Page 204 - Speedhorse August 2018

Big Select Breeders Futurity
BRINDIS CRUZ
by Danny Camp
Fastest qualifier Brindis Cruz notched his first stakes victory in the $18,925 Big Sky Select Breeders Futurity at Montana State Fair in Great
Falls on July 28.
The sorrel gelding broke from the seven-post in
front briefly moved into second place at the first call. With guidance from jockey Shaunda Larsen, Brindis Cruz exploded late to finish 1 1/2-length in
front. They completed the 300 yards in :15.848 to earn an 88 speed index.
Brindis Cruz brought home the $9,463 winner’s share of the purse for owner Lana Matt and trainer Jess Matt, boosting his total lifetime earnings to $21,010. His race record now stands at (1)-2(1)-0 from three starts.
The gelding was coming off a 4-length victory in the July 15 trials to the Big Sky Breeders Futurity.
Brindis Cruz finished second in his first start this year in the trials to the Wyoming All Breed Futurity at Energy Downs.
In the finals to that race, Brindis Cruz finished second after the winner was disqualified
Bred by the late K. C. Carden, Brindis Cruz is out of three-time winner GM Check Her Out. On the track, GM Check Her Out won three races - two allowance races at Elko County Fair and Yellowstone Downs, and a trial to the Spring Classic Derby at Pocatello Downs. As a broodmare, GM Check Her Out has produced 100% winners from two starters. Brindis Cruz becomes her first stakes winner and top earner.
His second dam is Catcha Special Chic, who won the 2000 Cowboy Classic Derby and Wyoming Downs Derby. She was also the runner-up in the 1999 Northwest Juvenile Challenge-G3. She is
a half-sister to stakes winners Talk Doc and Miz Proudest Chic. Catcha Special Chic has produced seven winners from nine starters.
Runnin J (Royal Three Dash-Runnin On Sugar) and Jesus Flores finished in second place for owner Linford Ranch Horses and trainer David Greene. The filly is still a maiden from four starts.
Thischicksgoteffort (Tr Special-Furious Chick) was third under Nikeela Black for owner Ralph G. Young and trainer David Greene. The gray filly also remains a maiden from two starts.
This Chicks Packin (Pistol Packin Perry-Sheza Quick Chick), Kay Cross Conman (Volcom-Kay Cross Kylie) and High On The Night (Jettastic- Whatta High) completed the order of finish. My Wicked Corona was scratched.
Spencer Childers Champ. H.-RG1
HEZA DASHA FIRE
by Tracy Gantz
World Champion Heza Dasha Fire keeps adding to his list of honors and accolades. In win- ning the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap-RG1 on July 28, he moved into third on the all-time leading earners list, with $2,217,987. Only Ochoa and Stolis Winner are ahead of him.
Favored at 7-10 in the this race, Heza Dasha Fire got away from the gate quickly in the lead under jockey Cruz Mendez. He remained in front through- out the 400 yards to win wire-to-wire by 3/4-length in :19.546, for a 98 speed index.
Heza Dasha Fire is all the more impressive because he has suffered from leptospirosis, which shortened his 2017 season. The Washington-bred finished second in last year’s Childers, and he has now won 10 stakes, eight of them Grade 1.
Jose Flores trains Heza Dasha Fire for owners/ breeders Don and Kathy Meneely and their son, Shawn. The Meneeleys race and breed in the name of S-Quarter K LLC.
Graded stakes winner Dasha Freda is the dam of Heza Dasha Fire. The mare has produced five win- ners in six starters, including Champion Ima Fearless Hero and stakes winner Heza Fearless Dasher.
Jaime Gomez trains second-place LD Is Back (Walk Thru Fire-Prima LD) and co-owns him with Darling Farms and Valeriano Racing Stable LLC. Eduardo Nicasio rode the gelding, who won last year’s Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders Stakes.
Tarzanito (Favorite Cartel-Ancient Empress) and Eddie Garcia were third for owner A1A Racing LLC and trainer Yanet Rodriguez. Tarzanito won the 2017 Sgt. Pepper Feature Handicap.
Royaltys Authority (Royaltys Choice-Trick And Fun TB), Katella Deli (Foose-Katie Katella) and Renewed (Walk Thru Fire-Make Over) completed the order of finish.
Calif. Brds.’ Matron Stakes-RG3
THERMONUCLEAR ENERGY
by Tracy Gantz
Thermonuclear Energy has such a late kick that it can overcome any sluggishness at the start. She demonstrated that once again when she won the $40,000 California Breeders Matron Stakes-RG3 on July 28.
“She ran down through there and turned on the afterburners from there,” said trainer Christopher O’Dell. “It wasn’t pretty, but she got the job done. She shows up every time.”
With regular rider Eduardo Nicasio again aboard, Thermonuclear Energy broke third in the 400-yard Matron. She battled briefly with Jess Mas and ultimately scored by 3/4-length in :19.705.
Since November, Thermonuclear Energy has started four times, all in stakes, coming away with three victories and a second. In 2015, she won the Los Alamitos $2 Million Juvenile, adding the Las Damas Handicap-G3 in 2017 and the Ivan Ashment Handicap this year.
The Parsons Family Limited Partnership bred Thermonuclear Energy out of Terrific Energy.
A two-time Grade 1 winner, Terrific Energy has produced 12 starters, all winners, including stakes winners Terrific Synergy, Dynasty Energy, and Designs By Dynasty. Thermonuclear is her fourth stakes winner and top earner at $316,707.
EG High Desert Farms’ homebred Jess Hawk (One Sweet Jess-Merridoc Hawk) finished second under Cruz Mendez for trainer Jesus Nunez.
Elena Andrade bred and trains third-place Jess Mas (One Sweet Jess-Corona Mas Fina) for owners Oscar Andrade and Steve Burns. Ruben Lozano rode the filly.
Strawfinders Jessee (One Sweet Jess-Strawfinder), Kiddy Up Cowgirl (Kiddy Up-Girls Choice), Tough To Figure (Walk Thru Fire-Big Jan) and Maggie Durant (One Sweet Jess-Up Down Dash) completed the order of finish.
Los Alamitos • $100,000 400 yards • :19.546 • si 98
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Mr Jess Perry
Walk Thru Fire
HEZA DASHA FIRE, ‘12-g. Dasha Freda
Fearless Freda
Great Falls • $18,925 300 yards • :15.848 • si 88
Toast To Dash
Brindis Por Cayenne
BRINDIS CRUZ, 16-g.
Cayenne Smash
Check Him Out
GM Check Her Out
Catcha Special Chic
Los Alamitos • $40,000 400 yards • :19.705 • si 94
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino
THERMONUCLEAR ENERGY, ‘13-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Terrific Energy
Walk Thru Fire
First Down Energy
202 SPEEDHORSE, August 2018
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos