Page 164 - August 2022

RACING NEWS
Vessels Maturity-G1
EMPRESSUM
by Tracy Gantz
Until the Vessels Maturity-G1 trials, Empressum hadn’t run since being named the 2021 Champion 3 Year Old and Champion
3-Year-Old Gelding. Based on his trial and final, he’s right on target for more titles in 2022.
Empressum qualified the fastest on June 11, speeding 400 yards in :19.440, and he traveled even faster in the July 3 final. He powered away from the outside post under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo and won by an easy 1 3/4-lengths. Empressum completed 400 yards in
:19.329, the third-fastest time ever for the Maturity.
“It’s beyond my imagination that he can continue to do what he’s doing,” said Jeff Jones, who bred and owns him with Steve Holt. “He knows that he’s special. I give a lot of credit to Steve. He raised him since he was a baby, took care of him, and the horse seems to know that he’s a star.”
Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3
Heath Taylor trains millionaire Empressum for Jones and Holt. Last year Empressum captured the Ruidoso Derby-G1, Rainbow Derby-G1, Texas Classic Derby-G1, and Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby-RG2. With his win in the Vessels Maturity, Empressum received a presumptive invitation to the Champion of Champions-G1.
“The whole goal was to try to get him eligible to the Champion of Champions in December,”
said Taylor. “The race is $750,000 this year, and it’s a special race every year.”
Jones and Holt bred Empressum out of winner Crazy Down Corona. The mare has produced five winners in eight starters, including 2022 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 third Hes Judgeandjury.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Monopolist (Favorite Cartel- Nymph) finished second. Oscar Peinado rode the 4-year-old
gelding for trainer James Glenn. Monopolist won the 2020 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G2.
Up And Atem (Favorite Cartel-Up For
It) and La Estrella Corona (Corona Czech- Shadow Lake TB) dead-heated for third. Allred bred and races allowance winner Up And Atem, who was ridden by Armando Cervantes and is trained by Scott Willoughby. An allowance winner as well, La Estrella Corona was ridden by Irving Lara. Santos Perez trains the 4-year-old filly for owner EG High Desert Farms.
Completing the field were Valiantt (Valiant Hero-Astica), Circle City (Favorite Cartel- Moonlight Corona), You Can Run (Favorite Cartel-You Can Fly), Bail Czech (Corona Czech-Letty Bail Regis Out), Mister Tornado (Sports Cartel-Spanish Sola Mark), and Just A Dasha Hero (Valiant Hero-Dasha Freda).
Fast Dash) and jockey Guadalupe Lucio Jr. finished third for owner Gene Cox and trainer Joel Huitron. Bred in Louisiana by Stevie and Margo Romero, Blessher Sweet Heart won the Vinton Stakes two starts back and finished third in her Louisiana Bred Derby trial and was the seventh-fastest qualifier. Blessher Sweet Heart is a 3-time winner and all of her victories have been at Delta Downs.
Louisiana Tequila (The Louisiana Cartel-Newport Lily), Mr Perfect TLC (The Louisiana Cartel- Perfection) Greatest Of All Time (The Louisiana Cartel-Shakemupperry), Shesa Knockoutcartel (Five Bar Cartel-Lady Knockout), TDZ Heza Streakin (Heza Fast Dash-Royally Streak), and JLA Double Down Dash (Corona Caliente-Miss Shiney Streak) completed the order of finish. An Incredible Moment was scratched.
Los Alamitos
$156,300 • 400 yards :19.329 • si 103
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
EMPRESSUM, ‘18-g.
First Down Dash
Crazy Down Corona
Crazy About Corona
PATRIOTIC TRUMP
by Michael Compton
Sent off as the third wagering choice in the Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG3 on July 16, Patriotic Trump rallied strongly in the middle of the track to score the first stakes win of his career in the 400-yard fixture.
With Juan Garcia Jr. in the saddle, Patriotic Trump raced in third position early. With an impressive rally through the lane, Patriotic Trump soared by his rivals to score by 3/4 of a length at the finish. The sorrel gelding covered the distance in :19.987 and
earned a speed index of 87.
A Louisiana homebred for
Gene Cox, Patriotic Trump is conditioned by Juan Cano. The $94,080 winner’s share increased his earnings to $130,808 and improved his overall mark to 9-2-3-0. Bred in Louisiana, Patriotic Trump is out of the Coronas Leaving You mare Princess Lil Bit, a stakes-placed earner of $57,059 for Cox.
Patriotic Trump broke his maiden in his second start last year at two and was a finalist in the Louisiana Juvenile at Delta Downs in late summer.
This year at three, Patriotic Trump finished second in the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs and was fourth in his Louisiana Bred Derby trial on June 23.
Finishing with a flurry under jockey Ubaldo Luna, Flying Adelia (Apollitical Blood-
Flying Marguerita) crossed the wire in second. Owned
by Fausto Mendoza and trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr., Flying Adelia won the LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational last December. The bay filly was bred in Louisiana by Margaret McKerley. She finished fourth in her trial and was the eighth-fastest qualifier.
Blessher Sweet Heart (Jet Black Patriot-Reckless
162 SPEEDHORSE August 2022
Delta Downs
$188,160 • 400 yards :19.987 • si 87
Game Patriot
Jet Black Patriot
First Down Hemp
PATRIOTIC TRUMP, ‘19-g. Coronas Leaving You
Princess Lil Bit
Princess Toast
Coady Photography Los Alamitos