Page 159 - Speedhorse July 2018

Firecracker Derby
STONE COLD LEADER
by Michael Compton
Stone Cold Leader scored his third stakes win in the $212,005 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs on June 30.
Trained by Joe Davis and with Rolando Pina in the irons, Stone Cold Leader broke from the 9-post in eighth position. Despite drifting in through the lane, the gelding deliv- ered a strong late charge. He caught the dueling leaders close to home and
surged to a 1-length score, stopping the timer for 400 yards in a lively :19.452 as the 2-1 race favorite. The final clocking earned a career-best 101 speed index for Stone Cold Leader.
Owned by Patrick Richardson, Stone Cold Leader improved his record to 13-7(3)-2(0)-2(1) and the $106,003 winner’s share has boosted his lifetime earnings to $311,700. After
Cowboy State Futurity
his victories in the Gordon Mobley Futurity and the QHRAI SSA Futurity last year, he won his June 8 Firecracker Derby trial by an impressive 2 1/2-lengths for the third fastest qualifying position. He also finished third in this year’s Old South Derby at Delta Downs.
Mark Michel bred Stone Cold Leader out of three-time winner Sheza Classy Leader.
She hit the board in 8 of
17 career starts and earned $36,344 while finishing
third in the 2008 Indiana Breed Development Juvenile Stakes and fifth in that year’s QHRAI SSA Futurity-RG3. Sheza Classy Leader has pro- duced 100% money earners from five starters with four of them being winners, includ- ing Jumpn Chick, who placed third in the 2016 QHRAI SSA Derby, and Sheza Classy Bay, who placed second in the
2016 Speed Sale Stakes. Stone Cold Leader is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Apollitical Cyclone (Apollitical Jess-Cartels Belle) and jockey Luis Vivanco finished second for owner Texas Drywall Specialties and trainer by Eusevio Huitron.
Thecartelofmiracle (Tough and Good-Its Jess a Miracle) finished third under jockey Manuel Gutierrez for owner Mauro Luciano Villarreal and trainer Josue Ponce.
Jess Real Fast (Heza Fast Dash-A Chick Called Linda), Louisiana Seis (The Louisiana Cartel-Seis Passes), Sunset Run (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song), Kas Tempting (Tempting Dash-Beaukas), Krash Course (Krash Cartel-Rare Eye Opener), Lions Express (Freighttrain B-This Cat Purrs) and The Carter II (Carters Cartel-Wanna Fly) completed the order of finish.
Delta Downs $212,005 • 400 yards :19.452 • si 101
First Down Dash
Brookstone Bay
Le Ritz
STONE COLD LEADER, ‘15-g.
Leader Of The Class
Sheza Classy Leader
Mystery Stride
SEPARATEFROMOTHERS
by Michael Cusortelli
Trial winner and 3rd-fastest qualifier from the trials, Separatefromothers sprinted to a neck victory in the $110,475 Cowboy State Futurity finals at Energy Downs on June 23.
Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, the sport’s Champion Jockey in 2002 and 2009, Separatefromothers broke late from the 9-post at the back of the field.
The sorrel gelding was able to make up some ground, moving up to eighth by the first call. Separatefromothers
really dug in when he
reached the stretch mid-
pack. He pushed hard to
grab the lead nearing the
finish line to cross the wire a
neck in front.
The team covered 350 yards in :17.507 while recording a career-best 105 speed index.
Riley Moosman prepped the gelding for owner Keith W. Nellesen, who also
campaigns 2017 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt KVN Corona.
Separatefromothers made his debut at Los Alamitos last spring and ran 2nd and 3rd in a pair of 300-yard maiden-special-weight dashes. The gelding has a race record of 4-2(1)-1-1, and the $44,190 winner’s share of the purse from his first stakes victory takes his earnings to $48,335.
Separatefromothers made his Intermountain region debut with a 3/4-length victory in one
of five Cowboy State Futurity trials on June 9.
The gelding was bred
by McColee Land and Livestock, LLC, and he is one of three winners from seven starters foaled by Champion Separate Fire, a multiple Grade 1-winning daughter of Walk Thru Fire.
Nellesen purchased the gelding for $38,000 at last year’s Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
Fastest qualifier Allyson Wonderland (Apollitical Jess-Just A Fairytale), who won her trial wire-to-wire, finished second under rider Jesus Valenzuela for owner Blaine S. Bateman and trainer Riley Moosman.
Mighty B Royal (Mighty B Valiant- Howboutaloan) finished third under Uriel Dominguez for owners Elsha McGarry and Ross Brown, who also trains the gelding.
Rate Me Hight (High Rate Of Return- Valiant Diamond), Jodee B Valiant (Mighty B Valiant-Jo Dee Chick), Wave Experte (Wave Carver-Expertease), Dashing
Eagle Spirit (One Dashing Eagle-C Me Makeit Anywhere), Katies Tricky Moves (Maknmoves-Katie Lane Finder), Mystic Dynasty (Fdd Dynasty-Mystic Air) and Betelgeuse (First Moonflash-Sixy Streak) completed the order of finish.
Energy Downs $110,475 • 350 yards :17.507 • si 105
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
SEPARATEFROMOTHERS, ‘16-g.
Walk Thru Fire
Separate Fire
Septacular
SPEEDHORSE, July 2018 157
RACING NEWS
Gene Wilson & Associates Coady Photography