Page 130 - December 2016

LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1
TF RACEE RUNAWAY
by John Moorehouse
Going the distance made all the difference for TF Racee Runaway. That’s the opin- ion of his trainer, Lanny Keith, after the geld-
ing won the 400-yard $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1 at Evangeline Downs on Nov. 19.
Prior to qualifying for this lucrative stakes, TF Racee Runaway had been running at dis- tances of 300, 330 and 350 yards. His results were decent—a 2-2-1 showing in seven starts— but not evident of his true capability, according to Keith. Along the way, the gelding finished fourth in the LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1 and was a finalist in the Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1. The gelding won his Oct. 28 trial heat by a length for the LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity finals to qualify seventh fastest.
TF Racee Runaway picked a fine time to earn his blacktype, doing so in the richest stakes race of the year in Louisiana.
“He’d always be gaining on them at the end, but never had enough track left to catch them,” Keith stated about his trainee. “He’s a big colt and he needs that extra bit of track to be successful.
“That’s a pretty good feeling to win that thing,” he continued
Owned by Tate Farms, TF Racee Runaway definitely was successful in his third and final stakes of his rookie campaign. He broke well from the outside starting posi- tion in the nine-horse field, running a close second at the first call, then moving in front by a head by the time jockey John Hamilton got him into the stretch.
Hamilton urged the gelding to the wire
first by a neck, completing the 400-yard trip in :19.654 and tallying a career high 98 speed index.
“He’d always broke pretty good in the other races. He just couldn’t accelerate from the gates like those other colts that had been winning futurities,” Keith said.
“But Saturday night, he broke real sharp and he left with those horses but he veered out toward the outside rail. He kind of went out there about two lanes in the bank, planed back out, got straight and found some track to run on.”
The trainer continued, “He just kept going right down the outside there and caught them. I don’t know if we were ever behind. It was close the whole race. It looked like we caught them at the wire, but I think we pretty much had them the whole race.”
The victory produced a $456,410 payday
that represents the lion’s share of a $511,263 total bankroll for TF Racee Runaway.
Bred by Teddy L. Berry in Louisiana, TF Racee Runaway becomes the first stakes winner out of unraced Racee Rainbows. The mare has produced 100% money earners from five start-
ers, including winner JK Midnight Jewel. TF Racee Runaway is her top earner.
The bay gelding now holds four wins in nine career starts.
After the event, owner Steve Tate of Tate Farms spoke to the significance of the result. “My dad and I have worked our whole lives for a win like this,” he said to stallionesearch. com. “We did it tonight! John has ridden him well all year long and we appreciate the great job by Lanny.”
Keith credited assistant trainer David Bustamante, jockey John Hamilton, and Joe Garza—who breaks horses for Keith in San Antonio—for their part in the victory.
After TF Racee Runaway won a million- dollar race, Keith said the gelding has earned a break. “We thought about going to Champions Day down at [Fair Grounds in] New Orleans if he didn’t do any good with
this,” Keith said. “But after he won this, I’m going to give him a break and bring him back for the derby trial.”
Fired Up Perry (Game Patriot-Perry Five), a 12-1 underdog, finished a strong second for owner/trainer Guadalupe F. Tristan. David Alvarez was handeling the reigns. Fired Up Perry finished second just behind RDD Lajollanfastdash in his Oct. 28
trial heat into the finals to qualify second. RDD Lajollanfastdash (Heza Fast Dash-La
Jollan Queen), the post time favorite and fastest qualifier, took third place for owner Miguel Aguilar and trainer Jose Sanchez. Raul Ramirez, Jr. drew the riding assign- ment aboard the two-time futurity winner. The gelding was coming off three consecu- tive wins, including the Sep. 16 LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1.
Oak Almighty (Oak Tree Special-RT Runnin To Achieve) finished fourth and
was followed by Dragon N Panther (Dragon Wings-Mountain Woman), Tellem Im Pumped (Stoli-Pump It Teller), Gone Swingin (Swingin Jess-Goinbye), Louisiana Jewels (Jess Louisiana Blue-Jewels Fortune) and Kajun Kowgirl (Tee Cos-Now Goretha).
Evangeline Downs $1,000,000 • 400 yards :19.654 • si 98
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
Runaway Wave
TF RACEE RUNAWAY, ‘14-g.
Streakin La Jolla
Racee Rainbows
Rainbows N Promises
128 SPEEDHORSE, December 2016
TF Racee Runaway & John Hamilton win the $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1
RACING NEWS
Bee Silva