Page 185 - Speedhorse August 2018

Walter Merrick Stakes
RF CORONA FLASH
by Michael Compton
Fresh off a 5 1⁄2-length romp in a claiming event, RF Corona Flash, a racing veteran at age 7, handled the class hike to stakes company just fine on
July 27, scoring the initial stakes win of his lengthy career in the $17,500 Walter Merrick Memorial Stakes for Oklahoma-breds at Fair Meadows.
Ridden by Gonzalo Gutierrez for trainer Matt Whitekiller, RF Corona Flash stalked pacesetter Admiral Zoomwalt from second in the early stages of the 870-yard marathon. He swung 3-wide in the turn, wore down that rival in the lane and out finished a ral- lying Blazen Panther by a neck to spring the 28-1 upset. He reported home in :45.825, earning a 96 speed index.
Campaigned by Joel Rod Pierce and Kyle M. McGovern, RF Corona Flash now owns a record of 21-5(1)-2-3 and the $10,338 winner’s share of the purse boosted his cumulative earnings of $49,153.
Marvin and Pam Wilcox bred RF Corona Flash out of winner Special Dream Baby. She has produced five winners from 13 starters, including New Track Record setter RF Pistol Pete. RF Corona Flash is her first stakes winner.
Runner-up Blazen Panther (Panther Mountain- Blazen Madie), piloted by Daniel Torres, turned in a game effort and just missed winning his fourth straight outing at the distance for owner/trainer Jonathan Chavira.
Admiral Zoomwalt (Shazoom-Tellin It All), with James Flores aboard, showed the way early and held third for owners Rogelio Marquez Jr. & Kathy Robinson and trainer Amanda Tongay.
Marker Town Brown (Okey Dokey Dale-Seek N Excess TB), PB Classy Royal Snow (Mount Blanc- Moulin Rue), SRD American Achara (American Runaway-Unlikely Angel), Eye Opening Legacy (Mr Eye Opener-Extra Extra Effort) and SRD Red Bobcat (Red Storm Cat-Shouldabeenjoebob TB) completed the order of finish.
Fair Meadows Maturity
WALK OFF
by John Moorehouse
Walk Off comes from a decorated bloodline, and on July 7 he became a stakes winner himself scoring a 1/2-length victory in the $16,000 Fair Meadows Maturity.
The four-year-old gelding logged his fourth win
in 11 starts, and the $8,892 payday from the victory improved his total bankroll to $42,694. Darling Farms owns Walk Off, who is trained by R.L. Robinson.
Cody Smith was aboard the gelding, who broke from the inside starting gate. Walk Off was running a close second going into the stretch, then he outdueled Shaky Hero during the final yards to be the first to hit the wire. The 350-yard trip took :17.603 and logged a 94 speed index.
Fredda Draper bred Walk Off out of 2016 Speedhorse Broodmare of the Year Jenuine Joy, an impressive competitor in her own right. Owned by Sammy Valeriano, Jenuine Joy won five stakes races, all of which were restricted or graded events, as
part of an eight-win career that gathered more than $382,000 in money. Walk Off becomes the third stakes winner in the brood, which includes nine starters and 12 total offspring. The most accom- plished is Imperial Eagle, 2-time AQHA Champion and winner of the 2016 running of the All American Futurity-G1 at Ruidoso Downs who has amassed a bankroll of nearly $1.9 million.
Shaky Hero (Valiant Hero-Shaky Girl) and Daniel Torres finished second for owner Regina Laymon and trainer Kenny Laymon.
Way To Go (Spit Curl Jess-Fly By The Mall) finished third under Jose Cisneros for owner Jose Antonio Alvarado and trainer Simon Moreno.
LD American Ivory (Ivory James-LD American Maid), Ting Ting Tac (Tac It Like A Man-Jess Because I Could), Veto (Apollitical Jess-Bodacious Dream) and A Royal Country Man (Country Chicks Man-A Royal Goddess) completed the order of finish.
Cherokee Nation Stakes
MR CORONADO CASH
by John Moorehouse
Mr Coronado Cash banked his first stakes victory, going wire-to-wire in the $16,000 Cherokee Nation Stakes at Fair Meadows on July 28.
Owned by Oscar Macias, Mr Coronado Cash has been to the winner’s circle three times in five starts. This marked his second try in stakes company, and he left little doubt, breaking on top from the 4-post, opening a 1/2-length lead by the first call, doubling that advantage as he entered the stretch and going on to win by daylight.
Manuel Mata trains Mr Coronado Cash, who completed the 350-yard trip in :17.828 for an
88 speed index and cashed an $8,730 payday for
his connections, improving his total earnings to $23,658. Paul Nieto drew the riding assignment. The gelding made his competitive debut back in April, and previously has raced at Sam Houston Race Park and Delta Downs before making his way to Oklahoma and Fair Meadows.
Todd Antonuk bred Mr Coronado Cash out of unraced Never Neutral. She has produced 100% money earners from two starters. Mr Coronado Cash is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Docs Kansas Rep (Louisiana Senator-Docs Dynasty 123) finished second under Daniel Torres for owner Regina Laymon and trainer Kenny Laymon.
SR Shegone (Mighty B Valiant-Jesta Lil Spitfire) and Edwuin Lujan were third for owners Rick and Connie Dickson and trainer Manuel Almanza.
James On the Fly (Ivory James-Strawfly Lady), First Prize Shawn (Tempting Dash-First Prize Shaunda), Pops Tempting Wagon (Tempting Dash-Pops Zooming Wagon), Dynamite Lips (Jess Lips-Try To Catch Tootsie), VF Tempting A Wheely (Tempting Dash-Wheely Quick), Louisiana Time (Louisiana Senator-Breitling Time) and Dreamin Of Success (Cartel Success-Carters Dreamer) completed the order of finish.
Fair Meadows • $17,500 870 yards • :45.825 • si 96
Corona Cartel
Cartel Success
RF CORONA FLASH, 11-g.
Special Effort
Special Dream Baby
Dashing Mariah
Miss Victory Dream
Fair Meadows • $16,000 350 yards • :17.603 • si 94
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Genuine Strawfly Super Perla Negra
Walk Thru Fire
WALK OFF, ‘14-g. Jenuine Joy
Fair Meadows • $16,000 350 yards • :17.828 • si 88
Corona Cartel
Coronado Cartel
First Carolina
MR CORONADO CASH, ‘16-g.
Mr Eye Opener
Never Neutral
Corona Cash
SPEEDHORSE, August 2018 183
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