Page 150 - Speedhorse July 2018

Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1
WAVE HER DOWN
by Tracy Gantz
Jeff Pitcher recommended to John Sperry that he purchase Wave Her Down out of the 2017 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Sperry didn’t live to see the filly race, but he willed her to Pitcher and his wife, Kim, resulting in a night the Pitchers will never forget.
Wave Her Down edged favored Wicked Affair to capture the $1,020,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 at Los Alamitos on June 24.
“I am still dumbfounded,” said Jeff. “I know Kim and I did a lot for him, but I never expected anything like this. This is a dream for people. I never figured I would ever own a First Down Dash, let alone this filly.”
The Pitchers manage Champion trainer Paul Jones’ ranch in Norco, California. Sperry was “a father figure to me,” said Jones. The owner supported Jones early in his career.
“If I ever needed anything, he was always there for me,” said Jones. “He was like that with a lot of people. He was just a kind person.”
Thus, it was fitting that Wave Her Down, owned by the Pitchers and trained by Jones, succeeded in the Ed Burke Million
Futurity-G1. She had a per- fect two-for-two record going into the final, having won a maiden race May 12 and then her trial to be the fourth- fastest qualifier.
Jesus Ayala rode Wave
Her Down and Wicked
Affair in the trials, but
elected to pilot Wicked
Affair in the final. Cody
Jensen, who has been riding
sparingly because of injuries
to a shoulder and a knee, took over on Wave Her Down.
“Coming back from my shoulder surgery, I only got a chance to ride a couple of races before I broke this knee up,” Jensen stated. “For those guys to call me to come ride in this big race when I haven’t been riding much, it just goes to show you that they have a lot of faith in me. I’m just glad that I was able to return the faith they had in me by pulling off this win for them.”
Wave Her Down broke third from 5-post in the Futurity final.
“All the horses moved away, and they parted the Red Sea,” said trainer Paul Jones. “They gave her plenty of running room.”
Wave Her Down took advantage of that opportu- nity. She grabbed the lead and then had to gamely hang onto it when Wicked Affair the wire. She held off the
148 SPEEDHORSE, July 2018
Los Alamitos $1,020,000 • 350 yards :17.577 • si 95
Dash For Cash
First Down Dash
First Prize Rose
WAVE HER DOWN, ‘16-f.
Runaway Winner
Runaway Wave
In The Curl TB
challenged her at
favorite to win by a neck in :17.577, posting a career-best 95 speed index.
“This filly has a great late kick,” said Jones. “I knew she could really finish.”
Jones also trained World Champion Wave Carver, a millionaire full brother to Wave
Her Down. Lucas Racing Inc. bred Wave Her Down out of stakes-placed winner Runaway Wave, the 2005 Broodmare of the Year. Runaway Wave has produced 28 winners from
Wave Her Down & Cody Jensen win the $1,020,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos