Page 142 - Speedhorse May 2019

Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1
JOHNNY DE CAPO
by Tracy Gantz
Juan Jose Contreras of Irving, Texas, had
a few racehorses back in 2006, including Meter Leader, who broke his maiden at Lone Star Park while ridden by Gaspar Garcia. Working and raising a family kept Contreras away from racehorse ownership for a few years. But when he brought two home- breds to Oklahoma for the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1 trials, he was reunited with Garcia.
“Meter Leader was my only win until he came back to ride Johnny De Capo in the tri- als,” said Contreras. “And it was my first time racing in Oklahoma.”
Garcia rode Johnny De Capo and Ms Jetta B in the trials for Contreras, getting a two- length win with Johnny De Capo and a second with Ms Jetta B, losing by just a head.
The wire-to-wire trial victory qualified Johnny De Capo for the $825,210 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1 finals with the fifth qualifying spot, and he came away with the win in the finals.
In the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1 finals, Johnny De Capo went off at 11-1, the second-longest shot on the board.
“He broke out a little bit at the start,” said Garcia, “but he picked up ground very quickly.
He then started drifting out some, but by that point we were too far in front.”
Several horses tried to catch Johnny De Capo, with only heads, necks, and noses separating seven of the eight runners. Johnny De Capo kept his head in front, winning in :16.954 for 330 yards.
“That was an exciting
moment,” said Contreras, who was able to travel to Remington Park with friends and family to witness the race.
Contreras had initially sent both of his
horses to Louisiana for the March 20 trials to
the Harrah’s Futurity-G3 at Louisiana Downs. Neither qualified, however, with Johnny De Capo breaking poorly and finishing eighth in his trial.
“He was a little green in Louisiana,” said Contreras. “But, he had a good training race there and looked good training up to his Remington Park races. I’m thankful to God and all my family and the barn for their sup- port of this horse.”
Oscar Nunez trains Johnny De Capo and Ms Jetta B for Contreras, who bred both horses
in Oklahoma. Johnny De Capo had to overcome several challenges as a youngster.
“He got pneumonia, and he almost died,” said Contreras. “Then last September when we started breaking him, he got some- thing stuck in his eye—an alfalfa straw or something. He had to spend over two weeks at Lone Star Equine.
They were able to save his eye. He’s a gutsy little horse.”
Contreras bought Johnny De Capo’s dam, Dash For Ted, for just $3,000 in a private pur- chase from his friend Hector Garcia.
“He raced her a little bit,” said Contreras. “She never broke her maiden, but she always showed a lot of heart. She was always running either second or third. She’s a nice, big mare. Capo De Capi (the sire of Johnny De Capo) seemed like a good cross.”
Contreras likes to discuss breeding strate- gies with his father, Jorge Perez, who has also raced some horses. Contreras currently owns the two racehorses and two mares. Johnny De Capo is Dash For Ted’s first starter and winner.
Remington Park $825,210 • 330 yards :16.954 • si 85
Corona Cartel
Capo De Capi
A Shot At Glory
JOHNNY DE CAPO, ’17-c.
Make It Anywhere
Dash For Ted
Six Figure Dash
Johnny De Capo (#4) & Gaspar Garcia (yellow helmet) win the $825,201 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1
140 SPEEDHORSE, May 2019
RACING NEWS
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse