Page 164 - October 2016

Golden State Derby-G2
RITE REGAL
by Tracy Gantz
Rite Regal knows how to craft winning streaks. He did it last year at 2, when he won 3 in a row, and he has now surpassed that at 3 when his
victory in the Aug. 21 Golden State Derby-G2 at Los Alamitos gave him his 4th consecutive score. Jockey Cruz Mendez got Rite Regal out of the gate in spectacular fashion, giving them a huge jump on the field. Rite Regal stayed ahead for most of the 400 yards and was
able to hold off fast-closing Militarist to win by a head in :19.704. The $85,344 winner’s share boosts his earnings to $215,275.
“Cruz did an excellent job on him,” said trainer Jose Flores. “He left better than he has in a long time. He looked like he did in the first race when I first ran him. He started drifting in, but
I think Cruz has found the way to riding him.”
Flores trains Rite Regal for the Urschel 3-D Ranch, LLC of the late Dan Urschel
and his wife, Jolene. The gelding, who was winning his second Derby following the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3 in April, won his Aug. 8 Golden State Derby trial for the 3rd fastest qualifying spot.
Dr. Steve Burns bred Rite Regal in California out of the unraced
mare A Regal Classic. She has produced two starters, both winners. A Regal Classic is
a half-sister to stakes-placed First To Reach. The third dam, Jet Together, is a half- sister to 2000 Broodmare
of the Year Seperate Ways, who produced Champions Separatist and Way Maker.
Burns also bred second- place Militarist (Favorite Cartel-Hawk Kue Pie), and he owns the gelding with
trainer Mike Casselman. Ruben Lozano piloted Militarist, who was the second-fastest qualifier.
Jess Ravin (Corona Cartel-Jessica Ravin), the fastest qualifier, finished third in a dead-heat with Go Black Benny (Inseperable- Stuckonafeeling) under Jesus Ayala. Yanet Rodriguez trains Jess Ravin for the EG High Desert Farms. Go Black Benny was ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for owner Lisa Anderson and trainer Jaime Gomez.
Completing the field were Sale
Topper (Walk Thru Fire-Special And Proud), Senor Gianni (Good Reason SA-Shescheckinumout), Much Better Reason (Good Reason SA-First Down Toll), Walk Thru Crystal (Walk Thru Fire-Corona Crystal), and in a dead-heat for 9th Free Swinger (Walk Thru Fire-Chickasis) & Peacefull Delight (Tres Seis-Be Peacefull)
Los Alamitos $203,200 • 400 yards :19.704 • si 93
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
RITE REGAL, ’13-g.
A Regal Choice
A Regal Classic
Classic Reach
RACING NEWS
PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G3
LITTLE TALKS
by Tracy Gantz
The start of a race is even more key for Little Talks than for most racing Quarter Horses. “She’s been anxious in the gate,” said trainer Mike Casselman. “If she’s straight and looks straight down the track, then we’ll be okay.”
Casselman and owner/breeder Steve
Burns were definitely okay with the Sept. 30 PCQHRA Breeders Derby-G3 at Los Alamitos. Jockey Cesar DeAlba had Little Talks straight when the gate sprung, and the
filly zipped out to take the
lead after just a stride or two.
My Favorite Check ranged up
on the rail to challenge, but
Little Talks held off the geld-
ing to win by 1/2-length in
:19.672 for the 400 yards. The
$70,140 payday boosted the
filly’s earnings to $541,771.
Casselman and the Los Alamitos gate crew have been working with Little Talks so that she breaks better.
162 SPEEDHORSE, October 2016
“The gate crew has done a good job with her,” said the trainer. “They know her as well as I do, and they’ve done a real good job working with her and getting her settled down and loading in the gate.”
Last year, Little Talks won the Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and was the fast- est qualifier in the Sept. 10 trials for the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G3 finals.
Burns bred the filly in California from multiple stakes-placed Babe On The Fly, who has produced
18 winners in 24 starters. They include 2014 Ruidoso Derby-G1 winner Rock You; stakes winners Carne Vino, JM Specialwynn, Fly Thru The Fire, and Wrap You Up; and stakes-placed Glock, Annas Babe, Redd Tailed Hawk, and You Can Fly (the latter fifth in this Derby).
Ron Hartley’s homebred My Favorite Check (Favorite Cartel-Six Checks) finished second for jockey Ramon Sanchez and trainer John Cooper. That gave sire Favorite Cartel a one-two finish.
Jaime Gomez owns and trains third-place Docs Best Card (Corona Cartel-Docs First Card). Oscar Peinado rode the colt.
Thermonuclear Energy (Walk Thru Fire-Terrific Energy) finished fourth and
was followed by You Can Fly (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), Royaltys Authority (Royaltys Choice-Trick And Fun TB), Uno Corona Mas (One Sweet Jess-Corona Mas Fina), Stel Easy (Stel Corona-Fames Easy), Ima Fearless Hero (Valiant Hero-Dasha Freda) and Unclaimed Dividend (A Mere Chocolate-Chavela Magic) who ran sixth, but was disqualified to last.
Los Alamitos $167,000 • 400 yards :19.672 • si 94
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
LITTLE TALKS, ’13-f.
Strawfly Special
Babe On The Fly
Six On The Beach
Los Alamitos Los Alamitos