Page 129 - December 2016

Texas Classic Derby-G1
FIRST VALIANT SIGN
by Tracy Gantz
First Valiant Sign has always been an excel- lent racehorse. He qualified for the 2015 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 in his racing debut and
then grabbed the trophy for the final.
Since then he has qualified for just about
everything he’s tried, including the richest and most prestigious races in the country. He won another important trophy in the Texas Classic Derby-G1 at Lone Star Park on Nov. 12.
“He’s been an honest, consistent, good horse all his life,” said trainer Michael Joiner. “He just trained really well up to this race.”
The third-fastest qualifier when winning his Oct. 21 trial, First Valiant Sign went off as the 12-10 favorite in the final. He drew the outside post and broke well, though a little outwardly, while Jess Burnin to his inside immediately took the lead.
Jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. kept First Valiant Sign straight and in the clear and together they battled Jess Burnin to come on strongly in the final yards. First Valiant Sign won by a head in :21.516 for 440 yards.
Cody Jensen had been riding First Valiant Sign and many of Joiner’s horses, but he broke his collarbone and wasn’t able to ride Joiner’s horses in the Oct. 21 trials. Carter had piloted First Valiant Sign most of 2015, but he had retired, except for the occasional horse, such as Koolnfamous in the All American Futurity-G1. “G.R. just did me a favor,” said Joiner.
“I think I had nine between the Derby and the Futurity trials,” Cody said. “There’s just no way I can ride them all. So I talked to G.R., and he was really gracious to help us out. We were really glad of it.”
Joiner trains First Valiant Sign for the partnership of Scott Bryant, Joe Dee Brooks, Lee Lewis, and Derrol and R.D. Hubbard. Joiner selected First Valiant Sign for $100,000 as a yearling out of the 2014 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
The trainer gelded the colt, who “got a little pushy,” so that First Valiant Sign could concentrate on racing.
“He likes 440 yards,” said Joiner. “He’s
a big, long-striding horse. That pays off for him the further he goes. He’s a big, nice, kind horse. He’s got a great personality, pretty laid back. He likes a lot of attention—he likes to be petted when you walk by his stall.”
After he won the Ruidoso Futurity-G1, First Valiant Sign finished second in the
Rainbow Futurity-G1 and fourth in the All American Futurity-G1.
“He stumbled in the All American,” said Joiner.
This year, First Valiant Sign qualified for the Rainbow Derby-G1 and All American Derby-G1. With the Texas Classic Derby, First Valiant Sign brought his earnings to $1,020,344.
The Mixer Ranch bred
First Valiant Sign in Oklahoma from First Painted Sign, winner of the 2010 Speedhorse Gold & Silver Cup Futurity-G1 and Oklahoma Futurity-G2. First Painted Sign has produced 100% money earners from four starters, who are all winners. Two others have gone on to win graded stakes: Apollitical Sign and A Tres Of Paint. First Valiant Sign is her top earner.
The second dam, 4-time winner Stylish Sign, has also produced Oklahoma Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Colt/multiple stakes winner Second Painted Sign, a full brother to First Painted Sign, and Signs Zoomer. The latter in turn produced stakes winners Wagon Tales and The Fiscal Cliff.
Joiner also trains second- place Jess Burnin (One Sweet Jess-Burnin Bye), ridden by Salvador Martinez. The part- nership of Joe David Yates, Richard Young, and Richard Sturdevant owns the gelding, who finished second in the 2015 Ruidoso Futurity-G1
to First Valiant Sign, but
was disqualified to ninth for interference.
Brave Heart Won (Apollitical Jess-Fols Zookie Cookie) ran
third after finishing third in the All American Derby-G1 and then winning his Texas Classic Derby-G1 trial to qualify with the fifth fastest time to the finals. Rodrigo Vallejo piloted
the gelding, and Judd Kearl trains him for Dwayne Saucier and Michael Taylor.
McClintock B (FDD Dynasty-First Class Lacy B) finished fourth and was followed by One Fabulous Eagle (One Famous Eagle- Ladys Heart Of Gold), Appolitical Streak (Apollitical Jess-Streak Of Sixes), Trekas (Tres Seis-Beaukas), Barefoot Beach (Ivory James-Babe On The Beach), Jess B Heroic (Valiant Hero-Jess B Mighty) and Patriot Pearl (Game Patriot-First Prize Pearl).
Lone Star Park $362,848 • 440 yards :21.516 • si 93
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
FIRST VALIANT SIGN, ’13-g.
PYC Paint Your Wagon
First Painted Sign
Stylish Sign
First Valiant Sign & G.R. Carter Jr. win the $362,848 Texas Classic Derby-G1
SPEEDHORSE, December 2016 127
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography