Page 45 - Speedhorse February 2018

KVN CORONA si 94, $577,450
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt
Breeder: McColee Land & Livestock LLC Owner: Keith Nellesen
Trainer: Paul Jones
Jockey: Ramon Sanchez
2017 Record: 6-6(2)-0-0, $577,450, Ed Burke Million F.-G1, PCQHRA Brds.’ F.-G2
KVN Corona was named for a champion football player, and the colt has gone on
to be a champion himself. His undefeated season led him to the title of Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.
Owner Keith Nellesen bred KVN Corona in the name of his McColee Land & Livestock LLC. He and his family are good friends
with Kyle Van Noy, a linebacker for the New England Patriots.
“We named him KVN Corona when he was just a little foal,” Nellesen said, unaware at that time that the Utah-bred colt would become a star, just like his namesake.
Though Nellesen sent KVN Corona to the 2016 Ruidoso Select Sale in the Lazy E Ranch consignment, he ultimately decided to keep the youngster and bid $140,000.
“I really liked this horse for a long time,” Nellesen said. “I set a limit. I had one bid left in me, and luckily we got him.”
Mike Joiner broke KVN Corona in New Mexico, and Nellesen then sent the colt to Paul Jones at Los Alamitos. Jones credited Joiner for sending him a professional who is “really well mannered.”
Jones debuted KVN Corona in a Los Alamitos maiden race April 29, resulting in an easy 1 1/4-length victory.
Bumped at the break of his trial for the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1, KVN Corona still managed to win and qualify for the finals. He returned to post a head victory in the finals, giving Nellesen his first win in a million-dollar race.
“This is a dream-come-true type of a thing,” Nellesen said after the Ed Burke.
KVN Corona remained unbeaten with
a smart win in his trial for the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G2. He had a little difficulty with the start of the finals, but that didn’t deter him and he won yet again, this time by a head.
Even when luck finally turned against KVN Corona, he managed to win. Bumped from both sides in his trial for the Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1, he overcame the trouble to keep his perfect record intact, though not in a quick enough time to qualify for the final.
Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
First Down Dash
Easy Henryetta
Chicks Beduino
Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Easy Jet
Babys Henryetta Beduino TB
A Classy Chick Sizzle Te Lilsalady TB
Beduino TB
A Classy Chick Special Effort
Miss Azudash
Easy Jet
Hop Skip And Jump Staunch Avenger TB Lotta Depth
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug
Jet Deck Lena’s Bar TB Lanovay
Baby Steel TB Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat Chick’s Deck Mayshego TB Azure Te TB Jet’s Fair Lady Reb’s Policy Here’s To Lil
Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat
Chick’s Deck Mayshego TB
Raise Your Glass TB Go Effortlessly Dash For Cash Azure Teen
Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Tiny Charger Straw Doll Staunchness Careless Miss Mr Depth Charge Lotta Butt
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose Moon Deck
Miss Night Bar Three Bars
Lena Valenti Lanolark TB Vera Vay Leadstealer Creole
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye
Three Chicks Decketta Mayhego Aegean Goddess Nashville
Blue One
Jet Deck
Sooner Lady New Policy Yenoh Reb Exalted Rullah Jumpin Jackie
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye
Three Chicks Decketta
Mayhego
Aegean Goddess Raise A Native Champagne Woman Double Devin
Hijo Beauty TB Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Azure Te TB Routine
Moon Deck
Miss Night Bar Three Bars
Lena Valenti Depth Charge TB Clabber Tiny Jackstraw TB Frosty Jo Reed Bold Ruler
Tiny Request Revoked
Miss Carlaris Depth Charge TB Mayola Bar Seven Bars Sailor Day
Sizzling Lil KVN CORONA, ‘15, C.
Executive Menace
Executive Looks
Sticky N Picky
Chicks Beduino
Promised Memories
Sticks An Stones
Staunch N Sassy
SPEEDHORSE, February 2018 43
Los Alamitos