Page 124 - December 2015

Merced Gomez Orozco Classic
VOLCOMS HEART
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Eduardo Silveyra
Due to the date, distance, and the indi- viduals which have participated in all three editions, this young classic is, for many,
the prelude to the Champion of Champions Classic. A nice group of 12 three-year -old and older runners had a date at the Hipodromo de las Americas to compete for a purse of 322,500 pesos (approximately US $19,512) at 400 yards on Oct. 25.
There were a few novelties in regards to names. The only new candidate was the sorrel filly What Ta Wear, bred in Canada, and listed as a newcomer at the racetrack in Mexico
City, facing nine U.S. and two Mexican athletes. Several of them were renowned for the classic wins in their records, in particular Kangaroofirst, Heza Fearless Dasher, Tessta Rossa, Volcoms Heart, Sound Of Candy, Spit Curl Trey and Chimpa Dancer.
With this quality and quantity of run- ners on the track, there was only a need to watch them in action. Preferences at the betting booths favored Sound Of Candy and Kangaroofirst to win the race.
It was a perfect start without any contact between the competitors. Only Sound Of Candy stumbled in her first movements, leav- ing her at a disadvantage against the group. All of them had an eye on the goal, but soon the grey Kangaroofirst (#1) came forward from the inner rail, while in the middle of the track paced the red bay Volcoms Heart (#6), with the latter prevailing in the duel. Winning by 1/2-length and leaving second to the grey Kangaroofirst, Volcoms Heart’s race time was 19.57 seconds for a 95 speed index.
It was a nice closure between two Mexican Champions, this being one of several races they’ve made on the track, as both were foaled in 2011.
In a post-race conversation with Jose Manuel Vasco, Volcoms Heart and Cuadra Estanzuela’s owner, he expressed his inter-
est in enrolling the filly for the Champion of Champions Classic. “Fortunately, the filly is healthy, being very happy, and this time she rebounded nicely from the trip,” referring to her travel of more than 15 hours from Tabasco to race in Mexico City. “I think she can do well in the 440 yards, as she demonstrated in the recent Challenge Championship, and also Eddi Cuellar (her usual rider) feels she can get strong at that distance.”
(Note: As of this report, both Kangaroofirst and Volcoms Heart are
nominated to participate in the qualifiers for the Champion of Champions Classic, to be held on Nov. 29 at 440 yards).
This year, Volcoms Heart
also won the AQHA Distaff
Challenge and Chirina
Glorys Classic, placed
second in the Javier Rosique
Palavicini Classic, third in
the Inaugural Classic and the
Bank Of America Challenge
Championship of Mexico, from which she was disqualified from first place.
This was her eighteenth start, with a total of eight first places, five arrivals in second, and three third places, with lifetime earnings of 1,349,302 pesos (US $95,796). She also adds points to the statistics of trainer Carlos Villanueva Campos and rider Eddi Cuellar.
The filly was bred in the United States by P.K. Thomas and is a product of the cross from Volcom and the mare Lethal Heart, by Check Him Out.
As previously mentioned, second place was occupied by the colt Kangaroofirst (First Down Dash - Flo Jetta, by Streakin La Jolla) with jockey José Edgar Dominguez, who
entered in the last minute to cover Francisco Rubio. The colt is owned by Cuadra San Luis Aculco and trained by Martin Leopoldo Galán. This was his second start in the current season after standing as a stallion. For his results in the 2014 campaign, he was named Horse of the Year and Champion Three Year Old.
Spit Curl Trey (Spit Curl Jess - Fast Tracy Prize, by
Shazoom), owned by Cuadra Zamarrero, took third place under the guidance of Ivan Gonzalez. Everardo Flores was the trainer responsible for her conditioning.
The rest of the field in their positions: Tessta Rossa (Azoom-Remember Me Rose), Vals Oak (Oak Tree Special-Vals Streak), Hawk Springs (Jess Louisiana Blue-Lovin
Me Is Easy), Come On Yall (Royal Blue Chew Chew-Miss Chic Lil Sheik), Heza Fearless Dasher (Carters Cartel-Dasha Freda), Chimpa Dancer (Ze Dancer-Macumba Royal Hemp), Sound Of Candy (Red Storm Cat- Conne Mara Girl), Separada BN (Separatist Jr-Oughter BN Boots) & What Ta Wear (Game Patriot-Stoli Wear).
Hipodromo de las Americas $19,512 • 400 yards :19.57 • si 95
First Down Dash
Volcom
Runaway Vike
VOLCOMS HEART, ‘11-f.
Check Him Out
Lethal Heart
Lethal Weapon
122 SPEEDHORSE, December 2015
Volcoms Heart (#6) battled Kangaroofirst (#1) for the victory
RACING NEWS
Miguel A. Espinoza, Hipodromo de las Americas