Page 132 - June 2015

Vinton Stakes
ICANONLYEMAGINE
by John Moorehouse
Midway through his sophomore campaign, Icanonlyemagine has made just a handful of starts but that hasn’t denied him success on the
track. The 3-year-old gelding secured his first stakes victory on May 23 at Delta Downs, pulling away late to win the $50,000 Vinton Stakes with relative ease.
The gelding logged his third career win in six starts, and the $30,000 payday improved his cumulative bank- roll to $93,813 for owner Bobby Cox. This marked just the second out of the year for Icanonlyemagine.
Icanonlyemagine led at every call of the 400-yard event. He broke on top from the 2-gate, was in front by 1/2-length at the first call and led by a head going into the stretch. Jockey Patrick Watson successfully urged Icanonlyemagine to draw clear during the final yards, and the gelding sported a 1 1/4-length margin of victory as he reached the finish line.
Icanonlyemagine was making his second run in stakes company. The gelding also qualified for last year’s LQHBA Futurity-RG1 at Evangeline.
Kenneth Roberts Sr. trains Icanonlyemagine, who completed the race in :19.707 for a 92 speed index. Roberts saddled 3 winners on the May 23 card. Daniel Trahan bred Icanonlyemagine, the 5th stakes winner out of Real Or Imagined. The mare has 16 starters from 20 offspring. Her other stakes winners all hold victories in either restricted or graded events, and each of those four boast career bankrolls in six figures.
Louisiana Legends (Jet Black Patriot-Sheza Cash Dasher) was 2nd under Raul Ramirez Jr. for Alejandro Sanchez & trainer Carlos Saldivar. Embrujo Star (Embrujo FG-Allas Toast) was 3rd under Donell Blake for Hubert Vestal & trainer Trey Ellis. Followed by Game (Game Patriot-Hot Charge), Sheza Gamer (Game Patriot-Dealafly), JRS Mighty Matteo (Mighty Corona-Willamina Rae), Dashacrossyourmind (Heza Fast Dash-Doievercrossyourmind) & Firefly Fortune (Jet Black Patriot-Toast To Fortune).
Louisiana Purchase Stakes
LD STREAKIN N LEAVIN
by Michael Compton
LD Streakin N Leavin was winless in 7 tries at Delta Downs before this year’s Louisiana Purchase Stakes on May 8. It might have been the 0-for-7 slate
at Delta that allowed the 4-year-old gelding to be
sent postward at odds of nearly 7-1 in the stakes for Louisiana-bred runners, but those brave enough to back the 4th wagering choice were rewarded when LD Streakin N Leavin prevailed in the 350-yard event.
With Antonio Alberto riding for trainer Manuel Macias, LD Streakin N Leavin dueled early with Jess Good Lookin. After putting that rival away in the lane, LD Streakin N Leavin held at bay a late surge from Allizoom and jockey David Alvarez to prevail by 3/4-length. The winner stopped the clock in :17.234 for a 99 speed index.
This marked the 1st stakes win for LD Streakin N Leavin, who has now won 4 of 17 starts. The $24,000 winner’s share upped his bankroll to $77,660 for owner Jose Barron. In addition to this win, accomplished in just his 2nd start of the year, the gelding is also stakes- placed with a 3rd in last year’s LQHBA Invitational.
Bred in Louisiana by Louis Dreyer, LD Streakin N Leavin, a 1/2-brother to stakes-placed LD Streakin Bye, is out of Streakin Juanita. The mare won the LQHBA Classic Fillies & Mares Stakes and the Carolyn Hebert Memorial Stakes en route to earnings of $95,526.
Allizoom (First Prize Perry-Left Her Zoom) was 2nd for Ana Alvidrez & trainer Martin Trejo. Jess Good Lookin (Heza Fast Dash-Mornin Jess) was 3rd under John Hamilton for Lori Johnson & trainer Michael Taylor. Followed by Voncitas Game (Game Patriot-Voncita), Shesa Dashingromance (Heza
Fast Dash-Dash N To Romance), Chale Viejo (Mr Queens Mystery-My Mamas Miracle), BJS Case Of Crown (Special Crown Royal-Some Shoksomerac), Zoomin For Bugs (Zoomin For Bux-Toast To Bugs), Sir Prize (First Prize Perry-Susanna M Salter) & Aint Eye Grey (Jet Black Patriot-Aint Eye Dashing).
Mothers Day Stakes
TF EYES R STRUTTIN
by Michael Compton
TF Eyes R Struttin covered 350 yards in :17.437 in winning the Mothers Day Stakes at Delta Downs on May 9, but Louis Johnson Jr.’s sorrel filly required some additional time before being named the official winner of the $38,200 stakes event.
With Raul Ramirez Jr. riding for trainer Lanny Keith, TF Eyes R Struttin battled for early suprem- acy. She drifted in through the lane, but proved best by 1-length. Jockey David Alvarez, aboard 4th-place finisher Scooter Prize, lodged a claim of foul against the winner for interference down the stretch. After a lengthy review of the race video, however, the stew- ards ruled that the winner did not impede Scooter Prize, allowing the original order of finish to stand.
The win was the first in a stakes race for TF
Eyes R Struttin, who is also twice stakes-placed this season. She finished 2nd in the Party Girl Stakes and 3rd in the Harrah’s Dash Stakes, both at Louisiana Downs. In her start prior to the Mothers Day Stakes, TF Eyes R Struttin set a New Track Record at Louisiana Downs, splashing to victory in a 300-yard allowance dash over a sloppy track in :14.950.
Steve Tate bred TF Eyes R Struttin in Louisiana out of Eyes R Special, who was 3rd in the 2002 Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Futurity-RG3.
Mothers Day Stakes runner-up Cartel Arrangement (Carters Cartel-Hawks Dancing Straw) earned the place spot with a game finish under Martin Rubalcava. The 4-year-old filly is owned by Humberto Amaro and was saddled by Carlos Saldivar. Donna and Kenneth Weeks’ Do Not Blink (PYC Paint Your Wagon-A Watchful Eye) opened a 2-length lead along the inside early before faltering late for jockey John Hamilton. Followed by Scooter Prize (First Prize Perry-Royal
Baby Scooter), Shakeemdontbreakem (Contend-The Marquis Queen), Forever Steph (Jet Black Patriot-JLS Diamonds Forever) & Cajun Diva (Jet Black Patriot- Lajollas Leadinglady). PF Rita was scratched.
Delta Downs • $50,000 400 yards • :19.707 • si 92
Mr Jess Perry Swingin Otoole
Dash For Cash
Swingin Jess ICANONLYEMAGINE, ‘12-g.
Real Or Imagined
Tiny Illusion
Delta Downs • $40,000 350 yards • :17.234 • si 99
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
LD STREAKIN N LEAVING, ‘11-g.
Streakin La Jolla
Streakin Juanita
Miss Desert Spirit
Delta Downs • $38,200 350 yards • :17.437 • si 93
Chicks Beduino
Struttin To Beduino
TF EYES R STRUTTIN, ‘11-f. Eyes R Special
Sugar Foot Strut Mr Eye Opener
Hempen Lil
130 SPEEDHORSE, June 2015
RACING NEWS
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