Page 137 - November 2016
P. 137
Indiana Championship
ABUNDANZ
by Michael Cusortelli
Sent to post as the 2-1 favorite, Abundanz responded with a nose victory in the $86,920 Indiana Championship Stakes at Indiana Grand on Oct. 22.
Abundanz broke on top from the 8-gate, fell to fourth in the stretch and was up in time to finish a nose in front to stop the timer in :19.860 and earn a 95 speed index under jockey Santiago Mendez. Julio Almanza saddled the 4-year-old gelding for owners Gustavo Almanza Jr. and Francisco Raul Hernandez. The $47,806 winner’s share of the purse from his second lifetime stakes score boosted his earnings to $119,623, of which $112,807 has been banked this season. Campaigned in seven different states since he began his career, Abundanz has won five of 21 starts, including the Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2 on Sept. 17. He
also set a 330-yard New Track Record this year at Indiana Grand.
Abundanz was bred in Oklahoma by Stephen
N. Williams and is the top earner out of multiple- graded stakes winner Jess A Lil Bit More. She has produced 100% earners from nine starters includung stakes-placed winner Valorus.
Sudden Separation (Inseperable-Okie Dokey Annie) ran 2nd for owner Duane Murphy of Aurora, Missouri. Berkley Packer rode for trainer Larry Sharp.
Habits Secret (No Secrets Here-Habitual Dreamer) was 3rd for owner Ricardo Martinez, who also trains the colt. Cristian Esqueda was in the irons.
Seize The Win (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Jess An Illusion) finished fourth and was followed by Shes Da One On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Da One), Mavara Vegas (FDD Dynasty-Jess Like Vegas), WH Design By Dash (Brimmstone-Fast Mans Dash), Parti Favor (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Funparty), Pistolpacking Pepsi (Jesse James Jr-Wave Of Pepsi) and Bye Bye Birdy (Hawkinson-Sweet Bye And Bye).
Alex Picov Memorial Futurity
DENALI TELLER OFF
by Michael Compton
After the dust had settled following a roughly contested running of the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity at Ajax Downs on Oct. 10, it was 23-1 long shot Denali Teller Off springing the upset victory over 9 rivals in the 400-yard test.
Ridden by Ramiro Castillo, Denalli Teller Off broke alertly and dashed to a narrow early lead while odds-on favorite/fastest qualifer Home To Vegas was bumped by Kona Corona and lost rider Tony Phillips. With the favorite out of the picture, Denali Teller Off successfully fended off a stern bid from Hickerson in the lane, and in a driving finish, defeated that rival by a neck at the finish. Denali Teller Off stopped the timer in :20.340, earning a speed index of 89 for trainer Jason Pascoe.
It was the initial stakes win for Denali Teller Off who improved her record to 6-3-0-3 and increased her bankroll to $41,592 for owner Milena Kwiecien.
Bred in Oklahoma by Charles E. Robinson, Denali Teller Off is the first stakes winner produced from Eye Like Beduino. Denali Teller Off had won her Sept. 19 trial for the 7th qualifying position.
Runner-up Hickerson (Country Chicks Man- Easily Holland) made the front at one point in the lane, but settled for 2nd under Brian Bell for owner Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre and trainer Don Reid. Erik & Joyce Lehtinen’s homebred One Special Domino (Dominyun-Shenandoah) broke in and bumped after the start and raced
evenly under Jeff MacLaren to finish 3rd. Erik also trains the filly. Followed by Deception North (Fire Finder-Snaptoit), Home Ice (Iced N Oak-Driving Annie Home), Dash To Miami (Dash To The Arctic-Miami Movin), Lummis First (First Down Dash-Lummis), Flirt With The Boyz (Wild Boyz- Special Royal Takeon), & DQd from 8th to last Kona Corona (Wave Carver-Belles a Lady). Home To Vegas (Down Home Dash-Cash Into Vegas).
Alex Picov Mem. Champ.
ONE FAMOUS GLASS
by Michael Compton
One Famous Glass adores Ajax Downs. Having hit the board in 23 of 26 starts heading
into the track’s $66,847 Alex Picov Memorial
Championship on Oct. 10, it should have come as no surprise that he once again utilized his patented late run to collar his competitors late en route to a victory in the 440-yard event.
With Tony Phillips aboard for trainer Bryn Robertson, One Famous Glass raced in sixth position early in the contest. He closed resolutely in the lane to post the nose victory over Fiesty Icon, stopping the timer in :21.800. The final clocking, which was just ticks off of Mitford’s track record of :21.520 set in 2013, earned a speed index of 99.
It was the third stakes tally for the six-year-old veteran, who earned $27,424 for his winning effort. One Famous Glass now owns 14 wins from 31 lifetime starts and boasts earnings of $213,801 for owners Carol Robertson, Jaime Robertson and Dr. Charles Hall. His other stakes wins also came at Ajax Downs in the 2013 All Canadian Derby as well as that year’s Ontario Jackpot Derby.
Burnett Ranches bred One Famous Glass in Texas out of two-time winner Quick Glass. She is the dam of five winners from eight starters, and One Famous Glass is her lone stakes winner.
Fiesty Icon (Sugarman Perry-Fiesty Spirit) just missed after leading most of the way for jockey Carly Furlonger. The four-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Richard Kennedy. First Down The Track (Corona Cartel-First Down Runner) finished a game third as the odds-on favorite. Richard Wincikaby’s six-year-old mare is trained by Don Reid and was piloted by Brian Bell. Followed by Deal A Fortune (Dealagame-Separatist Fortune), Fast Buck (Teller Cartel-Miss Jess Rogue), Rich And On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Tan Thin And Rich), and Fast Man Vic (Mighty Invictus-Precious Debutante).
Indiana Grand $86,920 400 yards :19.860 si 95
Holland Ease
Corona Chick
Mr Jess Perry
Corona Cartel
ABUNDANZ, ’12-g.
Jess A Lil Bit More
Sheza Lilbituino
Ajax Downs $84,637 400 yards :20.340 si 89
Jess Louisiana Blue
Louisiana Senator
Corona Perfection
DENALI TELLER OFF, ’14, f.
Mr Eye Opener
Eye Like Beduino
Painted Bug
Ajax Downs $66,847 440 yards :21.800 si 99
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
ONE FAMOUS GLASS, ‘10, g Quick Glass
One Famous Lady Royal Quick Dash Tempered Glass
SPEEDHORSE, November 2016 135
RACING NEWS
Linscott Photography
Clive Cohen
Clive Cohen
