Page 48 - 22 June 2012

Vals Fortune Stakes-RG3
ZUPERS QUICK DASH
by John Moorehouse
Zupers Quick Dash had gone almost 18 months without winning a race. The veteran 6-year-old gelding got back on track in a big way on June 9, making a late rally to claim first place in the $60,000 Vals Fortune Stakes-RG3 at Delta Downs.
Owned by Ponderosa Ranch PC, Inc. and McM Farms, Zupers Quick Dash notched his ninth win in 24 total outs. Six of those victories have taken place
in takes company—includ- ing two runnings of the Vals Fortune. His body
of work also includes five additional money finishes in stakes races, and 400-yard track records at Delta and Evangeline Downs.
Repeating that feat did not come easy. While Zupers Quick Dash made a clean break from the No. 6 gate, Taylors Toastin Papa dashed
up the middle of the track to claim an early 1/2-length lead. The betting favorite who came into the event riding a four-race win streak, Taylors Toastin Papa continued to hold the advantage going into the stretch, but Zupers Quick Dash came on strong late and was just up at the wire.
Bobby Martinez trains Zupers Quick Dash, who covered the 400 yards in :19.468 for a 101 speed index, his 10th in triple
figures. That’s considerably short of the record :19.421 time this gelding ran in winning the 2010 version of this race.
Jockey Gilbert Ortiz was in the irons. The gelding’s owners banked a $36,000 payday, pushing the total winnings of Zupers Quick Dash to $340,129. Zupers Quick Dash’s owners also own Oh Shez Zuper, the gelding’s dam. Oh Shez Zuper
has produced eight starters among 10 total off- spring, and two of the eight are stakes winners. McM Dashmaster, the half-brother of Zupers Quick Dash, claimed two stakes victories dur- ing the 2010 campaign.
Louisiana Panther (Panther Mountain- Iwanna Dash) finished second by a neck for Sunset Racing Stable. Trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. did the prep work and John Hamilton
did the riding. Taylors Toastin Papa (Toast
To Dash-Tacha La Jolla) placed third. Gerald Libersat is the owner and Kevin Broussard the trainer. Jockey Donald Watson was aboard.
Heza Gonna Dash (Heza Fast Dash- Iwanna Dash), Fast Dashin Dude (Heza Fast Dash-First Down Delight), Blue Louisiana Jolla (Jess Louisiana Blue-Somekinda Rainey) and Ab Game Effort (Game Patriot-Callies First Effort) completed the field.
Delta Downs

Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
ZUPERS QUICK DASH, ’06-g.
Zuppardo’s Prince TB
Oh Shez Zuper
Oh So Fine
RACING NEWS
Virgil Bond Stakes
DOYLES DASHING STAR
by John Moorehouse
Adisqualification elevated Doyles Dashing Star to winner’s honors in the $45,000 Virgil Bond Stakes on June 9 at Delta Downs. It marks the seventh victory in 30 total outs for Doyles Dashing Star, but the first in stakes company for the 6-year-old mare.
Doyles Dashing Star didn’t stretch out to 870 yards until her 5-year-old season, when she tried 770 yards, finishing third, and then returned with a second-
place finish in an 870-yard
race. Both of those races
were claiming races for tags
of $10,000 and $7,500,
respectively. Since then, the
mare has worked her way up
the ladder around the hook,
winning a $20,000 optional
claiming race and two allow-
ances prior to this stakes win.
Doyles Dashing Star actually led the vast majority of the Virgil Bond before
yielding the advantage to Leading Patriot during the stretch run. A Gene Stephens trainee, Doyles Dashing Star made a crisp break out of the No. 4 hole, quickly surpass- ing Leading Patriot and opening up a three- length lead over the rest of the five-horse field. Doyles Dashing Star continued to lead by day- light as the horses made the turn. That’s when Leading Patriot regained the lead, but in doing
so, drifted in to interfere with Dr Drip. A stewards review disqualified Leading Patriot from first place to third.
Jockey Josh Dearmon was aboard Doyles Dashing Star, who stopped the timer in :45.851 for a 96 speed index. Owner Rachael Stephens banked an $18,000 payday that improved the mare’s total earnings to $85,007.
Doyles Dashing Star was bred by Barry McDonald
out of the 1996 mare Georgia Wildcat, whom McDonald also owns. Three of Georgia Wildcat’s four foals are starters, but Doyles Dashing Star is the first stakes winner.
Dr Drip (First To Shine-High Seas Operator) was placed second, and the runner- up share of the purse pushed his lifetime bank- roll past the $200,000 milestone. The gelding is owned and trained by Anthony Arey, and had Donell Blake in the irons. Leading Patriot (Game Patriot-Little Miss Leader TB), the heavy favorite at the betting window, still hit the board despite the disqualification. David Lee Vance is the owner and Danny Eldridge the trainer. Alfonso Lujan did the riding.
Louisiana Blue Step (Jess Louisiana Blue- Fortunate Wind) and Dirty Boy Friend (Dirty Coup-Go Girl Friend) completed the field. Slinkys Fortune was scratched.
Delta Downs

Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
DOYLES DASHING STAR, ’06-m.
Groovy TB
Georgia Wildcat
Miss Six Truckles
48 SPEEDHORSE, June 22, 2012
Nicole Walker: Coady Photography Nicole Walker: Coady Photography