Page 153 - Speedhorse March 2018
P. 153
Denim N Diamonds Handicap
STRAWFINDERS JESSEE
by Tracy Gantz
C.K. and Laurel Allen have won most of their races in the claiming ranks, but they won their first stakes with Strawfinders Jessee, who captured
the $35,000 Denim N Diamonds Handicap at Los Alamitos on Feb. 17.
Ridden by Cesar DeAlba and trained by John Cooper, the 5-year-old filly broke from the 4-post in second and immediately took the lead. She contin- ued to add to her advantage to score by 1-length in :17.498 for a career high 97 speed index.
The Allens were quick to credit the victory to their trainer. “We owe it all to John Cooper,” said C.K.
The $19,250 winner’s share of the purse boosted her total earnings to $106,717.
Though Strawfinders Jessee was winning her first stakes, she had placed in five others. Most recently she finished third in the 2018 Charger Bar Handicap-G1.
The Allens bred Strawfinders Jessee out of 3-time winner Strawfinder. The mare has produced 100% winners from two starters. Strawfinders Jessee is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Elena Andrade bred and trains second-placed Jess Mas (One Sweet Jess-Corona Mas Fina), ridden by Juan Ramirez. Andrade’s husband, Oscar, owns the 4-year-old filly with Steve Burns. Jess Mas finished third in two earlier stakes.
Alberto Zepeda piloted Zendaya (Foose-Red Hawk Chick) to third for owner Socorro Vargas Hurtado and trainer Ricardo Guillen. The 5-year-old filly won the 2015 Long Beach Handicap.
One Sweet Runner (One Sweet Jess-Check Her Running) finished fourth, followed by Precious Dominique (Foose-Dash For Kate), One Sweet Winner (One Sweet Jess-We Have A Winner), You Can Fly (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), Maggie Durant (One Sweet Jess-Up Down Dash) and Scholarly (TR Dasher-Now You Comeat Noon).
Blink Of An Eye Handicap
PRECIOUS DOMINIQUE
by Tracy Gantz
Precious Dominique easily grabbed her second stakes victory in the $15,000 Blink Of An Eye Handicap at Los Alamitos on Feb. 2.
The 4-year-old brown filly flew from the 4-post
on the lead and finished the 100-yard dash in :6.577 for an 80 speed index.
The $8,250 winner’s share of the purse boosted her total lifetime earnings to $32,170.
Jose Nicasio rode Precious Dominique for owners Adrian and Atilano Gonzalez. Trainer Jose Hernandez Jr. claimed Precious Dominique for Gonzalez for $10,000 in 2016, and one start later won the Bobby Angel Handicap with her for her new connections.
“We had to scratch her a couple of weeks ago. She got sick on us,” said Hernandez. “We thought the 100 yards would be a good race for her, especially as quick as she is out of the gate. This is the perfect tune-up.”
Alessio/Brown/Davies LLC bred Precious Dominique out of lightly raced Dash For Kate. The mare has produced 100% money earners from nine starters. Precious Dominique is her third stakes win- ner alongside California Hi-Point Distance Horse Mister Michael and Girlie Man, the top earner of the brood.
Im Leonidas (Tres Seis-Your First Moon), coming off an allowance win at the same 100-yard distance, finished 2nd with jockey G.J. Rangel. Jose Flores trains the 4-year-old colt for owner Cesar Dabdoub. Spackman Racing’s homebred multiple stakes winner Maggie Durant (One Sweet Jess-Up Down Dash) ran 3rd under Eduardo Nicasio, who rode the 5-year-
old mare for trainer Lin Melton, who owns her with Spackman Racing. Followed by Renewed (Walk Thru Fire-Make Over), I Wont Give Up (Hawkinson- Gimme Back Mybullets), Loud Little Kid (Kiddy Up-Thinking Out Loud), BF Captain Caveman (Captain Courage-Royalclassic Express) and Snowy Coronitas (Count Corona-Snowy Memory).
Oatman Handicap
APOLLITICAL STONE
by Tracy Gantz
Co-owner of Apollitical Stone, Steve Mickaelian not only won his first stakes in the $15,000 Oatman Handicap at Los Alamitos on Feb. 25, the
gelding did it emphatically.
Ridden by Cruz Mendez, Apollitical Stone broke
from the 1-post in second and immediately rushed to the front. From there he kept widening his advantage to easily win the 400-yard dash by 1 3/4-lengths in :19.864, posting a 90 speed index.
The $8,250 winner’s share of the purse boosted the gelding’s lifetime earnings to $108,117.
“We wondered a little bit about the rail, but the horse handled it beautifully,” said Michaelian of Apollitical Stone. “He got out of there and didn’t make any mistakes this time. It’s pretty exciting and maybe there will be more to come. He’s definitely the best horse I’ve owned.”
Michaelian owns Apollitical Stone with Jose Flores, who also trains the gelding. Apollitical Stone broke his maiden last year by qualifying for the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 and he finished fourth in that final. He has since won two more races and ran second in the 2017 Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge.
JEH Stallion Station Oklahoma bred Apollitical Stone out of lightly raced La Fantacia Sone. Apollitical Stone is the mare’s first starter.
Cesar DeAlba rode Favorite Fire Boy (Favorite Cartel-Club Pro) to second for trainer Monty Arrossa and owner Aron Saenz. The colt placed third in the 2017 Los Alamitos Wild West Futurity.
Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite’s homebred Corona Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Corona Perfection) finished third under jockey Jesus Ayala for trainer Paul Jones. The gelding was coming off of back-to-back victories.
Seems Even Better (Kiddy Up-Better Be Good) finished fourth, followed by Time to Leave (Walk Thru Fire-Departing) in the five-horse field.
Los Alamitos $35,000 350 yards :17.498 si 97
Mr Jess Perry
One Sweet Jess
One Sweet Dash
STRAWFINDERS JESSEE, ‘13-f.
Strawfinder
Strawflyin Buds What A Find
Los Alamitos $15,000 100 yards :6.577 si 80
Foose
Stel Corona
Summertime Quickie
PRECIOUS DOMINIQUE, ‘14-f.
First Down Dash
Dash For Kate
Streakit Special
Los Alamitos $15,000 400 yards :19.864 si 90
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
Okey Dokey Fantasy
APOLLITICAL STONE, ‘15-g.
La Fantacia Sone
First Heart
SPEEDHORSE, March 2018 151
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