Page 38 - 11 May 2012

Miss Olene Stakes
VALJEAN
by Stacy Pigott
Valjean found herself in tough company in the $34,140 Miss Olene Stakes on April 22 at Remington Park, but that didn’t stop the filly from recording her first stakes win for owner Vicki Tebow.
The Miss Olene drew a top field of 3-year- old fillies including favored Sumokin, winner of the Black Gold Championship-G3 last year and a six-time stakes finalist, Folly Del Rey, a Grade 1 finalist and runner-
up in last year’s Remington
Park Futurity, Grade 3
placed Kelli Kae, stakes
winner Margaretaville, and
Grade 1 finalist Zenergy.
But it was Valjean
who had the best trip in
the Miss Olene, breaking perfectly from post position five under jockey Randy Wilson. Sumokin also got off to a good start from the inside post, and those two
rivals immediately took control of the race. Dueling to the wire, Valjean outnodded Sumokin by a head to win the Miss Olene, covering the 300 yards in :15.083 for a speed index of 101.
Trained by Guillermo Valdivia, Valjean earned $20,034 to increase her career earn- ings to $42,353. She is now the richest runner for her dam, Thanks Jens, a Strawfly
Special mare bred by Abigail Kawananakoa and currently owned by 66 Land LLC.
You And Me Partners bred Valjean, who is a half-sister
to stakes-placed Arch Enemy. Thanks Jens is out of the great mare Florentine, a champion on the racetrack who produced champion This Snow Is Royal and stakes winners Evening Snow, Avison and Achievement. This is the maternal family
of Champions Calyx and Ive Been Blessed, and Grade 1 winners Givinitaroyaleffort, Lady Tenaya and Romeo Ryon, among others.
Sumokin finished second under jockey Larry Payne. Luis Villafranco trains Sumokin (Country Chicks Man-Bye Bye Baby Goodbye) for owner/breeder Corner K Quarter Horses.
Sandy and Randy Coleman own show fin- isher Folly Del Rey (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Disco Del Rey). Trey Wood saddled the filly, who was ridden by Ricky Ramirez.
The remaining order of finish was Freak By Choice (A Regal Choice-Streakin Freakin), Margaretaville (Ivory James-Iona Tour), Kelli Kae (Ivory James-Just Like Bully), Zenergy (First Down Dash-No Fees) and Phun Size (Chicks Doit-Kellys Approved). Shes Dashin Bye did not finish after bucking and unseating her rider.
Remington Park

First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
VALJEAN, ’09-f.
Strawfly Special
Thanks Jens
Florentine
RACING NEWS
Animas Stakes
NO ORDINARY LOVE
by Stacy Pigott
No Ordinary Love’s 2-year-old campaign was a rollercoaster of ups and downs during which the colt would win a futurity
trial and qualify for the finals, only to finish well back in the pack when the big money was on the line. As a 3-year-old, he seems to have matured enough to put it all together, winning back-to-back races in New Mexico including his most recent victory in the $50,000 Animas Stakes on April 22.
Trained by Miguel Castillo for owner Yaneth Cabrera, No Ordinary
Love ended his 2-year-old year on an upswing with
a close second-place finish in a 350-yard allowance race at Sunland Park. The colt returned on March 6
to win a 400-yard allow- ance. Macario Rodriguez was aboard for both of those races, and stepped up on No
Ordinary Love again for the Animas. Loading into post position five and with
the aide of a flipping halter, No Ordinary Love broke cleanly but bumped with Bills Last a few strides out. Recovering quickly, No Ordinary Love overtook early leader Mighty Famous Vic and drew off to a neck victory.
Bred by John Andreini and Zory Kuzyk in California, No Ordinary Love has now
won four of nine starts and $69,488. He is one of 16 starters from 22 registered foals for his dam, Lady Tenaya. He is her third stakes winner, joining half-brother Corona For The Lady, who won the 2010 Hobbs America Derby-G2, and three-time stakes winner Desirio. Lady Tenaya is a four-time stakes winner of $280,375 whose dam, Alethia, is a sister to multiple champion and
champion broodmare Florentine.
David Barrett’s Mighty Famous Vic held for
second under jockey Salvador Martinez. Fred Danley trains Mighty Famous Vic (Mighty Invictus-Fame Us Katie), who recently was seventh in the West Texas Derby-G3.
One length back in third was Bills Last (Shazoom-Crystalinas), who was a finalist in the All American Futurity-G1 last year. Paul Blanchard owns the colt, who was trained by Carlos Sedillo and ridden by Joe Martinez.
Rounding out the field were Native An Regal (A Regal Choice-My Native Sis), Zoomin Hearts (Azoom-Breakin Hearts), A Fortunate Choice (A Regal Choice-Fortune Of Delight), Parhelion (Feature Mr Jess-Quick Moon Sign) and Foolin The Chicks (Country Chicks Man- Varsity Chick). Fury Of The Storm and TF Featured Effort were scratched.

Hennessy-TB
Check Him Out
Check Her Twice
NO ORDINARY LOVE, ’09-c.
Sixarun
Lady Tenaya
Alethia
36 SPEEDHORSE, May 11, 2012
Coady Photography Dustin Orona Photography