Page 111 - December 2015

Texas Classic Derby-G1
BODACIOUS EAGLE
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Trey Wood and jockey Ricky Ramirez won’t soon forget the night of Nov. 14 at Lone Star Park. The excitement began after the second race, when management honored them as the meet’s leading trainer and jockey.
Johnny Trotter, a longtime client of Wood and his father, Blane, owns Bodacious Eagle. The team was up against a tough field in the Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby that included All American Derby-G1 winner Apollitical Blood, the fastest qualifier and the 7-10 favorite. Bodacious Eagle was sent away the 9-5 second choice as a trial winner and the second-fastest qualifier.
“This colt has really blossomed during the fall since he got to Lone Star,” said Trey Wood. “He had a perfect trip, and he’s a really nice horse and honest.”
Drawn on the outside, Bodacious Eagle came out of the gate on top. He took a 1/2-length lead early in the 440 yards, with Apollitical Blood in second. The favorite couldn’t stay with Bodacious Eagle, however, and faded to sixth, while Bodacious held his 1/2-length advantage to the wire, stopping the clock in :21.298.
Bodacious Eagle had qualified for the Grade 1 Ruidoso, Rainbow, All American, and Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurities last year and to this year’s Rainbow Derby-G1. He ran
third in the Ruidoso Futurity, and he was the fastest quali- fier in the Rainbow Derby.
“He’s been unlucky—in the Rainbow (Derby) finals, they had a lot of trouble in the gate and he was right in the middle of it,” said Wood.
Bodacious Eagle just missed qualifying for the All American Derby-G1, but at Lone Star he qualified for and won the Dash For Cash Derby-G3.
“Everything just finally came together for him at the right time at Lone Star,” Wood said. “Last year he looked like he would have trouble going a quarter-mile, but this year he has been a totally different horse and has matured. He doesn’t have absolutely anything wrong with him, and that makes a huge difference this time of year. He’s really sound. And he’s a good horse to be around.”
La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC bred Bodacious Eagle in Oklahoma from the win- ning mare Bodacious Dream, twice a Grade 2 qualifier. She has produced eight winners from 11 starters.
Bodacious Eagle’s second dam, two- time Champion Dashing Phoebe, produced
Champions Heartswideopen and Special Phoebe,
as well as stakes win-
ners Furyofthewind, Dashingfordestiny, and Solid Demand. Another
of Dashing Phoebe’s foals, Allamericandreamgirl, is the dam of Champion American Runaway, and Dashing Phoebe’s daughter, This Dreams Flying produced Champion Hes Relentless.
Dutcher (Apollitical Jess-Louisiana Eye Opener), raced by Jumonville and Brian Ranch, finished second. Joe Badilla Jr. rode the geld- ing for trainer Juan Aleman. Rodrigo Vallejo piloted RC Me Leaving You (Coronas Leaving You-Sixy Bottom) to third for trainer Judd Kearl and owners Bennie and E. Teresa Jeter.
Completing the field were Torts On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Queen Of Torts), Poker Chip 831 (Fantastic Corona Jr-Takeoff Royally), Apollitical Blood (Apollitical Jess-Brazilian Dasher), Our Mr Hero (Valiant Hero-Our Miss Perry), The Big Time (Bigtime Favorite- Bosanova Baby), Eyesa Good One (First Down Dash-Eyesa Jumpn), & Bigtime Connoisseur (Bigtime Favorite-Sinuous).
Lone Star Park $415,685 • 440 yards :21.298 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
BODACIOUS EAGLE, ’12-g.
Corona Cartel
Bodacious Dream
Dashing Phoebe
Bodacious Eagle & Ricky Ramirez go wire-to-wire winning the $415,685 Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby
SPEEDHORSE, December 2015 109
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography