Page 157 - June 2021

New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity-RG3
DASHIN APPROACH
by Michael Cusortelli
Asharp break from post 10 helped fastest qualifier Dashin Approach score a con- vincing victory in the $113,060 New Mexico Breeders’ Futurity-RG3 for state-bred juveniles at SunRay Park on May 23.
Trained by Arturo Chavez for owners George and Peggy Cobb and aided by a reported 7-mph tail wind, Dashin Approach went 350 yards in :17.562, and his winning margin was 3/4-length in front of third-fastest
qualifier Renika. Jaime Parga
Leos rode Dashin Approach,
a homebred son of freshman
sire Mr PYC To You.
Dashin Approach
broke his maiden with a 2 1/4-length victory in the second of four trials on May 7. The gelding is one of four winners from five starters foaled by Panther Not A Kitty, an unraced home- bred daughter of Champion
Panther Mountain. Dashin Approach is a half brother to 2017 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge-G3 winner Apollitical Approach.
Dashin Approach’s second dam, the winning Fishers Dash mare Big Fisher, ran third in the 2002 Oklahoma Derby-G3 at Fair Meadows at Tulsa. A Nebraska-bred mare who earned $20,535 from 10 starts for the Cobbs from 2001-02, Big Fisher foaled 10 winners
from as many starters, includ- ing Top Of The Game, a stakes-winning half-brother to Panther Not A Kitty.
Raced in Oklahoma
and New Mexico, Dashin Approach has won two of four outs, and the $53,138 win- ner’s share of the purse from his first stakes score increased his earnings to $60,746.
Renika (Big Daddy Cartel- Woodys Allstar) banked the $20,351 runner-up share of
the purse to bring her earnings to $22,451 from two races for her owner, Triple R Racing Stables LLC. A $15,000 yearling buy at last year’s New Mexico-Bred Sale, the bay filly was ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr. for trainer Antonio Soto.
Rocasolida Esperance (Rock Solid Jess- Esperance) finished third, one length behind Dashin Approach, and pocketed $12,437 for her owners, Donald Cabrera and Linda Weiss. Joel Leyva rode the bay filly for trainer Brad Bolen.
HS Golden Eagle (Osbaldo-Catchtherain), Ma Payola (Woodbridge-Pesky), Boneta
Flat (Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Dash Ta Dial), Daddys Vixen (Big Daddy Cartel-Racetrack Barbie), Honey Lynn Perry (Jess Another Perry-Snow Lynn), Babysharksharkshark (One Handsome Man-Fly Ta Cartel), and Antinori (Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Totts) completed the order of finish.
tell you that,” Blattner said. “She just loves her job. All I’ve got to do is keep her fit and happy and she does the rest herself.”
The Barlows bred Loco Ocho out of mul- tiple stakes winner Sign Of Pride. She has produced 100% winners from seven starters. Loco Ocho is her third stakes winner as well as her top earner.
First Moon Cat (Stray Cat-Yak Ity Yak Go) finished second for owner Jeff Ray and trainer Bill Hof. Taylor Smith did the riding. The 5-year-old mare is a three-time winner.
Fooses Flyer (Foose-Fly Thru Time) placed third for Mason Cowgill. The Benito Curiel trainee had Jose Figueroa up. The 4-year-old filly is also a three-time winner, including in the 2020 Autumn Derby at this same track.
One Flyin Foose (Foose-One Famous Strawfly), RTM Good Enough (Ivory James-RTM Say Your Prayers) and Diva This (Favorite Cartel-Hannas Halo) completed the field. Jess Candy Lips and Orange Vodka Shooter both scratched.
RACING NEWS
Q-Racing Video Grants Pass Distaff Challenge
LOCO OCHO
by John Moorehouse
Garth Blattner remembers when Les Barlow passed away in 2019.
“Previous to that, his wife Darla told me
4 years before that, when Les dies, I’m sell- ing every horse on this place,” Blattner, who trains horses for the Barlows, recalled.
Not long after that, the Barlows’ young filly Loco Ocho went into training.
“I told [Darla], the first time we worked this mare, do not sell her,” Blattner said.
Wise choice. Loco Ocho added another stakes victory to her record in the $27,676 Q-Racing Video Grants Pass Distaff Challenge, held May 25 at Grants Pass Downs.
With the win, Loco Ocho qualified for the Q-Racing Distaff Challenge Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque for a second straight year. That race happens Oct. 23 and has a $100,000 estimated purse.
“This [mare] brought that family back together and gave them something to look forward to,” Blattner stated. “It’s a pretty cool story.”
A five-year-old mare, Loco Ocho pre- vailed in her debut out of 2021, banking a $13,284 payday that improved her total earn- ings to $61,438. She was the heavy favorite, going off at 1-2 odds, and left little doubt as to the outcome.
Breaking on top from the outside of the six-horse field, Loco Ocho built
a 1/2-length lead by the first call and continued to separate at every remaining juncture, hitting the wire with a 1 1/4-length margin.
Jesus Valenzuela rode Loco Ocho, finishing the 400-yard trip in :19.632 for a 105 speed index.
“She was put on this earth to be a racehorse, I can
SunRay Park
$113,060 • 350 yards :17.562 • si 97
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Mr PYC To You
Stylish Sign
DASHIN APPROACH, ‘19-g.
Panther Mountain
Panther Not A Kitty
Big Fisherr
Grants Pass Downs
$27,676 • 400 yards :19.632 • si 105
Corona Cartel
The Louisiana Cartel
The Louisiana Girl
LOCO OCHO, ‘16-m.
First Wrangler
Sign Of Pride
Traced With Pride
SPEEDHORSE June 2021 155
Coady Photography