Page 156 - June 2017

Old South Derby
MEGA HERO
by Michael Compton
Mega Hero flashed plenty of promise last year as a juvenile and now as a 3 year old is delivering on the racetrack. He became a stakes winner for the
first time, taking down top prize in the $62,715 Old South Derby at Delta Downs May 12.
The third-fastest qualifier for the main event after winning his April 21 trial heat, Mega Hero broke alertly under Manuel Gutierrez and dueled throughout before edging clear late to win by 3/4-length, stopping the timer in :17.611 and earning a 91 speed index.
The win added $31,358 to Mega Hero’s coffers, raising his lifetime earnings to $43,095. Trained by Jose Sanchez, Mega Hero is owned by Double H Racing Investment LLC.
Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, Mega Hero is out of Grade 2 finalist Separatist In View. She has produced 100% money earners from five starters, including TQHA Futurity winner/top earner Bedouin In View and stakes placed Noblejesselie Inview. Mega Hero is her second stakes winner.
Ardor (Ivory James-First Fervor) and jockey Damian Martinez broke in at the start of the race and rallied strongly in the lane to finish second for owner Double H Racing Investment LLC and trainer Jose Sanchez.
Sanchez also saddled third place finisher Tres Seis Sign (Tres Seis-Sign Anna First), who closed ground late under jockey Eddie Sanchez. Armando Luis Moya owns the colt.
JMF Western Cartel (Carters Cartel-Oceans Tea) finished in a dead-heat for fourth with TD Famous Jes (One Famous Eage-Jes A Game), followed by Jess A Fighter (Fighter On Fire-Jesstogether), Tough Too Catch (Too Tough To Catch-Joy Time Bug), Sizzlin Stewart (Sizzlin Cartel-Stone Ginger), JMF Dashing (Tempting Dash-Shamefully) and First Impulse (Volcom-Tosca’s Rock TB).
Vinton Stakes
ZOOBOO
by Michael Cusortelli
Making his first start in two months, Zooboo rallied to win the $50,000 Vinton Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3 year olds at Delta Downs on May 20.
Zooboo covered 400 yards in :19.565 under jockey Cipriano Vidana, and this winning margin was a head from JRS Coronas Shadow. Martin Trejo prepped Zooboo for owner Rosalio Espinosa of Edinburg, Texas. The $30,000 winner’s share of the Vinton Stakes purse bumped his bankroll to $93,125.
Zooboo was coming off of a victory in the 400-yard $93,898 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs on March 18, a race in which he recorded a lifetime-best 104 speed index. The gelding was bred by the partnership of M & S Zingelmann and C. Crenwelge.
Zooboo is one of three winners from seven
starters produced by Zoobilee, who won five stakes
in Louisiana including the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby-RG2 at Fair Grounds in 2010. Zoobilee also set a 350-yard track record at Evangeline Downs on Nov. 4, 2010, when she won an allowance race in :17.278 and posted a 112 speed index.
Zooboo has proven his value on the track as well, as the gelding has won three of seven starts, includ- ing two stakes victories.
JRS Coronas Shadow (Coronas Leaving You- Shadow Of Colors) races for Gary Hartstack from the barn of trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. The bay gelding was ridden by Donald Watson. Toasted Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-Toast To Tolltac) ran third. John Hamilton rode the gelding for owner Mary Ellen Hickman and trainer Michael Taylor.
Hez Kwik (Heza Fast Dash-Kwik Kash), One Hot Flame (Fast Prize Dash-Rump Shakin) TF Racee Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-Racee Rainbows), Dragon N Panther (Dragon Wings- Mountain Woman) & Fired Up Perry (Game Patriot-Perry Five) completed the order of finish.
Louisiana Purchase Stakes
RUNNING GAME PATRIOT
by Michael Compton
Running Game Patriot, while graded stakes- placed, had yet to win an added-money event when he entered the Louisiana Purchase Stakes at
Delta Downs on May 6.
Running Game Patriot broke on top from the
3-gate and was 1/2-length clear of the field at the first call. The bay gelding withstood a challenge from Lil Bro Big Streak in the lane and finished well to hold back a late charge from My Favorite Blue to score by 3/4-length in front at the wire. Running Game Patriot stopped the timer in :17.453, earning a 95 speed index.
Running Game Patriot deservingly joined the stakes-winning ranks after a game wire-to-wire victory under Donald Guynes in the 350-yard Louisiana Purchase Stakes for owner Pete Scarmardo and trainer Brian Stroud.
Running Game Patriot was bred in Louisiana by S Bar S and Ryan Robicheaux out of mul- tiple graded stakes placed Eyesa La Tac. She has produced 100% money earners from five starters. Running Game Patriot is her first stakes winner and top earner of $119,584 with a record of 4(1)- 5(2)-5(2) from 23 outs.
My Favorite Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Dasha Effort) finished second after a late surge under David Alvarez for owner Saul Dorado and trainer Manuel Macias.
Heza Fast Wokatee (Heza Fast Dash-Wokatee) and jockey Damian Martinez finished third after a game effort for owner/trainer Bobby Martinez.
Lil Bro Big Streak (Jet Black Patriot-Annas Streakin Dash) completed fourth and was fol- lowed by First Prize Jet (Jet Black Patriot-First Prize Diamond), Zoominforgrady (Zoomin for Bux-Supers First Jewel) and The Renaissance Man (Coronas Leaving You-Jewels Fortune). Voncitas Game was scratched.
Delta Downs • $62,715 350 yards • :17.611 • si 91
Game Patriot
First Down Hemp
Separatist
Jet Black Patriot
MEGA HERO, ’14-g.
Separatist In View
Classic Guitar
Delta Downs • $50,000 400 yards • :19.565 • si 98
Coronas Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
ZOOBOO, ’14-g. Zoobilee
Lil Bit Rusty
Dashin Bye
Our Precious Secret
Delta Downs • $40,000 350 yards • :17.453 • si 95
Chicks Beduino
Fire and Ice
RUNNING GAME PATRIOT, ’12-g.
Game Patriot
Eyesa La Tac
Eyesa Special Streakin La Tac
154 SPEEDHORSE, June 2017
RACING NEWS
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography