Page 138 - December 2016

Okla. Horsemen’s Assoc. Mystery D.
FIRST PRIZE DIAMONDS
by John Moorehouse
After topping the qualifying ladder in the
Oct. 28 trials to the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Derby, First Prize Diamonds was even faster in the $64,000 finals, going wire-to- wire to win her first-ever stakes race.
Trained by Gerry McLean, First Prize Diamonds broke on top from the 2-hole and built a 1-length lead by the first call. She doubled that advantage in the stretch, widening the gap to post a 2 1/4-length margin of victory.
James Flores was aboard for the victorious 350- yard trip, which took :17.278 and earned a 103 speed index, a new career high for the filly and her first in triple figures. Gary W. Hartstack owns First Prize Diamonds and collected a $26,100 payday that improved her lifetime bankroll to $68,044.
Weetona Stanley bred the filly, who finished second in the Speedhorse Derby in July at Fair Meadows. Stanley also home-bred her dam First Prize Diamond, who has produced three stakes win- ners that include First Prize Denim and PYC First Prize Mia from seven starters.
Bye Byefreighttrain (Freighttrain B-Bye Bye Bygones) finished second by daylight for owner
L.P. Frank and trainer Kasey Willis. Cesar Gomez drew the riding assignment. My Royal Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Lynettes Knockout) took third for owner Brian Gunder and trainer Brian Muse. Agustin Silva was up.
Mamasito Magic (Pappasito-Ms Optical Illusion), Ivory Teaspoon (Ivory James-Kisses Teaspoon), Painted Garters (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Bullions N Garters), Diamonds For Codee (Carters Cartel-This Dash Is Flying), Scouts PYC Special (PYC Paint Your Wagon-PT Special Eyeopener), Streakin Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Streakin La Tac) and Senator Tamale (Louisiana Senator-Real Hot Tamale) completed the order of finish.
Texas Classic Juvenile
GRACEFUL EAGLE
by Tracy Gantz
Though Graceful Eagle didn’t run a fast enough 400 yards in her Texas Classic Futurity-G1 trial to qualify, she zipped home quickly in the Nov. 12 Texas Classic Juvenile. Her time of :19.854 bettered the :19.935 of Futurity winner High Plains Perry.
Favored at 3-1 with jockey Manuel Gutierrez in the irons, Graceful Eagle came out of post 10 on top. She never gave up the advantage and, despite drifting in, scored by a 1/2-length. The $30,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted the filly’s earnings to $54,547.
Adrian Huitron trains Graceful Eagle for owner Florentino Leon. The filly was winning her third race in seven starts, having earlier captured two trials. She ran second to Jimmy Eagle in her Texas Classic Futurity trial.
Thomas Bradbury bred Graceful Eagle in Colorado from stakes-placed Duplicate Check, who has produced 100% money earners from five starters. The second dam, multiple graded stakes winner Check Her Twice, is also the dam of stakes winners Check Him Out and Masters Call.
One Famous Darling (One Famous Eagle-Double Down Darling) finished second under jockey Ramon Sanchez for trainer Toby Keeton and owner Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC.
Cody Jensen piloted Illtakeyouforaride (FDD Dynasty-Dashingfordestiny) to third for trainer Michael Joiner and owners Patrick Guthrie, Billy Trevor Smith, Paul Blanchard, and Fred Grooms.
Completing the field were Jayronimo (Jess Zoomin-Dashing Patriot), One Sweet Sign (One Sweet Jess-Significant Choice), Leave The Chicks (Coronas Leaving You-Linda Te Chick), Mighty Valiantime (Mighty B Valiant-Jamies Teller), Dashing Tempest (Tempting Dash-Ottyes Dashing Gal), Copy My Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Fast Copy Miss), and Deala Quick Game (Dealagame- Quickid Perry).
Opelousas Stakes
HEZA LOUISIANA DASH
by Danny Camp
Agate full of big money earners lined up for the running of the Opelousas Stakes, a 400-yard contest for Louisiana breds with a total purse of $40,000. It was Heza Louisiana Dash that earned the biggest check this time. When the starter pushed the button, Heza Louisiana Dash ran away from the 6- post in fine fashion and on the lead. With all the confidence in the world, John Hamilton kept his mount on task. They were never headed and crossed the line a 1/2-length in front, stopping the clock at :19.606 earning a 99 speed index.
With the first place check of $24,000, the brown gelding now has a total bankroll of $334,115. His team includes owner T M Ranch and trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr.
Heza Louisiana Dash was bred in Louisiana by Jumonville Farms/Burnett Ranch, out of 2-time winner Eyejesslovelouisiana. She has produced 100% winners/ROM from three starters, including stakes finalist Louisiana Fast Dash. Heza Louisiana Dash is her first stakes winner and top earner, having also won last year’s LQHBA Derby.
Randy Edison made an energetic ride to get Louisiana Legends (Jet Black Patriot-Sheza Cash Dasher) up for second place. Those connections include owner Alejandro Sanchez, Jr. and trainer Carlos Saldivar. Icanonlyemagine (Swingin Jess-Real Or Imagined) finished in third place for owner Bobby Cox and trainer Kenneth Roberts. Donald Watson was handling the reins.
Running Game Patriot (Game Patriot-Eyesa
La Tac) Heza Bell Perry (Heza Fast Dash-De Bell Perry), TM Dees Prize (Fast Prize Dash-Call Her Dee), MDA Game (Game Patriot-Mary Roll), Open Me A Corona (Coronas Leaving You-In The Open), Oak Hill Street (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Amber) and Scooter Prize (First Prize Perry-Royal Baby Scooter) completed the order of finish.
Evangeline Downs • $40,000 400 yards • :19.606 • si 99
Heza Fast Man
First Prize Dash
Heza Fast Dash
HEZA LOUISIANA DASH, ’12-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Eyejesslovelouisiana
Louisiana Eye Opener
Will Rogers Downs • $64,000 350 yards • :17.278 • si 103
Corona Cartel
Jumping Tac Flash
Carters Cartel
FIRST PRIZE DIAMONDS, ‘13-f.
Fly Jess Fly
First Prize Diamond
First Prize Dash
Lone Star Park • $50,000 400 yards • :19.854 • si 90
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
GRACEFUL EAGLE, ’14-f. Duplicate Check
One Famous Lady Corona Cartel
Check Her Twice
136 SPEEDHORSE, December 2016
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