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Leverne Perry Memorial Div. 2
JA B VALIANT
by John Moorehouse
After a winless drought of nine races and four con- secutive runner-up finishes, Ja B Valiant made a well-timed return to the winner’s circle, prevailing by a neck in the $15,000 Leverne Perry Memorial Stakes Div. 2 held March 14 at Louisiana Downs.
The gelding wasn’t denied this time. He broke on top from the 5-post, ran a close second at both the first call and entering the stretch, then chased down DLJ Imma B Famous to win by a neck.
A four-year-old gelding owned by Lorena Gutierrez, Ja B Valiant notched his fourth career vic- tory and the $9,000 payday improved his cumulative earnings to $46,333.
This was Ja B Valiant’s first chance in stakes company since finishing second in the Jan. Swift Stakes, which was the second of four consecutive runner-up efforts. Robi Meche trains Ja B Valiant, who finished the 400-yard trip in :19.842 for a 93 speed index, benefiting from a 12 mph headwind. Bryan Candanosa was in the irons.
Gutierrez bred Ja B Valiant out of Texas Distaff Challenge winner Ja Impetuously. She has produced 100% money earners from eight starters. Ja B Valiant is her first stakes winner.
DLJ Imma B Famous (Coronas Leaving You- Yugo Buds) finished second by daylight for owner Myron McKinnon. The Eduardo Morales trainee had Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. aboard.
Lightemupwithcharm (Sizzlin Cartel-Grace Filled Charm), the post-time favorite, hit the board in third under Noe Castaneda owner Saul Dorado and trainer Miguel Rodriguez.
Soft On The Coronas (Coronas Leaving You- Soft Summer Jess), Strut For Petes Sake (Struttin To Beduino-Kelforpete), Tuckers Prize (Fast Prize Dash-BB Secrets Game) and Toast To Monee (Toast To Dash-Cash For Mawnee) rounded out the field. RF Fast Dash N Blue was scratched.
Harbor Beach Handicap
SOKUDO TB
by Tracy Gantz
Two Quarter Horses battled each other for the lead in the $15,000 Harbor Beach Handicap at Los Alamitos on March 14. But the 870-yard distance proved most advantageous for the Thoroughbred Sokudo, who defeated the two Quarter Horses and two other Thoroughbreds to win.
Edgar Payeras piloted Sokudo in the Harbor Beach. They sat in third behind odds-on favorite Ballast Point and Run Raging Rhino Run and caught the Quarter Horses in the stretch to win by a 1/2-length in :44.584 for a 101 speed index.
Jesus Uranga owns and trains Sokudo, who began his career in Northern California. A 7-year-old gelding, Sokudo has competed primarily in claiming company at both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meetings.
“I’m thrilled because this was a tough race to win,” said Uranga. “We knew that beating the Paul Jones trained horse, Ballast Point, was not an easy task.”
Ponder Hill Inc. and FarFar Away Farm bred Sokudo out of Beauallis. The mare finished third in
the 2000 Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine in Canada. Beauallis has produced two Thoroughbred starters, both winners. Sokudo is by Salute The Sarge, a graded stakes winner at Del Mar, and comes from the family of $410,056-earner and stakes winner Synchronized.
Jones not only trains second-place Ballast Point (Favorite Cartel-Fall For It), he owns the 4-year- old gelding with Thompson Racing Inc. Ridden by Ramon Guce, Ballast Point won last year’s Snowbound Superstar Stakes.
Run Raging Rhino Run (FDD Dynasty-Love That Six) ran third for jockey Minor Arana, trainer Felix Gonzalez, and owner Dan Wilson. The 7-year- old gelding won three stakes in 2019.
Love Your Life TB (Ministers Wild Cat-It’s Your Life) finished fourth, followed by Jimmy The Juice TB (Speightstown-Candy Jo). Derby Luck TB was scratched.
Mr Jet Moore Handicap
ALAMODE
by Tracy Gantz
Alamode made his first stakes attempt a winning one when he scored in the $15,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap at Los Alamitos on March 21. Like many racetracks across the country in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Los Alamitos conducted the race without spectators.
John and Carol Cooper own Alamode, and Cooper trains the 5-year-old gelding. With Juan Leon aboard, Alamode broke outwardly from the 6-post, but he got up right at the wire for a head victory. In completing 350 yards in :17.392, Alamode was posting the fastest time at the current Los Alamitos meet at that distance.
Alamode had won four of 18 previous races, and John Cooper said that “when this race came up, I decided to test him here.” Dr. Ed Allred bred Alamode out of his homebred Separatist mare Pie Maid.
Pie Maid has produced eight starters, all winners. Her runners include Mrs Pickens, who finished third in the 2015 Dana Point Handicap, and Callender, who ran second in the 2019 James S. Smith Memorial Handicap and third in the 2018 California Breeders Freshman Stakes and 2019 Dreaming Sweet Handicap.
Jesus Ayala rode Rite Quick (Favorite Cartel-Iba Quick Chick) to second for owner Alberto Rosiles and trainer Yanet Rodriguez. A 5-year-old gelding, Rite Quick had most recently captured the Feb. 29 Blink Of An Eye Handicap.
Christopher O’Dell trains third-place Tac Me Up (Kiddy Up-Tacatrina), owned by Ruth Barbour and Wendy and Colten O’Dell. Eduardo Nicasio piloted the 4-year-old gelding, who was coming off a victory in the Jan. 17 Cypress Handicap.
Completing the field were Jess My Kiss (One Sweet Jess-Dreaming Of Kisses), Chicks Fayvorite (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) and Jimbosecret (No Secrets Here-Rare Encore).
RACING NEWS
Louisiana Downs • $15,000 400 yards • :19.842• si 93
Valiant Hero
Mighty B Valiant
Mighty B Doll Mr Jess Perry
JA B VALIANT, ‘16-g.
Ja Impetuously
Missy Nine
Los Alamitos • $15,000 870 yards • :44.584 • si 101
Forest Wildcat
Salute The Sarge
SOKUDO TB, ‘13-g. Beauallis
Dixie Ghost Barbeau
Cinallis
Los Alamitos • $15,000 350 yards • :17.392 • si 101
Kiddy Up ALAMODE, ‘15-g.
Pie Maid
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Vike
Separatist
TL Pie
SPEEDHORSE April 2020 169
Hodges Photography
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos