Page 127 - November 2016
P. 127
Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1
BIG LEW
by Tracy Gantz
Asharper break helped Reliance Ranches, LLC’s Big Lew defeat a talented field for his first career stakes victory in the Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 on Nov. 6.
“We needed to work out of the gate, but we decided to just let him go in the trials as is,” said trainer Mike Robbins. “He didn’t get away as sharp (in the trials), but tonight I felt that he would break a lot sharper and he did. He was really running big at the end.”
Big Lew, who won his Oct. 15 trial as the fourth-fastest qualifier, stood perfectly still in the gate for jockey Jimmy Dean Brooks right before the start of the final, and he came away on top. Rite Regal, the fastest qualifier and favorite, stuck closely in the early stages, but Big Lew gathered his momentum and powered home to win by 1/2-length in :19.723 for the 400 yards. Big Lew boasts total earnings of $525,189 after the $322,455 winner’s share from this race.
Reliance Ranches, LLC, Robbins, and Brooks had qualified three to the Super Derby—Big Lew, Flash N Bling, and Rip Tide. Brooks had his choice of the trio and selected Big Lew.
“I knew after we qualified that he was the one I was going to ride,” the jockey said. “I knew that if he would leave like he could, that he would be the one to outrun. Today, he left like he could. When he left like that, I hand- rode him the first half of the race. About halfway I reached and got after him right- handed a couple of times. When I reached back, he hit another gear and went to opening back up.”
Reliance Ranches, LLC bought Big Lew for $150,000 at the 2014 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The colt had qualified for this year’s Ruidoso Derby-G1 and Rainbow Derby-G1 and had won six previous races. With this Los Alamitos Super Derby vic- tory, Big Lew earned a berth to the Dec. 10 Champion of Champions-G1.
“He’s just a good horse and gives it his all,” said Gary McKinney of Reliance Ranches. “He doesn’t leave anything on the track, and he just did it again. He runs well early, but he does have a kick in the middle to the end. He does really well at 400 yards. I think this horse can run 440, but he’s always done a little better at 400. He is maturing, so hopefully he’ll do well at 440.”
Big Lew will follow All American Derby-G1 winner Feature Hero and Grade 1 winner Rock You as the third horse Reliance
Ranches, LLC has quali- fied to the Champion of Champions-G1.
Robbins has won the Champion of Champions with Special Leader in 1991, with Sgt Pepper Feature in 1982, and then Dashs Dream in 1984. All three were named World Champions.
“It’s been a good race
for me,” Robbins said. “I’ve
saddled eight head in the
race, won three, and ran second twice.”
McColee Land & Livestock bred Big Lew in Utah from Texas Hi-Point 3-Year-Old
Filly Executive Looks, who won the 2008 Manor Downs Futurity-G1 and 2009 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Stakes-RG3 and La Villita Stakes. The mare has produced five winners from 11 starters, including Executive Perry, stakes-placed in Mexico. The second dam, Sticky N Picky, is also a multiple stakes winner, whose other foals include mul- tiple stakes winner Executive Prince.
Rite Regal (Favorite Cartel-A Regal Classic) finished second with Cruz Mendez in the irons. Jose Flores trains the gelding for Urschel 3-D Ranch, LLC. Rite Regal was coming off five consecutive victories, including in the Golden State Derby-G2 and El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3.
Time For Jess (Apollitical Jess-Coronation Time) fin-
ished third for jockey Carlos Huerta, trainer Lin Melton, and owner Spackman Racing. The filly won this year’s Los Alamitos Derby Challenge.
Rounding out the field were Ima Fearless Hero (Valiant Hero-Dasha Freda), Flash N Bling (First Down Dash-Suzy Cartel), Rip Tide (Corona Cartel-Little Surfer), Jess A Pollitician (Apollitical Jess-Royal Motions), Docs Best Card (Corona Cartel-Docs
First Card), Go Black Benny (Inseperable- Stuckonafeeling) and Flay (Favorite Cartel- Summertime Quickie).
Los Alamitos $767,750 400 yards :19.723 si 92
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
BIG LEW, ’13-c.
Executive Menace
Executive Looks
Sticky N Picky
Big Lew & Jimmy Brooks receive every call for a wire-to-wire 1/2-length victory in the Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1
SPEEDHORSE, November 2016 125
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos