Page 180 - August 2022

RACING NEWS
QROOI Sprint Series #2 Stakes
CARNEROS
Cby Tracy Gantz
arneros first started racing in his native
Oklahoma, but he has made a good home for himself over the years at Ajax Downs in Canada. Most recently, Carneros proved victorious at Ajax in the $15,434 QROOI Sprint Series #2 on June 29.
With jockey Brian Bell aboard, Carneros came out of the gate well and on the lead. He battled with a couple of rivals early in the 220 yards, pulling away for a 1/2-length wire-to-wire win as the heavy odds-on favorite. Carneros stopped the timer in :11.935 for a 98 speed index.
The Sprint Series #2 Stakes gave trainer Jason Pascoe his fourth win on the June 29 card, three of them for owner Milena Kwiecien. Jockey Bell had three winners on the card, all for Pascoe.
Kwiecien claimed Carneros for $25,000 out of
a race at Remington Park in 2017. Since then, the 7-year-old gelding in stakes at Ajax has won three, run second in six, and run third in two. He finished second in this stakes last year and has earned a total of $126,364.
Stone Chase Stables LLC bred Carneros in Oklahoma out of homebred winner Cakebread And Thou. Carneros is the mare’s only registered foal.
Mary Schrama’s homebred Night Fishn (Sugarman Perry-Fisher Lines) finished second. Ramiro Castillo rode the 8-year-old mare for trainer Dan Giles. Night Fishn has won two stakes.
Steve Hunter’s homebred Zoxtobeyou (Pappasito-A Leading Memory), ridden by Lloyd Desouza and trained by Janet Grice, finished third. The 8-year-old gelding has twice placed in Sprint Series Stakes.
Rounding out the field were Chicksdigmymoneybags (Chicks Regard-Aaneta), SW The Redeemer (Hes Relentless-Rockin Miss Kitty), and Fiesty Icon (Sugarman Perry-
Fiesty Spirit). Maryland Magic scratched.
Adequan AZD Derby Chal.
RUNAWAY WITCH
Rby John Moorehouse
unaway Witch tallied up her third consecutive
win in the $79,569 Adequan Arizona Downs Derby Challenge at Arizona Downs on July 16.
LG Racing LLC owns Runaway Witch, who came into this event as the fastest qualifier and even-money favorite. She lived up to that billing, breaking from the 4-post and promptly building a substantial 2 1/2-length lead. That was enough separation for the filly to coast to the wire. She led by 2-lengths going into the stretch, and had a 1 3/4-length margin as she reached the finish line.
Armando Alamos trains Runaway Witch, who covered the 400 yards in :19.461 for a 109 speed index. Jacob Enriquez had the riding assignment.
A three-year-old filly, Runaway Witch reached the winner’s circle for the seventh time in 14 starts and the fourth time in her sophomore campaign.
The $36,601 payday pushed her lifetime earnings to $202,248.
Tyler Graham and Robert Touchet bred Runaway Witch in Louisiana out of winner Im A Lil Witch, who has produced 100% winners from five starters.
Each of the top four finishers in the race registered a triple-digit speed index. Itsjustamatteroftime (Big Lew-Spoiled Jess) placed second for owner Juvencio Canales and trainer Orlando Guerrero. Martin Osuna had the riding assignment.
Cartels Courage (Coronado Cartel-Tinys Courage) finished third for Hector O’Campo. The Jesus Carrete trainee had Agustin Silva in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was Uncle Shine (Freighttrain B-Fergilicious) in fourth, followed by My Game Plan (One Sweet Jess-Rumpled Britches), HP Just a Star (Justified-Volcom Star), BH Free Drop Billy (Bodacious Dash-Apollo Snowbound), Eyemoutahere (Coronas Leaving You-Eyes A Hottie), ABC Nalaki (Apollitical Blood-Docs Check), and Wagon Coast (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Me Chickie).
Wayne Brasher Memorial
VALENTIN JQM
Vby Danny Camp
alentin JQM soared to his third $20,000
Wayne Brasher Memorial victory at Arizona Downs on July 4. Ridden by Bryson Butterfly, the gelding broke on top from the 2-post and was never headed. Despite a game effort from Turbulent Kisses, Valentin JQM held on to win by a neck.
Trained by Amy Nelson, Valentin JQM completed the 250 yards in :13.014 to post a career best 113 speed index.
In addition to winning this event in 2021 at Turf Paradise and Arizona Downs, Valentin JQM also won the Mark Villa Memorial earlier this year and has $104,411 in earnings, $11,000 of it coming from the winner’s share of the purse for this event. The gelding is owned by Juan Cesar Torres-Casas/
Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite bred Valentin JQM out of multiple winner Corona Perfection, who finished third in the 2002 Blushing By Handicap. She has produced 17 winners from 20 starters, including top earner Louisiana Senator, who won five stakes races and set a New Track Record in 2011 for 400 yards.
Turbulent Kisses (Turbulent Times-Kisses Calientes) and Republic Anne (Apollitical Jess-First Fancy Racy) finished in a dead heat for second place. Turbulent Kisses was ridden by Aaron Belloc for owner Francisco Ayon and trainer Heraclio Botello. Republic Anne was ridden by Martin Osuna for owner Jose Antonio De Santiago and trainer Edwin Martinez.
Dowhatigotta (Whathaveigottado-Principal Chick), JJ Idea Dash (Jess An Idea-Awise Dash), First Lady Perry (Mr Jess Perry-First Lady Amber), Hez Our Money Secret (Hez Our Secret-Gotta Money Pop), Sassy Harmony (Jess Good Candy- Sassy Corona), Thru My Eyes (Fly Thru The Fire- Dawn Of A New Day) and Famous Blue Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Shades Of Blues Girl) completed the order of finish. Jess Zoomin Senator and Pragmatik were scratched.
Ajax Downs • $15,434
220 yards • :11.935 • si 98
Coronas Prospect
Prospect To The Top
CARNEROS, ‘15-g.
Cream To The Top
Valiant Hero
Cakebread And Thou
Bicoastal
Arizona Downs • $79,569
400 yards • :19.461 • si 109
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
RUNAWAY WITCH, ‘19-f. Im A Lil Witch
Runaway Wave Game Patriot
Witchs Streak
Arizona Downs • $20,000
250 yards • :13.014 • si 113
Separatist VALENTIN JQM, ‘17-g.
Chicks Beduino
Separate Ways
Corona Cartel
Corona Perfection
Superior Perfection
178 SPEEDHORSE August 2022
Clive Cohen
Coady Photography
Coady Photography