Page 122 - November 2016
P. 122

                                 AQHA Challenge Championship
Photographs by Los Alamitos Race Course
      Merial Distaff Chal. Champ.-G1
TIME FOR WINE
by Tracy Gantz
Though Pete Scarmardo’s Time For Wine had raced exclusively in Texas, she returned to her native California for her biggest victory to date in the Merial Distaff Challenge Championship-G1 at Los Alamitos on Oct. 29.
Leon Bard trained Time For Wine in Texas,
and Brian Stroud took over in California. The filly was a little nervous at first, but she soon settled into her new surroundings. With regular rider Francisco Calderon aboard, Time For Wine sustained the slightest of bumps at the start and then powered to the front.
She drew away to dominate the field by 1 1/2-lengths in :19.777 for the 400 yards. The $57,500 share of the win- ner’s purse boosted the filly’s earnings to $89,293. She captured the Sam Houston Distaff Challenge earlier this year and was the 2015 Texas Hi=Point 3-Year-Old Filly.
Vessels Stallion Farm bred Time For Wine from graded stakes finalist Fine Wines, who has produced 100% money earners from six starters, including graded stakes winner/top earner Onemoreglassofwine and stakes-placed Mr Perrys Wine.
Longshot Political Nonsense (Apollitical Jess-A Delightful Legacy) ran second for jockey Stormy Smith, trainer Mike Robbins, and owner Reliance Ranches, LLC. Mike and Sherry Reardon’s homebred Flyin Lion (Panther Mountain-Flaming Cynthia) ran third. Jesus Ayala piloted her for trainer Bill Hoburg.
Completing the field were Wrap You Up (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), Getting Even (One Famous Eagle-Dash Master Miss), SR Esmeralda (Red Storm Cat-Lets Get Fiscal), Maggie Durant (One Sweet Jess-Up Down Dash), Kissin Kate Barlow (TR Dasher-Apollos Winner), and L Bar D Sweet Fantsy (Fantastic Corona Jr-Dash Home Deb). Shiner Blond was scratched.
Zoetis Dist. Chal. Champ.-G1
RARE ED
by Tracy Gantz
Distance becomes Rare Ed, who has been moving up as the distances lengthen. He tried 550 yards for the first time this year and then has primar-
ily competed around the hook. It paid off with his first stakes victory in the Andreini Zoetis Distance Challenge Championship-G1 on Oct. 29.
When the gate opened, Mickey Ward dashed
to the lead, but jockey Ramon Guce brought Rare Ed up from the inside to challenge. Rare Ed started to edge away on the turn and refused to yield when others tried to mount a challenge in the stretch. The gelding ultimately won by 1 3/4-lengths as Guce raised his whip in triumph, completing the 870 yards in :45.693. The $60,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted the gelding’s earnings to $83,930.
Jim Crotts trains Rare Ed for owners Suzan Crotts and Martin Marin. Rare Ed had finished third in the Turf Paradise Distance Challenge in May.
Ronald Martin bred Rare Ed in Illinois out of 2-time winner Ms Corona Jet. She has produced 100% money earners from four starters, including stakes-placed Lil Sharky. Rare Ed is her first stakes winner and top earner.
John Stinebaugh trains second-place Jessa Little Rusty (Mr Jess Perry-Rustys Quickid) for owner Louis Howard. Gilbert Ortiz rode the 6-year-old gelding. Streakin Zoomer (Shazoom-A Streakin Mate) ran third with Jose Ortiz aboard. Martin Orona trains the 7-year-old horse for owner Alejandro Arzabala, Jr.
Completing the field were CJs Rocksolid
(Rock Solid Jess-Sultry Miss), Mickey Ward (FDD Dynasty-A Mere Formality), Juno Dat Timber (First Timber-Dashing Snowbound) and Fire On The
Fly (Jet Cartel-Shakes Of Pink TB). KR Streakin Version was scratched.
Markel Invit. Bonus Chal. Champ.
MILLION DOLLAR KISS
by Michael Compton
Jerry Chapman’s Texas homebred Million Dollar Kiss had not visited the winner’s circle follow- ing a stakes race since capturing the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge as a two year old in 2014.
That all changed Oct. 29, however, at Los Alamitos when the now four-year-old filly rolled
to a solid victory in the Markel Invitational Bonus Challenge Championship.
Ridden by Jesus Ayala, Million Dollar Kiss broke in stride and contested the lead throughout. The sorrel filly was in second by just a nose at the first call and was on top at the top of the stretch. She edged clear late and finished with a 1/2-length margin at the wire, stopping the timer for 350 yards with a final time of :17.557, which earned earned a speed index of 93. Bret Vickery saddled both of the top two finishers.
The $36,750 winner’s share of the purse padded Million Dollar Kiss’ bankroll to $119,745. Her record of 19-5-3-3 includes a 2nd-place finish in the 2014 AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2 and a pair of additional stakes placings. Million Dollar Kiss is the lone stakes winner out of the 2-time winner Stoli Kiss.
Vickery-trained CC Tres (Tres Seis-Shaded In Gray) and rider Juan Ramirez were 2nd for Ralph Young. Design Tobe A Winner (Winners Version- Designers Splash) and jockey Adrian Ramos held 3rd in the colors of owner James Lynn and trainer Matthew Fales.
First Prize Chicks (Spit Curl Jess-First Prize Chic), Time For Jesse Lee (Mr Jesse Lee-Time For Noble), Chicks R Gone (Chickie Cherry Cola-Oso Gone) and DK The Nacho Lady (Separatist-A Special First) completed the order of finish.
              Los Alamitos • $125,000 400 yards • :19.777 • si 91
Los Alamitos • $125,000 870 yards • :45.693 • si 96
Los Alamitos • $75,000 350 yards • :17.557• si 93
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
MILLION DOLLAR KISS, ‘12, f.
Stoli
      Mr Jess Perry TIME FOR WINE, ’12-f.
Fine Wines
Streakin La Jolla Scoopie Fein First Down Dash Dashin Sandy
Dean Miracle RARE ED, ’11-g.
Ms Corona Jet
Streakin Six
Our Third Delight Corona Cartel
      120 SPEEDHORSE, November 2016
Stoli Kiss
   Tourjete
Kiss De Girl













































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