Page 165 - August 2022

Firecracker Derby-G3
LIL LONGMIRE
Bby Michael Compton
en Peterson’s Lil Longmire was the 7th-fastest
qualifier to the $177,045 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs on July 8, but the manner which she won her trial heat on June 18 by 1 1/4-lengths gave her connections plenty of confidence heading into the main event. Lil Longmire didn’t disappoint.
Ridden by jockey Gilbert Ortiz, Lil Longmire broke alertly in the finals and raced in 3rd position early in the 400-yard fixture. She hit her best stride and rallied strongly in the middle of the track through the lane, proving best by a comfortable 1 1/2-lengths at the finish as the 6-5 second wagering choice. Lil Longmire stopped
the timer in :19.823 and earned
a speed index of 91 in the
impressive victory.
“She broke with them,
but around 100 yards, she accelerated and just went on with it,” winning jockey Gilbert Ortiz said following the vicory. “The further she went, the better she got. In the trials she did the same thing, but kind
of waited like she was lost.
The way she ran in the trials, I thought, ‘she’ll win the final.’ I had a lot of confidence in her.”
Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity
“She transitioned to the barn this year and has been a pleasant surprise,” noted trainer Taylor. “In her first race of the year she dead-heated with the 2-year-old Champion Filly last year, Revenant Moon, so that showed us a lot of promise.”
Trained by M. Heath Taylor, Lil Longmire improved her record to 10-6-3-0. The $88,522 winner’s share of the purse increased her bankroll to $204,553.
Lil Longmire came in second in the $278,600 Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park on May 28. This was her first graded stakes win, and only the
second time in stakes company. She also placed second by a neck in the $130,625 AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2
at Albuquerque in October of 2021 after winning the Pocatello Downs Juvenile Challenge by 3/-lengths.
Bred in Utah by Spencer Peterson, Lil Longmire is out
of the Carters Cartel mare Dee Zired. She is a lightly raced mare that had one win in six starts. She has produced two winners from three starters and has progeny earnings of $209,808.
Firecracker Derby runner-up Swags (Kiss My Hocks-Check the Account) closed with a rush in the late stages to snare the second place spot under jockey Jorge Garcia. He came in a close second
by only a nose during his Firecracker Derby trial. Swags took home $30,098 from his share of the purse for owner Luciano Gutierrez. Erika Huitron is the trainer.
RF Fearless Jet (Jet Black Patriot-Fearona) and jockey Randy Edison showed the way early and held on for third. He also finished third behind second place finisher Swags in their Firecracker Derby trial. Rogers Farm owns RF Fearless Jet. Trainer Vann Haywood saddled the bay gelding.
Ultimo Alex (Inseperable-Cindys First CD), Apollitical Crystal (Apollitical Jess-Walk Thru Crystal), Just Call Me Jess (One Sweet Jess- Justified), No Secret Knockout (No Secrets Here-Adolph Tres Knockout), Heza Coco Pata (Heza Fast Dash-Cocopata), Patriot Fireworks (Jet Black Patriot-Jess Caroline), and Cottonpickintrain (Freighttrain B-Jess A Dreamgirl) followed.
Fastest qualifier Relentless Summer (Hes Relentless-Summertime Dash) was gritty enough to finish second under Alfredo Triana Jr. for owner Alfredo Botello and trainer Alex Wessels.
A Legacy Of Tales (Wagon Tales-Legacys A Streakin) quarreled a bit with the starting gate but over came that with a third place finish. Ridden by Cristian Esqueda, the gelding is owned by Donald Friesen and trained by Stacy Charette-Hill.
Fox News (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song), Double Didget (The Fiscal Cliff-First Black Rose), Water Or Corona (KVN Corona- Aquafina), Painted Candy Chick (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Eyesa Candy Chick), Kool N Foxy (One Famous Eagle-Kool Fire), Surprise Party (KVN Corona-VF Red Surprise) and Kiki Kartel (Coronado Cartel-Mt Rob This Corona) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
Delta Downs
$177,045 • 400 yards :19.823 • si 91
Mr Jess Perry
A Revenant
Thewayouwantmetoo
LIL LONGMIRE, ‘19-f.
Carters Cartel
Dee Zired
Dee Edge
SURPRISE SURPRISE
by Danny Camp
It was no surprise to anyone that Surprise Surprise won the $163,750 Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity on July 10.
Undefeated in four starts, including her June 20 trial heat, she came into the finals with the fourth fastest qualifying time to score her first stakes victory.
Ridden by Bonifacio Quiroz, the filly broke on top from the 3-post. Despite a challenge from Relentless Summer, Surprise Surprise scored the victory
with a 3/4-length winning
margin. They completed the
350 yards in :18.193.
Trained by Edward Hardy, Surprise Surprise banked the $73,687 winner’s share of the purse for owner Xcel Partners 22, which boosted her total lifetime earnings to $97,177.
McColee Land & Livestock LLC bred Surprise Surprise out of Sooner State
Stakes-RG1 winner VF Red Surprise. The mare was also a finalist in the Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1, Oklahoma Derby-G3 and Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Futurity-RG3. VF Red Surprise has produced 100% winners from two starters. Surprise Surprise is her first stakes winner.
“This filly was tough to start with,” said trainer Edward Hardy. “She seemed to be
scared of everything. It took a while but when she turned the corner it was like night and day. Now she is purely a professional, she takes everything in stride. She is quiet to be around, she is all business on the track.”
When asked about her future, Hardy explained, “We are going to wait a few days and let her tell us if we should go to Ruidoso or stay around here.”
Prairie Meadows
$163,750 • 350 yards :18.193
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
SURPRISE SURPRISE, ‘20-f.
First Prize Stanley
VF Red Surprise
Red Temptress
SPEEDHORSE August 2022 163
Coady Photography
Coady Photography