Page 60 - 7 July 2012

Maple Leaf Futurity
BELLADONTE
by John Moorehouse
So far, so good for Belladonte. Shady Lane Stables’ homebred filly notched her second win in as many outs, making a late surge to grab the lead and win the $57,389 Maple Leaf Futurity held May 12 at Ajax Downs. Belladonte improved her total earnings
to $27,113 with the addition of the $22,955 winner’s share of this purse. She also won her futurity trial, covering the 300 yards in :15.880 to tally the second-
quickest qualifying time of all the would-be finalists. Trained by Stan Webb,
Belladonte showed even more speed during her first-ever stakes final. She completed the race in :15.550, registering a personal-best 92 speed index.
Starting near the outside of the nine-horse field from the No. 8 gate, Belladaonte made a solid break but yielded the early advantage
to Corderoy Rod. However, Belladonte exploded late to take control and held off a fierce rally by One Famous Glass to reach the wire first by a neck.
Marty Mercieca was aboard during the stakes-winning trip by Belladonte. Stan Sterr rode the filly during the trials, but he pulled off to take Ivory Jinx—the fastest qualifier and another Webb trainee—for the futurity.
Shady Lane Stables also owns Special Corona, a 2000 mare who is stakes-placed with a runner-up finish in the 2003 All Canadian Derby of Alberta held at Lethbridge. Four of Special Corona’s six offspring have made starts, but Belladonte becomes the first stakes winner.
One Famous Glass (One Famous Eagle-Quick Glass) veered out badly at the start but recovered and finished
a close second. The progeny of former cham- pion One Famous Eagle is owned by Carol Robertson, Jaime Robertson and Dr. Charles Hall. The filly is trained by Bryn Robertson and had Helen Vanek aboard. Corderoy Road (Rock Solid Jess-Reckless Wish) hit the board in third, the first time he’s failed to reach the win- ner’s circle. Michelle Woodley trains the gelding and co-owns him with Marlene McNichol. John McInerney drew the riding assignment.
The remaining order of finish was Run Madison Run (Ivory James-Shesa Cash Snatcher), Tough Twist (Wave Carver-Hop Kip And Jump), Sugar Bar (Sugarman Perry-Hannas Rare Bar), Ivory Jinx (Ivory James-Special Phoebe), Golden Arrangement (Gold Medal Jess-The Arrangement) and First Down The Track (Corona Cartel-First Down Runner). Eye Zoom was scratched.
Ajax Downs $57,379 • 300 yards :15.550 • si 92
Streakin La Jolla
Wave Carver
Scoopie Fein
BELLADONTE, ’10-f.
Corona Cartel
Special Corona
Rosas Special
Racing news
Maple Leaf Derby
ZOOMIN AFTER SIx
by John Moorehouse
To date, Zoomin After Six has raced exclu- sively in the Ontario province of Canada. Why mess with a good thing? Already a stakes winner with a career bankroll in six figures, Zoomin After Six added to his impressive record in the $57,940 Maple Leaf Derby held June 17 at Ajax Downs. The 3-year-old gelding won the 300-yard event by daylight, collect-
4 gate, then found an extra burst midway through the race to distance himself from the competition. Jockey Helen Vanek brought the gelding across the finish line sporting
a one-length margin of victory, covering the 300 yards in :15.350 for a career-best 99 speed index. That’s a vast improvement over the :15.620 time he tallied in qualifying, which placed Zoomin After Six third in his trial and
fifth among the 10 horses to make the derby field.
Zoomin After Six won
last year’s version of the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity,
also held at Ajax, and placed second in the Ontario Jackpot Futurity over at Fort Erie.
Hunter bred Zoomin After Six out of Silk At Six, a lightly-raced 2000 mare whom Hunter also bred. Silk At Six won four of nine outs before becoming
a broodmare. The mare has foaled two off- spring, both of whom have made starts.
Heros Valiant Lark (Valiant Hero- Thermolark Miss) outnodded Shez So Susie for second place. Craig Spada trains Heros Valiant Lark and co-owns the gelding with Peter Spada. Marty Mercieca did the riding. Gary McNichol owns Shez So Susie (Tres Seis-First Lady Amber), a David Ward trainee ridden by Michelle Love.
The remaining order of finish was JJ Maxwell (Planetary-Stars Special), Okey Dokey Chik (Okey Dokey Dale-Taxing Queen Creek), Jesse James Alibi (Jesse James Jr-Icy Bridgette), Toast To Wilma (Toast
To Dash-Go Wilma), Ourfirstorphan (First Comment-Sexy Shania) and Zoomin On Corona (Count Corona-Azooma). Leanintoit, the fastest qualifier, was scratched.
ing his second stakes victory triumph in eight starts.
Zoomin After Six has hit the board in every one of his starts to date, and his earn- ings reflect that consistency. The $23,176 payday from the derby improved his total bankroll to $136,161 for owner/breeder Steve Hunter.
A Janet Grice trainee, Zoomin After Six wasted little time in taking charge of this race. He made a strong break from the No.
and third overall
Ajax Downs $57,940 • 300 yards :15.350• si 99
Shazoom
Zoomin For Bux
Oh No Its Uh Oh
ZOOMIN AFTER SIX, 09, g.
Sixavike
Silk At Six
Silk Or Cash
60 SPEEDHORSE, July 6, 2012
Clive Cohen Clive Cohen