Page 118 - June 2015

Heritage Place Derby-G2
RPAINTED WAGON
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Steven Salazar went shopping for
a couple of horses in training at the 2014 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. He knows how to spot a well-made horse, and his efforts paid off when Rpainted Wagon won the May 30 Heritage Place Derby-G2 at Remington Park.
“I liked the way he was put together,” said Salazar about why he selected Rpainted Wagon. “His form was pretty decent, and he was sound. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Bob & Deanna Williams bred Rpainted Wagon in Oklahoma and raced him last year as a 2 year old. The gelding won once in 7 starts, but he ran well in several other races, including a 4th in the Cherokee Stakes at Fair Meadows.
The Williamses consigned Rpainted Wagon to the mixed sale through Marty Powers as agent, and Salazar bought him for Pedro Aguado of Georgetown, Texas, for $46,000. Rpainted Wagon runs in the name of Pedro’s wife, Rosa.
“We took him over to the barn after the sale,” said Salazar. “He’s a real laid-back horse and nothing bothers him. When he gets on the racetrack, he’s all business. Then he returns, just lays back, and is a real good horse to be around. Those kind don’t come around very often.”
Salazar first tried Rpainted Wagon in the Derby trials without blinkers. The gelding got in tight between Bay Eagle Glory and BP
Cartels Policy, finishing third. However, it was the fastest heat, and he qualified the 3rd- fastest behind those two.
“When they kind of squeezed him in, he kind of shied away from the horses,” said Salazar. The trainer decided to outfit him in blinkers for the final, and the move worked.
Drawn into post posi-
tion #1 and ridden by Jorge
Linares, who piloted him in the trial, Rpainted Wagon broke toward the rail and got the lead fairly quickly in the 400-yard race. Politicaly Correct, favored at 6-5 and drawn on the out- side, tried to close ground in the final yards. He and BP Cartels Policy made it a photo finish, but Rpainted Wagon resisted their chal- lenges. He won by a neck in :19.595.
“We always knew that the 10 horse was the one to beat,” said Salazar. “I figured that we would be right there. I honestly thought that the 10 horse would beat us, but our horse got a good, clean trip and took care of business.”
Next could be the Retama Park Derby, and the owners also have him paid up to the Dash For Cash Derby-G3 at Lone Star Park.
The Williamses bred Rpainted Wagon from their homebred winner Rlittle Sis, who has 1 other starter/win-
ner. Rlittle Sis is a full sister
to 2001 Heritage Place F.-G1 winner & All American F.-G1 finalist Rdustys Chick, dam of Iowa Double Gold D. winner Rspecial Chick & stakes-placed Rmiss Jessy, all 3 bred & raced by the Williamses. The 3rd dam, stakes-placed Dusty Bunny, is a
1/2-sister to 2-time Champion Six To Five. Multiple stakes winner Politicaly Correct
(Apollitical Jess-Senorita Tres), owned by his breeder Walter R. Harrison in partnership with the gelding’s trainer James Helzer, was 2nd under Larry Payne. Stakes winner BP Cartels Policy (Cartel Success- Marys Southernpolicy) ran 3rd under Stormy Smith for John Lawless & trainer Brent Clay. Followed
by Candy Cartels Cat (Red Storm Cat-Candy Cartel), Viento Negro (First Moonflash-Coup Of Corona), Bay Eagle Glory (One Famous Eagle-Eye Of Glory), JMF Shazoomer (Shazoom-Jess Bingo Beth), Tzunami Is Okay (Okey Dokey Dale-Quick Meggie), GW Shezaspecialrose (PYC Paint Your Wagon-First Black Rose) & Okie Paint Job (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Girls Eye Too).
Remington Park $369,910 • 400 yards :19.595 • si 95
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
RPAINTED WAGON, ’12-g.
Victory Dash
Rlittle Sis
Dusty Bunny
116 SPEEDHORSE, June 2015
Rpainted Wagon & Jorge Linares score in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography