Page 68 - 31 August 2012

Mile High Futurity-G3
Fabulous ocean
by Tracy Gantz
Fabulous Ocean is learning his job quite quickly. Trainer Hipolito (Polo) Michel- Valverde and jockey Russell Vicchrilli have
been schooling the colt each time he runs, and it paid off with a victory in the Aug. 19 Mile High Futurity at Arapahoe Park.
“In his maiden race, he ran very green,” said Michel-Valverde. “He didn’t break good, and he kept looking at the other horses. But he ran well at the end.”
Fabulous Ocean finished second that day and was second again in his Mile High trial. His time put him into the final as the fifth- fastest qualifier.
“The jockey said he broke evenly in the trial even though he was green,” said Michel- Valverde. “He said, ‘We could win—let’s try him.’ So we did.”
Fabulous Ocean learned his lessons well and got away from the gate much better from post three in the Mile High Futurity. Takin On The Fire from the two hole and Blue Eyed Visions on the rail outbroke him, but Fabulous Ocean immediately dueled with those two rivals. He battled them throughout the 400 yards, and Blue Eyed Visions blinked first. Takin On The Fire never gave up, but Fabulous Ocean got his head in front at the final jump to win in :19.912.
“He ran great,” said Michel-Valverde.
“Every time he has run better and better.” The trainer has just been working with Fabulous Ocean since June. The colt is the only horse Michel-Valverde has for owners
Erasmo and Sandra Muniz.
“He’s very sound and solid,” said the condi-
tioner. “He tries every time.”
Michel-Valverde said he is thinking of send-
ing Fabulous Ocean to Phoenix for the John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge, with trials on Sept. 28 and the final on Oct. 14. He would like to earn the colt a berth in the Oct. 27 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 at Prairie Meadows.
The trainer has Challenge
experience. He won the
Adequan Arapahoe Derby
Challenge with Patriots Glory
in 2010. They nearly won the
Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G1 in Louisiana that year, as Patriots Glory finished a very close third.
The Munizes not only race Quarter Horses, they also raise Paint racehorses. They bred the Paint Audition For Cash, who finished third in this year’s First Interstate Bank Futurity. The Munizes bought Fabulous Ocean for $4,000
at the 2011 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Burnett Ranches LLC bred Fabulous Ocean in Texas from unraced Fabulously Fast. Fabulous Ocean is the mare’s first starter. Fabulously Fast is a half-sister to $324,020-earner, stakes winner and champion sire Bigtime Favorite.
Takin On The Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Takin On The Crunch) finished second under jockey Flavio Lozano, 1 1/4 lengths
in front of third-place Tyme For A Corona (Corona Cartel-First Prize Honey), ridden by Travis Wales. Jose Gonzalez Sr. trains Takin On The Fire for Miguel Angel Martinez, while Tomey Swan trains Tyme For A Corona for Maxine Patterson, Jamie Roberts, and Judith Lewis.
Completing the field were Bobcat Flats (Panther Mountain-Im Quick Say
Bye Bye), One Fancy Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Fancys First Affair), Blue Eyed Visions (Visionarian-Miss Blue Eyed Sally), The Final Miracle (Mr Eye Opener-Bullys Miracle),
and Wanting To Win (One Famous Eagle- Shazooms Doll). Built Tuff Enough and My Corona And Me were scratched.
Arapahoe Park $132,860 • 400 yards :19.912 • si 89
First Down Dash
Ocean Runaway
Runaway Wave
FABULOUS OCEAN, ’10-c.
Mr Jess Perry
Fabulously Fast
Ms Dashin Bigtime
Fabulous Ocean and Russell Vicchrilli prevailed by a neck in the $132,860 Mile High Futurity-G3 at Arapahoe Park.
66 SPEEDHORSE, August 31, 2012
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