Page 158 - November 2021

AQHA Challenge Championship Weekend
AQHA Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship-G1
WASCALLYWITTLEWABBIT
By John Moorehouse
Rogers Farms paid a $20,000 supplement to enter Wascallywittlewabbit in the Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship-G1. When
they ran the race on Oct. 23 as part of the Bank of America Championship card in Albuquerque, that investment paid off.
Wascallywittlewabbit ran away with victory in the $104,500 event, beating his nearest rival to the wire by a commanding margin of 2 3/4-lengths.
“That’s a big race day and
it’s always really nice to win
one of those bigger races,”
trainer Michael Joiner said.
“He’s just a nice, solid, really
sound little horse. He’s easy to train and he goes out there and does his job, 99 percent of the time.”
Wascallywittlewabbit notched his fifth win in seven starts this year, ands his 11th victory
in 22 career outs. Since Rogers Farms acquired him prior to the start of the 2020 campaign, the six-year-old gelding has run 12 outs, gathering a 9-1-0 record.
“He’s pretty easy to train,” Joiner said. “He makes my job easy.”
The Distance Challenge regional race, which took place Sept. 18 at Albuquerque, marked a
rare finish outside the winner’s circle since the ownership change. Wascallywittlewabbit did place second.
Speaking with Stallionesearch.com in a video interview right after the race, Joiner thought there may have been too much going on at the track in
September, with the facility also playing host to the fair and a rodeo.
In a telephone interview with Speedhorse, Joiner still thought that was
the case.
“He got a little hot in the
paddock and kind of washed out a little bit. He just didn’t quite have the stuff in him to finish the race, you know?” Joiner said. “He adjusted a lot better the second time, Saturday night. He ran a really good race, he sure did.”
Making a sharp break from the No. 6 gate underneath Benito Baca, Wascallywittlewabbit wasted little time in grabbing the lead,
opening a commanding advantage of 21⁄2 lengths by the first call. He maintained that advantage going into the stretch and added to it slightly dur- ing the final yards, completing his 870-yard trip in :44.505 for a 97 speed index.
In a video interview with Stallionesearch, Baca described Wascallywittlewabbit’s run as a “perfect trip.
“He left on top and we were able to really open up and get away from horses that come closing toward the end.”
It marked the third stakes win of the year
for the veteran gelding, all at 870 yards. He
also triumphed in the Remington Distance Championship-G1 and the Pauls Valley Stakes-G2, both of which were held at Remington Park. Wascallywittlewabbit now has six stakes victories for his career.
“He’s really had a good year,” Joiner said. “He’s had a good last two years. That’s all we’ve had him, the last two years. He’s really liked the 870.”
Of the gelding’s 11 career wins, 10 of them have come at the 870 distance, at which he has made 16 outs.
As for now, Wascallywittlewabbit receives some well-earned time in the pasture.
“He’s done for the year,” Joiner said. “We’ll turn him out and make a new game plan for him for next year.
Mike Weatherly bred Wascalliwittlewabbit out of Rabbits N Diamonds, a 2008 mare.
Madewell (Jess Jones-Streakin Peacock),
who was the post-time favorite and beat Wascallywittlewabbit in the regional race at this same track in September, placed second this time for Ray and Davy Madewell. The Bernard Baca trainee had Maria Baca in the irons. Madewell won this race last year. Viva Le Don (Rock Solid Jess-Viva Arriba) finished third, as his three-race win streak ended. Rockin J Running Horses owns the gelding, who is trained by Tammy Johnson and was ridden by Josh Romero.
Ms Esther, (Afrashad TB-Tres Down
The Cash), Dance The Dust Off (Coronas Blackdiamond-Magic Yard TB), Faster Than Hasta (Hasta Be Fast-Leadmetoyourladder), Illtakeyouforaride (FDD Dynasty- Dashingfordestiny) and Nicos First Cartel (First Prize Perry-Cartel Moon) completed the official order of finish.
The Downs at Albuquerque
$104,500 • 870 yards :44.505 • si 97
Heza Fast Man
Heza Motor Scooter
Hot Tin Lizzie
WASCALLYWITTLEWABBIT, ’15-g.
Rabbits Rainbow
Rabbits N Diamonds
Shines Likea Diamond
Wascallywittlewabbit’s winning connections include owner Jarett Rogers of Rogers Farms, trainer Michael Joiner, and jockey Benito Baca.
156 SPEEDHORSE November 2021
Coady Photography Coady Photography