Page 161 - Speedhorse November, 2018

Hobbs America Derby-G2
BELIEVE ME IRENE
by Michael Cusortelli
Owned by Diamond Racing Stables, Believe Me Irene earned her first career stakes victory in the 440-yard Hobbs America
Derby-G3 at Zia Park on Oct. 7.
Ridden by Esgar Ramirez, who rode her for
the first time to a second-place finish for the eighth qualifying spot in the Sept. 23 trials, Believe Me Irene was racing against a reported 21-mph head wind in the finals.
The filly broke in sixth from the 10-post and consistently gained ground as the race progressed. She was in fourth at the top of the stretch and powered through to the wire, defeating Fooze Jr by a neck in :21.765 and posting a career-high 95 speed index.
Jose Luis Muela prepped Believe Me Irene, who banked the $105,457 winner’s share of the $219,703 purse.
Campaigned exclusively in New Mexico, Believe Me Irene has now won three of 11 outs and has earned $261,157.
The filly ended her juvenile season with second-place runs in the Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1 at Zia Park and in the Sunland Winter Juvenile Championship, and she was a finalist in the $3-million All American Futurity-G1.
The filly was coming off a Ruidoso Downs sum-
mer sophomore campaign during which she ran third, 3/4-length behind winner Intense Fire, in the 440-yard $100,000 First Down Dash Stakes on Sept. 2.
Believe Me Irene was bred by H & E Ranch Inc. out of two-time winner Financial Leverage, who finished second in the 2009 Yavapai Downs Derby in Arizona. As a mare, she has produced 100% money earners from four starters.
Believe Me Irene is a half-sister to Financial Top, the winner of this year’s King William Handicap at Retama Park. Her second dam, the winning Chicks Beduino mare Lady Dee Vee Em, produced nine winners from 11 start- ers, including stakes winner Drill Baby Drill, a half-brother to Financial Leverage.
Believe Me Irene traces back to her third dam, Down With Debt, a multiple graded stakes winning daughter of First Down Dash. Down With Debt was the sport’s 1994 World Champion, Champion Aged Horse, and Champion Aged Mare.
The last 3 qualifiers to the Hobbs American Derby-G2 ended with the first 3 spots in the finals. Believe Me Irene was the 8th-fastest qualifer, Fooze Jr was the 10th, and Mister Moody Blue was the 9th.
Fooze Jr (Foose-Jess Significant) and Raul Herrera finished second for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and trainer Joel M. Valeriano Jr. Fooze Jr remains a maiden. Mister Moody Blue (One Famous Eagle-Run The Dash) came out of the inside post on the lead and showed early speed. The colt was close,
but finished third under Adrian Ramos for owners Butch and Stephanie Webb and trainer Wes Giles. Mister Moody Blue was third in
the Corona Cartel Derby earlier this year and was also a finalist in the Mr Jess Perry Derby. Followed by Jess Move You (Apollitical Jess- Gonna Move You), Mr Perry Strong (Mr Jess Perry-Strength In Numbers), Medessy (Mr Jess Perry-Medea), Invisible Cartel (Teller Cartel- Tahiti Evening), FDD Can Jazz (FDD Dynasty- Jazzy Corona), Heza Streakin Legacy (Heza Fast Dash-Legacys A Streakin) and Legacy Eagle (One Famous Eagle-A Delightful Legacy).
Zia Park $219,703 • 440 yards :21.765 • si 95
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
BELIEVE ME IRENE, ‘15-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Financial Leverage
Lady Dee Vee Em
Believe Me Irene & Esgar Ramirez are up for the victory in the $219,703 Hobbs America Derby-G2
SPEEDHORSE, November 2018 159
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