm Chicks N Garters (Country Chicks Man-Bullions N Garters), One Famous Glass (One Famous Eagle-Quick Glass), First Down The Track (Corona Cartel-First Down Runner), Bold Six Love (Streakin Six Cartel-Miss Triple Lynn), Memories Times Six (Sixes Royal-Is It Memorex) & Streakinshagginwagon (Pyc Paint Your Wagon-La Jollas Fortune).
The Downs at Albuquerque $146,578 400 yards :19.548 si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Loose Lips
First Down Dash Champagne Lane
Jesse James Jr
ASTICA, ‘12-f.
Alice K Wite
Eastern Idaho Fair $16,808 400 yards :19.373 si 118 Ntr
Corona Cartel
Coronas Fast Dash
SIGN OF CORONA, ‘11-g. Electric Sign
Dash Fast Girl Vital Sign
Blitz Cash
Ajax Downs $91,113 440 yards :21.650 si 105
Game Patriot
First Down Hemp Heza Fast Man
Jet Black Patriot
JETTASTIC, ’11-c
Man Sheza Fast
Special Te
SPEEDHORSE, October 2015 183
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
Clive Cohen, New Image Media
