Page 45 - 22 June 2012

Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG2
UNQUESTIONABLE
by John Moorehouse
Unquestionable was the only female in the nine-horse field for the $128,405 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby-RG2 on June 2
in Vinton, Louisiana. The filly proved to be faster than all the boys when it came time to run, beating stablemate Coors Select by a head to take winner’s honors in a photo finish.
It marked the second win in 11 career outs and the first in stakes company for Unquestionable, whose owner Patrick Huckman banked a $64,203 payday that pushed the filly’s lifetime earnings into six figures at $105,728.
“She’s just a real hard-trying filly. Last year she was a little more delicate,” trainer Janet Van Bebber said. “They operated on her and gave her the time she needed and she seems to have come back even stronger and better this year.”
Van Bebber credited Huckman for giving Unquestionable the care she required, as well as the necessary time to recover.
“That’s the biggest thing that gave her an advantage going into this year,” the trainer noted. “She really seemed to benefit from that treatment.”
Staying out of trouble benefited Unquestionable during her victorious run in the derby. She made a clean break from the No. 6 gate underneath Orlando Baldillez,
and ended up in a three-way battle for the lead with The Notradamus and betting favorite Mossy Oak Tree.
Coors Select, another of
VanBebber’s trainees, made
a big move late, and he
and Unquestionable hit
the wire at the same time. Unquestionable won the photo, though, finishing first by a head.
“I thought she was strong from the beginning. Mossy Oak Tree was the favorite... but I looked for our mare to finish stronger because she was a little fresher going into the race,” Van Bebber said.
“Bottom line, she made no mistakes and she got the money.”
Daniel Trahan bred Unquestionable out of Real Or Imagined, a 1995 mare he also owns. Of the 12 starters produced by the broodmare among 14 total offspring, four hold at least one stakes win. Her other stakes winners include Illusioneer, Streakin Illusively and Unrealistic.
Van Bebber said Unquestionable will come out for the Vinton Stakes at the end of the
Delta Downs meet.
Coors Select (Oak Tree Special-Mss Coors
Cartel) finished a close sec- ond for owner Polly Coleman and helped Van Bebber post a 1-2 finish in the Louisiana Bred Derby for the first time since the 2001 version of that event. Gilbert Ortiz did the riding.
Mossy Oak Tree reared
up in his gate before the race began, bumped at the start and still placed third and came close to extending his four-race winning streak. Mac Sumpter and Christopher
Gautreaux own Mossy Oak Tree, a Kevin Broussard trainee ridden by Donald Watson.
The remaining order of finish was The Notradamus (Dashin Bye-Fast N Smooth 880), Mr Sonic Boom (Easy Winning Jet-Ms Baseline), Mexican Standoff (Toast To Dash- Dashs Co Ed), JLS Makeing Trouble (Toast To Dash-Psalmist), Mr Fallen Angel (Oak Tree Special-Angels Quick Dash) and The Game Lover (Game Patriot-La Lover). McM Zuper Man was scratched.
Delta Downs

Special Task
Oak Tree Special
Easy Lady Oak
UNQUESTIONABLE, ’09-f.
Dash For Cash
Real Or Imagined
Tiny Illusion
Unquestionable(#7, inside) duels for a head win in the $128,405 Grade 3 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby under jockey Orlando Baldillez.
SPEEDHORSE, June 22, 2012 45
RACING NEWS
Sierra Sargent: Coady Photography