Page 162 - Speedhorse November, 2018

Valley Junction Futurity
AQUA FLASH
by John Moorehouse
Aqua Flash added to what already has
been a very good year for owner Thomas Scheckel, out finishing Little Kool Belle to win the $251,514 Valley Junction Futurity at Prairie Meadows on Oct. 13.
The gray filly broke off the pace emerging from the 10-gate, then came flying down the outside rail. Although she was sixth going into the stretch, Aqua Flash surged to the front of the field, just getting the better of Little Kool Belle by a nose at the wire.
Under jockey Roberto Valero Aqua Flash completed the 350-yard trip in :17.596 for a 96 speed index. It was a nice bounce back for the Shawna Manriquez trainee, who had a :17.728 effort in the Sept. 29 trials, which placed her third in her heat and eighth on the qualifying ladder.
“She’s just got the determination to com- pete, you know? She likes to come from behind and just blow everybody out of the water right at the end for some reason,” Scheckel said, adding, “She can really crank on after she gets rolling, I guess. She’s really easy to be around.” The two-year-old filly already holds a pair
of victories in stakes company and is one of four horses out of Scheckel’s stable who will be com- peting as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championship card at Los Alamitos on Nov. 17.
Aqua Flash, who already
has a spot secured in the John
Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 by a vic-
tory in the Prairie Meadows
Juvenile, has five wins and
a $204,518 bankroll to her
credit after just seven starts.
The filly also was the top
qualifier and a finalist in the
Heritage Place Futurity-G1,
and continued quite the run
in the Valley Junction Futurity for Scheckel.
“I’m very fortunate,” said Scheckel, who has won the Prairie Meadows leading owner title in three of the past four years and recently claimed the leading owner title at Canterbury Park in Minnesota for the second straight campaign.
Maghelene, another Scheckel trainee, will join Aqua Flash in the John Deere Juvenile. Corona Springs, a half-sister to Aqua Flash and the other stakes winner in the brood out of Aquafina, will be a part of the field for the AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship-G1, while Painted Dynasty has secured a spot in the Derby Challenge Championship.
McColee Land & Livestock, Inc., bred Aqua Flash out of 2011 Los Alamitos
Derby Challenge winner Aquafina. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from 10 starters, including 2018 Canterbury Distaff Challenge winner Corona Springs. Aqua Flash is her second stakes winner as well as her top earner.
Little Kool Belle (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Little Kool Barbie), the even-money
favorite and fastest qualifier, finished second
for owner/trainer Stacy Charette-Hill and co- owner Leann Burns. Jorge Torres did the riding.
Apollitical Mogul (Apollitical Jess-Cash Cartel) and Nakia Ramirez were third for owners Tom & Bill Maher and trainer Jason Olmstead.
Miss Energy P (PYC Paint Your Wagon- First Down Energy), The Bald Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Corona Deluxe), VF Wheely Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Wheely Quick), Apollitical Doll (Apollitical Jess-Lil Miss Party Doll), Pamplonna (First Moonflash-Im A Feature Girl), Cartels High (Favorite Cartel- Pretty Jet High) and Thisbetterwork (One Famous Eagle-A Sweet Gamble) completed the order of finish.
Prairie Meadows $251,514 • 350 yards :17.596 • si 96
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
AQUA FLASH, ‘16-f.
First Down Dash
Aquafina
Runaway Wave
160 SPEEDHORSE, November 2018
Aqua Flash (#10) and jockey Roberto Valero win the $251,514 Valley Junction Futurity by a nose
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Coady Photography