Page 125 - June 2015

LQHBA Laddie Futurity-RG2
FIRST PRIZE DENIM
by Michael Compton
First Prize Denim may have been overlooked by the wagering public, but the 12-1 out- sider and fifth-fastest qualifier made his pres- ence felt in the lane of the $283,382 Louisiana
Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Laddie Futurity-RG2 at Delta Downs on May 16.
With Raul Ramirez aboard for owners J F Racing Farm and trainer Martin Trejo, First Prize Denim overcame trouble in his stakes debut to remain undefeated in 3 lifetime starts.
Despite breaking in at the start, the sorrel gelding rallied strongly to get on terms with race favorite The Renaissance Man in the final strides of the contest. In a determined effort, First Prize Denim poked his head in at the finish line to earn the narrow victory, stopping the timer for 330 yards in :16.712, which was good for a speed index of 90. The $141,691 winner’s share raised his bankroll to $156,391.
Bred in Louisiana by longtime breeder Weetona Stanley, First Prize Denim is produced from the winning mare First Prize Diamond. In addition to the Laddie Futurity winner, First Prize Diamond is the dam of First Prize Jet, 2nd in the 2013 Louisiana QHBA Futurity-RG1, and she hails from a prized line of Stanley horses.
“Being undefeated, you can’t really ask
for much more than that,” said Fred Stanley, who with mother, Weetona, own and oper- ate the 300-acre Ladybug Stallion Station in Oklahoma. “This horse’s half-brother (First Prize Jet) ran 2nd in the Louisiana QHBA Futurity-RG1 two years ago by an inch. It was as close to a dead heat as you’re ever going to get. This horse certainly has the credentials to follow in the footsteps of his brother.”
First Prize Diamond is a daughter of former Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash, who died in 2012 and is the only horse buried at Heritage Place in Oklahoma City. A sister to all-time leading sire First Down Dash, First Prize Dash won or placed in 9 of 11 career starts and earned $77,465. First Prize Dash definitely left her mark as a broodmare. Named Broodmare of the Year in 2006, First Prize Dash is the dam of 43 foals, 34 starters, 27 winners and 6 stakes winners. Her branch of the family means the world to the Stanleys.
“First Prize Diamond is a daughter out of First Prize Dash,” Stanley said. “Of course,
this line of the family is what has kept us in the horse business for 45 years. Horses have given us everything we have. The horses continue to feed our family, and we’ve been so blessed to become
one of the largest breeders
in the United States. There’s not a mare on our ranch or
a horse on our ranch that is not a descendent of the First Down Dash, First Prize Dash female line.”
Stanley said it is grati-
fying to see horses from
their program excel on the
racetrack, regardless of whose
colors they compete in. “It is
just as exciting as if we owned
them ourselves,” he said of watching horses they’ve bred race for other owners. “As a matter of fact, it may be more fun because some of the pressure is off. In an industry that is filled with mountains and valleys, you have to enjoy when you win one like this. You need to celebrate wins like this one.”
The Stanleys currently have 40 yearlings and 53 babies on the ground. Stanley indicated that they will select 3 or 4 fillies from each crop that they want to keep for the broodmare band, as well as a colt from time to time. First Prize Denim was a $40,000 purchase at last year’s LQHBA Yearling Sale in Louisiana.
“Mare power is what has kept us in busi- ness,” Stanley said. “We’ve had success with stallions, but our primary focus is on the female.
I believe 70% of success is con- tributed from the female line. We’re not market breeders.
We don’t prepare our horses for the sales ring. We actually prepare them for trainers. My father was very stern about that fact. ‘We’re not preparing these babies for the market, we’re preparing them for the racetrack,’ he would say.”
Trial winner The Renaissance Man (Coronas
Leaving You-Jewels Fortune) led the Laddie Futurity most of the way but proved 2nd best under Patrick Watson for owners Chad Hart & Bobby Cox and trainer Kenneth Roberts.
Roberts also sent out trial winner & 3rd- place finisher Heisa Hot Ticket (Coronas Leaving You-Hottesticketintown) under Donald Watson for owner Charles Boudreaux Jr.
Followed by Fast Ladys Man (Jet Black Patriot-Miss Fortune Lady), Streakin Bye
U (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Bye Salute), Shades Of Buck (Game Patriot-Shaded Sins), Jess Blueby Lena (Jess Louisiana Blue-Call
Me Lenas Girl), LD Jumpn And Dashing (Jumpn-Ms Sassy Dash), Dragon Kid (Dragon Wings-Lucille’s Winnie TB) & TTT Kas Baby Said So (Kas I Said So-Ima Georgiababy).
Delta Downs $283,382 • 330 yards :16.712 • si 90
Special Task
Oak Tree Special
Easy Lady Oak
FIRST PRIZE DENIM, ‘13-g.
Fly Jess Fly
First Prize Diamond
First Prize Dash
First Prize Denim & Raul Ramirez Jr. rally to win the $283,382 Louisiana Breeders’ Laddie Futurity-RG2
SPEEDHORSE, June 2015 123
RACING NEWS
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