Page 160 - Speedhorse November, 2018

Hobbs America Futurity-G2
EAGLE COAST
by Danny Camp
Eagle Coast scored his third overall win
as well as his first stakes victory in the $344,250 Hobbs America Futurity-G2 at Zia
Park on Oct. 7.
The gelding qualified to the big event dur-
ing the Sept. 22 trials, finishing second by just a head in his heat.
In the Hobbs America Futurity finals, Eagle Coast broke tardy from the nine-post in sev- enth, but quickly moved to second by the first call. The gelding and rider Sergio Becerra Jr. dueled throughout with Jess Saying, who had the lead through most of the contest.
It was Eagle Coast, however, who crossed the wire a nose in front of the rest. He com- pleted the 400 yards in :19.571, posting a career-best 96 speed index.
The gelding brought home the $166,070 winner’s share of the purse for owner Ernesto Palacio and trainer Jose Muela, boosting his total lifetime earnings to $209,658.
Eagle Coast now has a race record of 7-3(1)-2-2(1), including a third place fin-
ish in the $269,528 West Texas Futurity-G2 earlier this year in April at Sunland Park.
He has made all of his starts as a freshman in stakes company. He broke his maiden in July at Ruidoso Downs, winning his trial to the Rainbow Futurity wire-to-wire but failed
to qualify to the finals. He next won his trial to the All American Futurity, but again did not qualify. The Hobbs America Futurity win is a Grade 2 feather in his cap.
Bill Dale and Jim
Streelman bred Eagle Coast
out of three-time winner
Coastal Candy. She finished
third in the 2009 Black Gold
300 Futurity and in the 2011
Fair Meadows Maturity.
She was also a finalist in the Remington
Park Derby-G2, Black Gold Futurity Championship-RG3 and Altoona Derby-G3. Coastal Candy is a half-sister to New Track Record Setter Safari Sunset, who was a runner- up in the 2013 Dash In A Flash Stakes.
Coastal Candy has produced 100% winners from three starters, including Silver Vista. Eagle Coast is her first stakes winner as well as her top earner.
The second dam is Protea, winner of the 1999 Paul B Ford Memorial Handicap and the 2000 Cypress Handicap.
Jess Saying (Mr Jess Perry-First Down Sixes) broke in front under jockey Manuel Gutierrez. They had the lead until the stretch and settled
for second for owners Jimmy and Angela D. Vasquez and trainer Ricardo Armendariz. Still a maiden, the filly has now finished second twice
in four starts this season. She was the final qualifier to the Hobbs America Futurity-G2.
Fastest qualifier Sure Fire Quick (Walk Thru Fire-One Quick Jess) broke late on the outside. Under jockey Juan Pulido, they
managed to make up ground and finish third for owners Ricardo A. Bernal and Reymundo F. Resendez and trainer Jesus Carrete. The gelding, who won his Hobbs America Futurity trial by 2-lengths, was a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity-G1 earlier this year.
Breaking New Ground (One Dashing Eagle-Heavenly Trip), Badhabit Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Sheza Bad Habit), Swearengen (First Moonflash-Smart Alibi Lady),
KR Cracker Jack (Favorite Cartel-KR Dragonfly) and Lethal Moon (First Moonflash-Miss Lethal) completed the order of finish. Both Braggadocios and CD Better Be First were scratched.
Zia Park $344,250 • 400 yards :19.571 • si 96
One Famous Eagle
One Dashing Eagle
One Sweet Dash
EAGLE COAST, ‘16-g.
Ocean Runaway
Coastal Candy
Protea
158 SPEEDHORSE, November 2018
Eagle Coast (#9) and Sergio Becerra Jr. are up for a nose victory in the $344,250 Hobbs America Futurity-G2
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