Page 140 - December 2016
P. 140
Louisiana Champ. Day Cl.-RG2
OPEN ME A CORONA
By Michael Compton
Open Me A Corona fires just about every time he touches foot on a racetrack. Unfortunately for the seven rivals lined up against him in the $100,000
Louisiana Champions Day Classic-RG2 at Fair Grounds on Dec. 10, Open Me A Corona, the race’s defending champion, once again brought his “A” game.
Following a clean break from the 5-gate,
Open Me A Corona grabbed the early lead under David Alvarez. The sorrel horse stretched his lead
to 1/2-length before scoring by a neck over Heza Louisiana Dash. Sent off as the race favorite, Open Me A Corona covered the 440 yards in :21.978, earning a 93 speed index for trainer Bobby Martinez.
It was the 16th win and 13th stakes victory from 21 lifetime starts for Open Me A Corona, who is campaigned by Charles Forbes Jr. and Tommy Hays. The $46,392 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $925,394.
Open Me A Corona was bred by Natalie Montgomery DVM and is the first stakes winner out of lightly-raced In The Open. She has produced 7 starters, including 3 additional stakes placed runners. Open Me A Corona, who set a New Track Record at Fair Grounds for 250 yards, is the sports Champion Aged Stallion of 2015.
Heza Louisiana Dash (Heza Fast Dash- Eyejesslovelouisiana) finished second under John Hamilton for owner TM Ranch and trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. Running Game Patriot (Game Patriot- Eyesa La Tac) finished third under Alfonso Lujan for owner Pete A. Scarmardo and trainer Brian Stroud.
Oak Hill Streak (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Amber), Heza Bell Perry (Heza Fast Dash-De Bell Perry), Icanonlyimagine (Swingin Jess-Real Or Imagined), Scooter Prize (First Prize Perry-Royal Baby Scooter) and JLS Dashn And Zoomn (Sir Runaway Dash-Shaken Thru Zoom) completed the field. Louisiana Legends scratched.
Louisiana Champ. Day Juv.-RG2
HEZ KWIK
by Michael Compton
Hez Kwik ran to his name in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile-RG2, scor- ing the first stakes win of his young career in the
350-yard test at Fair Grounds on Dec. 10.
Ridden by Ricardo Hernandez Jr., Hez Kwik broke
second from the 8-post and was in seventh position through the early stages after a bumped start. A strong late surge, however, propelled the gray gelding past rivals down the lane and carried him to a narrow victory. He crossed the wire a neck in front at the finish, stopping the clock in :18.022 for trainer Eliseo Celestino.
The victory was the 3rd consecutive win for Hez Kwik, who captured his Oct. 28 trial for the LQHBA Futurity at Evangeline Downs, but didn’t qualify. He then returned to win an allowance at Evangeline Downs prior to the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile victory. The $45,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $60,990 for owner Richard Mendoza.
Hez Kwik was bred in Louisiana by Donald G. Kelly out of the 2-time stakes winning Thoroughbred mare Kwik Kash, who earned $143,465. Hez Kwik
is her first Quarter Horse foal and stakes win-
ner, although she has also produced stakes placed Thoroughbred Kwik N’ Smokey.
Lil Bro Big Streak (Jet Black Patriot-Annas Streakin Dash), owned by Melvin Hatley 1987 Trust, was 2nd under Alfonso Lujan for trainer Trey Ellis. Fired Up Perry (Game Patriot-Perry Five), owned/trained by Guadalupe F. Tristan, was 3rd under David Alvarez. Followed by Shatto Stoli (Stoli-Scoopie Coochie), Watergirl B (Game Patriot-That’s Injunuity), Tellem Im Pumped (Stoli-Pump It Teller), Jess A Big Deal (Jess Louisiana Blue-Ms Intriguing), Blue Eyed Cartel (Sizzlin Cartel-The Louisiana Lassie), JRS Coronas Shadow (Coronas Leaving You-Shadow Of Colors), One Hot Flame (Fast Prize Dash-Rump Shakin), TF Ms Perrys Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-Dashadee) & San Lorenzo Corona (Coronas Leaving You-In The Open).
Louisiana Champ. Day D.-RG3
FIRST CORONA DOWN
by Michael Compton
First Corona Down scored her first stakes victory, upsetting a competitive field with a blanket finish in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day
Derby-RG3 at Fair Grounds on Dec. 10. Ridden by Alfonso Lujan, First Corona Down
flashed early speed and surged to the lead shortly after the start of the 400-yard fixture. The filly prevailed by a head in a tight finish to score the 27-1 upset, stopping the timer in :20.062 and earning a 92 speed index. The $45,000 winner’s share of the purse raised
First Corona Down’s lifetime earnings to $202,032 for owner Gene Cox and trainer Trey Ellis.
Bred in Louisiana by Ben Benham, First Corona Down is out of 2-time winner/Grade 3 finalist Bammies Jewel. The mare has produced 100% money/ROM earners from two starters. First Corona Down, who also finished third in last year’s LQHBA Futurity-RG1, is her top earner and first stakes winner.
Jet Black Zoomer (Jet Black Patriot-Dealazoom) finished second under Antonio Alberto for owner Joseph Landreneau and trainer Kelli Smith. Toastin With Coronas (Coronas Leaving You-Princess Toast) and John Hamilton finished in a dead heat for third with Zoominforgrady (Zoomin For Bux-Supers
First Jewel) and J. Ramirez. Toastin With Coronas is owned by Gene Cox and trained Trey Ellis, both of whom also sent out the winner. Zoominforgrady is owned by Triple C Racing Stables LLC and trained by Guadalupe Tristan.
Followed by My Favorite Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Dasha Effort), Cute Mic Jagger (Oak Tree Special-Shannons Fame), Telarosa (Jet Black Patriot- Presumptuous TB), Gone Cartel (Coronas Leaving You-Ms Big Dashin Now), Jessa Louisiana Zoom (Jess Louisiana Blue-Zoomin For Cash), Ricky Rockstar (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Angelica) and Jetz A Streakin (Jet Black Patriot-Ms Janas Perry). Blues Favorite Fish & Jet Black Rogue were scratched.
Fair Grounds $100,000 440 yards :21.978 si 93
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
Mr Eye Opener Ocean Memories
OPEN ME A CORONA, ’10-h.
In The Open
Fair Grounds $100,000 350 yards :18.022
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
HEZ KWIK, ‘14-g.
Kwik Kash TB
First Prize Dash Bag
Intoxicated
Fair Grounds $100,000 400 yards :20.062 si 92
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
FIRST CORONA DOWN, ’13-f.
Bammies Jewel
First Down Jewel Bammies Princess
138 SPEEDHORSE, December 2016
RACING NEWS
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