Page 44 - 23 November 2012

Black Gold Futurity Championship-RG3
WiCKeD COuRaGe
by Tracy Gantz
Wicked Courage won more than a stakes race when he captured the Nov. 10 Black Gold Futurity Championship-RG3. The victory capped a perfect meeting for the geld- ing, who was named the top 2-year-old of the meeting. Wicked Courage helped earn Luis Villafranco top training honors at Will Rogers, and owner Andrew Smith was barely edged out for leading owner.
“He really liked the track there,” said Villafranco. “But he’s always been a good horse. We took horses to Ruidoso this year because I thought he was the best horse.”
Wicked Courage won all four of his races at Will Rogers—his trials and the finals of
the Black Gold 350 Futurity and the Futurity Championship. He qualified the fastest for the Futurity Championship and went off as the 9-10 favorite.
“We were a little worried about being in the one hole,” said Villafranco, “because the outside had been a little better.”
If drawing the rail was a disadvantage, Wicked Courage didn’t let it bother him. Under Cody Jensen, who rode him in all of
his Will Rogers races, the gelding came out of the gate sharply and immediately scampered away from the field. With a ground-devouring stride, he stopped the timer in :19.603 for the 400 yards, 1 1/2 lengths to the good of second- place Specialscountrychick. That earned Wicked Courage a paycheck of $167,597.
Villafranco’s brother Juan pointed out Wicked Courage at the 2011 Heritage Place yearling sale. Smith had bought several young- sters, including two for more than $50,000 each and Wicked Courage for $4,000. Smith asked Villafranco which of his purchases he liked best, and the trainer chose Wicked Courage.
Villafranco began training for Smith last year and now has nine horses for the owner. He broke Wicked Courage and remembers him as tough.
“The first time we put a rider on him, he threw the rider so hard he didn’t want to get back on,” said Villafranco. “It took a little time to break him, but the ones that give you trouble are often the ones that can run.”
Wicked Courage finished third twice at Remington Park, once for G.R. Carter Jr. and once for Jensen. Both jockeys told Villafranco that the colt didn’t seem to be focusing on
his races. The trainer decided to geld Wicked Courage, which he said has helped the young- ster keep his mind on his job.
Unfortunately, Wicked Courage ran into headwinds at Ruidoso and wasn’t able to demon- strate his best ability. He competed in trials for the Grade 1 Ruidoso, Rainbow, and All American Futurities, finishing third, second, and fifth.
“It began to rain before the All American trials, and he was just spinning his wheels,” said Villafranco. “I told
my boys, ‘Let’s go back to
Oklahoma because I think he would have a chance in the Black Gold.’ ”
Villafranco won last year’s Black Gold with Sumokin. He was thrilled to have a chance to win back-to-back runnings of the prestigious race.
“I was really happy for
Mr. Smith,” said the trainer.
“He said he had never won a
big race like that before, even
though he’s been in the busi-
ness for many years. He was very excited to get the trophy for Wicked Courage being the best 2-year-old of the meet.”
Though Villafranco didn’t completely rule out the Sunland Park Winter Futurity-G2
at the end of the year, he said most likely he would give Wicked Courage a break.
“He should be really good next year in the derbies,” said Villafranco.
Burnett Ranches LLC bred Wicked Courage in Texas from stakes-placed Wicked
Pamela. The mare is a full sister to three Grade 1 stakes winners and out of multiple stakes winner Viking Anne. Wicked Pamela has produced five winners from 11 starters, includ- ing West Texas Maturity-G3 and Ruidoso 550 Championship winner Heza Wicked Man, Fine Loom Handicap winner JJS Double Dash,
and stakes-placed Safehaven. Tenth-fastest quali-
fier Specialscountrychick (Country Chicks Man-Special Anywhere) finished second in the final under Stormy Smith. Stacy Charette-Hill trains the filly for Warren and Geraldine Buck Elk. Specialscountrychick has won or placed in all but one of her eight starts.
Eyem Unstopable (Mr Eye Opener-Miss Corona Quick), the third-fastest qualifier, fin- ished third in the final. David
Pinon rode the filly for trainer Eddie D. Willis and owners Graham Tyler and Stephen Mogonye.
Completing the field were Klassy Chick (Valiant Hero-Wallstreet Darlin), Eye A Spit Curl Girl (Spit Curl Jess-Thisdimplesaniopener), BP Painted Lady (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Ladys Is First), Heza Valiant Warrior (Valiant Hero-Enticilizeur), Cartel Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Shake Cartel), and Oklahoma Cartel (Carters Cartel-Pure Oklahoma). First Down Shazoom was scratched.
Will Rogers Downs $418,993 • 400 yards :19.603 • si 105
Mr Jess Perry
Captain Courage
Corona Chick
WICKED COURAGE, ’10-g.
Dash For Cash
Wicked Pamela
Viking Anne
42 SPEEDHORSE, November 23, 2012
Wicked Courage and Cody Jensen won the $418,993 Restricted Grade 3 Black Gold Futurity Championship by 1 1/2 lengths at Will Rogers Downs.
Racing news
Kellie Johnston: Coady Photography