Page 35 - 11 May 2012

PSBA American Paint Classic Futurity-RG1
LAJOLLAS MR BIG STUFF
by Tracy Gantz
When Jane Cullum of Muskogee, Oklahoma, decided on a Paint filly
who would eventually become her one-horse broodmare band, she chose carefully, selecting McM Evelyn Lajolla.
“She’s a full sister to Linda Lajolla, who was a Paint world champion,” said Cullum, “so I knew her bloodlines were good.”
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, the mare’s first
foal and a colorful sorrel tobiano, vindicated Cullum’s thinking when he won the April 21 PSBA American Paint Classic Futurity-RG1 at Remington Park. It was easily the biggest race Cullum has won so far.
“I didn’t think I was going to win it—I still can’t believe it,” Cullum said.
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff broke a step slowly in the 350-yard race, but once he got going, determinedly made his way to the lead. Major Mac to his outside raced with him, and the two overhauled leader Super Glide Harley as the wire approached. Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, with Cody Jensen in the irons, refused to let Major Mac get in front, defeating him by a neck in :17.761. Super Glide Harley, the favor- ite, finished third.
“I wanted Dee Keener as the trainer because he trained Linda Lajolla,” said Cullum. “Plus he doesn’t have a hundred horses, and he’ll tell you if a horse isn’t going to make it as a runner.”
Cullum, who works in a hospital as a respi- ratory therapist, raised Lajollas Mr Big Stuff herself. She had him gelded before the mare produced her next foal.
“The horse was mad at me for that,” Cullum said, “but I don’t have the facility for a stud colt.”
Keener picked up Lajollas Mr Big Stuff late last summer and broke him.
“I trained the mare’s sister, Linda Lajolla, so I knew the family,” said Keener. “He’s
a long-strided colt, and I think he’s going
to really go down the
racetrack. He’s kind of a
feel-good horse, and he sees
everything.”
That curiosity set
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff back
at first. In the final of the Oklahoma Paint Futurity-G1 at Remington, the lights distracted the gelding and he finished seventh.
Then, while galloping
one morning several days
before the American Paint
Futurity trials, Lajollas Mr
Big Stuff wheeled, threw his rider, and tore open his shoulder.
“He needed about 30 stitches,” said Keener. “He laid it open pretty good, but fortunately it
was just skin deep. I was afraid we were going to have to scratch him.”
Instead, Keener switched jockeys to cham- pion G.R. Carter Jr., which Cullum felt made the difference. This time the lights didn’t bother Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, who won his trial by 1 1/2 lengths.
“G.R. screams at the wire, and that took his attention off of the lights,” Cullum said.
Keener qualified three horses for the final, including second-fastest Super Glide Harley. The trainer and jockey talked it over and
decided Carter should ride Super Glide Harley. Jensen thus picked up the mount on Lajollas Mr Big Stuff.
“Cody gave him a fine ride,” said Keener.
Keener will next point Lajollas Mr Big Stuff for the rich Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity-G1 on May 26 at Remington Park.
Before Cullum bred Lajollas Mr Big Stuff from McM Evelyn Lajolla, she
raced the filly. Though McM Evelyn Lajolla wasn’t nearly the racehorse that her full sister Linda Lajolla was, she won once, finished sec- ond twice, and ran third twice in 10 starts.
Since foaling Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, McM Evelyn Lajolla has produced two more colts, a yearling son of Awesome Chrome and a suck- ling son of Country Quick Dash. This year, Cullum bred the mare back to SF Royal Quick Flash, the sire of Lajollas Mr Big Stuff.
David Brown piloted Major Mac (Judys Lineage-Peggys Bouquet) for trainer Verle Bohner. Second in a maiden race and his trial prior to the final, Major Mac races for owner Scott Roberts.
Keener trains Super Glide Harley (Awesome Chrome-Biker Chick) for the ownership of Paint Horse Queens. Super Glide Harley finished third in the Oklahoma Paint Futurity.
Awesome Tricketta (Awesome Chrome- Rebas Daughter), ran fourth, followed by Sexy Senorita (SF Royal Quick Flash-Texas Showboat), Imachickenkicker (Dos Poruno- Game Chicken), Larks Caboosie (Awesome Chrome-Lethal Lark), Just Flashy (SF Royal Quick Flash-Rainbowsspecialreward), and Personal Ensign (Country Quick Dash-Miss Murray). Western Rocker was scratched.
Remington Park

Royal Quick Dash
SF RoyalQuick Flash
Venice Song
LAJOLLAS MR BIG STUFF, ’10-g.
Streakin La Jolla
McM Evelyn Lajolla
Evelyn M.
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, under the guidance of Cody Jensen, finishes strong to take the $86,000 Restricted Grade 1 PSBA Paint Classic Futurity.
SPEEDHORSE, May 11, 2012 33
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography