Page 180 - Speedhorse August 2018

Firecracker Futurity-G2
PATRIOTIC GAMES
by John Moorehouse
It couldn’t have been scripted any better. Running on Independence Day, the appropri- ately-named Patriotic Games emerged victorious
in the $362,675 Firecracker Futurity-G2 at Delta Downs, winning the lucrative stakes by a head.
Trained by Eduardo Morales, Patriotic Games came into the stakes final at 2-1 odds after winning his June 9 Firecracker Futurity trial and posting the third-fastest qualifying time, covering the 350 yards in :17.648. The colt was even quicker in the finals. He broke from the 8-post and drifted in, but jockey
John Hamilton steered Patriotic Games up to a close second as he entered the stretch. The colt chased down FM Im A Zatanaz Too during the final yards to win by a head.
Patriotic Games finished his victorious stakes-winning run in :17.474, posting a career- high 95 speed index.
Ramiro Jaime Flores Sr. owns Patriotic Games, a two-year-old colt who logged his first stakes victory in this race after a pair of runner- up finishes in stakes company in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity-G3 and the Sam Houston Futurity-G2. For his career, Patriotic Games now holds three wins in six starts, and the $181,338 payday from the futurity swelled
his lifetime bankroll past
the quarter-million mark
to $298,910. Purchased for $38,000 at the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Patriotic Games has yet to finish worse than second place in a competition.
Hamilton rode four win-
ners on the July 4 card as part
of a final-week push to claim
his sixth jockey title at Delta
Downs. Hamilton logged 44
total victories during this year’s meet at Delta.
The win also provided a measure of redemption for the connections of Patriotic Games, as the colt finished second to FM Im A Zatanaz Too in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2.
Bob and Jerry Gaston bred Patriotic Games out of three-time winner Miss Game Tee.
The mare was a finalist in the 2007 LQHBA Futurity-RG1. She has produced nine offspring, six of whom are starters. Patriotic Games is
the second stakes winner in the brood, joining A Game Dame who triumphed in the 2011 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG2 as well as in the 2012 Sam Houston Derby Challenge.
Patriotic Games also becomes the 256th stakes winner by his sire, First Down Dash, the all-time leading Quarter Horse sire.
Pre-race favorite FM Im
A Zatanaz Too (Tempting Dash-Dashingfordestiny) was defeated for the first time in his career and fin- ished second. Jose Hernandez owns the gelding, who is trained by Robert Meche and
who had Manuel Gutierrez in the irons. Throw Th Dice (American Runaway-
Modice) made a steady run in third place under Jorge Linares for owner Palomino Trucking Inc. and trainer Jose Gamez.
Moment Of Fury (Furyofthewind-Moment Of Epiphany), Parti Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Sheisassheis), Deisel Freight Train (Freighttrain B-Fulfill A Dream), Iona EC (Louisiana Senator-Fast Prize Tracy), Boldt (FDD Dynasty-Choty), Jess Mad (One
Sweet Jess-Ashada) and Enid Girl (First Moonflash-Ms Perrys Pilot) completed the order of finish.
Delta Downs $362,675 • 350 yards :17.474 • si 95
Dash For Cash
First Down Dash
First Prize Rose
PATRIOTIC GAMES, ‘16-c.
Game Patriot
Miss Game Tee
Carry On Tee
178 SPEEDHORSE, August 2018
Patriotic Games (#8) & John Hamilton win the $362,675 Firecracker Futurity
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography