Page 46 - 22 June 2012

New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity-RG3
REX HILL
by John Moorehouse
Make it three wins in a row for Rex Hill. David and Ross Hinkins’ young colt has been an active starter for just over three
months, and already holds two stakes victories. Rex Hill doubled his stakes plea-
sure, winning the $167,700 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity-RG3 held on June 3 at SunRay Park.
Rex Hill, who won the New Mexico Spring Fling Futurity in April to secure black type, produced a $78,819 payday for the Hinkins that pushed his life- time earnings into six digits at $113,119.
The Carlos Sedillo trainee
won the Spring Fling by more than a length but the Breeders’ Futurity transpired in more dramatic fashion. Jockey Ricky Ramirez brought Rex Hill out of the No. 3 gate on a smooth break, and the colt made his move for the lead at about the midpoint of the 350-yard race. Rex Hill grabbed the advantage from his stablemate Tombstone, and defeated the 2-1 favorite to the wire by a neck.
“There’s not much to talk about – the horse did it all himself,” Ramirez said after the race, his first trip aboard Rex Hill. “He got out in
front and just kept going. Tombstone made a run at us, but we got there in time and got the win.”
Rex Hill completed the 350-yard event in :17.387
to register a 90 speed index. Not too shabby, considering that the time surpassed the :17.405 Rex Hill notched in qualifying, which led the way in time trials for the futurity.
The Hinkins brothers run a mining company in Utah together, and David Hinkins is a state senator in the Utah
legislature. The Hinkins breed many of their own racehorses, but Rex Hill is an exception. The Hinkins bought Rex Hill for $13,000 at the 2011 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his breeder, MJ Farms. Sired by the young stallion Jesse James Jr, Rex Hill’s dam, Tangled Vines, is a lightly-raced 2003 mare. Tangled Vines has foaled four offspring, and while Rex Hill remains the sole
stakes winner, three of the four starters out
of Tangled Vines have at least hit the board in a stakes competition, including Merryvale, who was third in the Restricted Grade 1 New Mexican Spring Futurity in 2010.
Rex Hill’s second dam is stakes win-
ner Dashin Sandy, who is the dam of stakes winner Champagne Lane and granddam of Champion Alice K White and stakes winner Kendall Jackson.
Up next, Rex Hill heads for the Zia Futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs on July 13.
Sedillo also saddled Tombstone (Get Down Perry-Because Shes Royal), owned by Gary Thompson and ridden by Esgar Ramirez. Jess Rueben James (Jesse James Jr-Nitros Cash) hit the board in third place. Currie Maben is the owner and Jaime Aldavaz the trainer. Isaias Cardenas drew the riding assignment.
The remaining order of finish was Royal Kettle (Ketel Won-Royal Dash Bank), Sandys Jesse (Jesse James Jr-Sandys Fame), Hurricane Kate (Get Down Perry-Queenofreigndeers), PJS Gonna Ro (Gonna Ro Sham Bo-Shelbys Twiggy), Rimen Investment (Rimen Rocket- Arise Runnin), Sisters Blazin (Chicks A Blazin-Sisters Easy Effort) and Saturday Nite Romeo (Dash Ta Fame-Hopeful Imp).
Rex Hill and jockey Ricky Ramirez score a driving neck victory in the $167,700 Grade 3 New Mexico Breeders' Futurity at SunRay Park.
46 SPEEDHORSE, June 22, 2012

Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
Loose Lips
REX HILL, ’10-c.
Dash Ta Fame
Tangled Vines
Dashin Sandy
RACING NEWS
Gloria Munoz: Coady Photography