Page 75 - New Mexico Horse Breeder, Fall

SIERRA BLANCA HANDICAP (R)
by Michael Cusortelli
Diabolical
Artax
Bonnie Byerly
Gator Prowl
Roar Of The Tiger
Reed And Rite
DIABoLICAL GAtoR
Kirk and Judy Robison’s Diabolical Gator, a 4-year-old son of the Artax stallion Diabolical, was a prompt 9-5 favorite in the July 29, 5 1/2-furlong Sierra Blanca Handicap (R) for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs.
Ridden by Miguel Fuentes Jr. for trainer Joel Marr, Diabolical Gator set fractions of :21.97 and :44.17 before reaching the wire in 1:02.87, and his margin of victory was a clear 5 3/4 lengths from 3-1 second choice Mr. Mooch. The chestnut gelding earned $30,000 from his fifth win in six outs and first stakes score.
Diabolical Gator was bred by the Robisons, residents of El Paso, Texas. The gelding is one of 107 winners from 137 starters sired by Diabolical, a half brother to What A Name (IRE), a two-time Group 3 winner in France from 2012-13.
Racing in four countries from 2005-08, Diabolical earned $1,404,772 from 31 starts, and his nine wins included the 2007 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) at Saratoga and Maryland Breeders’ Cup Sprint Handicap (G3) at Pimlico. The 15-year-old Kentucky- bred stallion has sired 10 official black-type stakes winners and the earners of more than
$6.9 million from six crops, including multiple stakes winners Diabolical Dame, Liberty Lover, and That’s The Idea.
Diabolical is owned by Fred A. Alexander and J. Kirk Robison, and he stands for a $4,000 fee and Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch at Anthony, New Mexico.
Diabolical Gator’s dam, the stakes-winning 11-year-old Roar Of The Tiger mare Gator Prowl, has foaled four winners from as many starters, including Fast Gator, a full sister to Diabolical Gator who has won four stakes, including the July 29 Sierra Starlet Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and Gator Heat, a son of Southwestern Heat who won the 2015 Dine Stakes (R) at SunRay Park.
Diabolical Gator traces back to his fourth dam, What A Future, a daughter of the Hail To Reason stallion Roberto who foaled Whata Brainstorm, the winner of two graded stakes in Florida from 2000-01, including the 2001 Pan American Handicap (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
An earner of $95,640, Diabolical Gator won two of his three starts during the 2017- 18 Sunland Park meet, with his loss being a
fifth-place finish in the March 25, $100,000 New Mexico State University Handicap (R) at the 1-mile and 70-yard distance.
Second place finisher Mr. Mooch was mak- ing his first start in nine months for owners Rodney Brooks, D.R. Reid, M.L. Brooks, and E. Glen Berry.
Four Star Saint finished third for Michael G. Weatherly who also bred the gray or roan son of Your Eminence. The Waki Rapper, D E Lover, Way Nifty, and E J’s Gold completed the order of finish.
SIERRA StARLEt HANDICAP (R)
RUIDOSO DOWNS
Diabolical
Artax
Bonnie Byerly
Gator Prowl
Roar Of The Tiger
Reed And Rite
FASt GAtoR
Sent to post as the 11-10 favorite in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies, Fast Gator responded with a wire-to-wire, four-length victory in the June 29, $50,000 Sierra Starlet Handicap (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Fast Gator covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.75 under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. Henry Dominguez saddled the homebred dark bay or brown daughter of Diabolical for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso, Texas.
Fast Gator was making her first start since Jan. 21, when the filly ran fourth in the 1-mile, $85,000 Enchantress Stakes (R) at Sunland Park. The filly is one of 10 black-type stakes winners from 136 starters sired by Diabolical, a 15-year-old Grade 2-winning son of the Marquetry stallion Artax.
Diabolical is owned by Fred A. Alexander and J. Kirk Robison, and he stands for a $4,000 fee at Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch at Anthony, New Mexico.
Fast Gator is one of four winners from
as many starters foaled by Gator Prowl, an 11-year-old Florida-bred daughter of the Storm
Cat stallion Roar Of The Tiger who won the 2010 Marshua Stakes at Laurel Racecourse
in Maryland. Fast Gator is a full sister to Diabolical Gator, the winner of the 2018 Sierra Blanca Handicap (R) at Ruidoso, and she is a half to Gator Heat, the winner of the ’15 Dine Stakes (R) at SunRay Park.
Fast Gator’s third dam, the winning Copelan mare Future Answer, was a half sis- ter to What A Brainstorm, a two-time graded stakes winner whose resume included a victory in the 2001 Pan American Handicap (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The filly traces back to her fifth dam, Mararjee, a winning Sailor mare who produced Journey At Sea, the winner of the ’82 Swaps Stakes (G1) at Hollywood Park.
Fast Gator has won five of six starts, including last year’s 6-furlong, $140,000 New Mexico Cup Lassie Championship (R) at Zia Park, 5 1/2-furlong, $135,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and 6-furlong, $85,000 La Senora Stakes (R) at Sunland Park. The $30,000
winner’s share of the purse from her fourth stakes score pushed the filly’s bankroll to $239,035.
Gone Shoppin finished second for own- ers Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC and Bobby J. McQueen
La Grange Lady was third for owner V Bar V Racing LLC and was followed by Comics Cashway, Movin On, Orogrande, Wedding Dance, Poseidon Aquarius, and Money Order.
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