Page 215 - December_2023

RELENTLESSLY SPECIAL
by Michael Cusortelli
The ninth-fastest qualifier from four trials contested on Oct. 7, Lisa Cunningham’s Relentlessly Special scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $157,000 Governor’s Stakes for 2 year olds at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 28.
Relentlessly Special covered 350 yards on
a sloppy and sealed track in :17.572, and his winning margin was a neck over fastest qualifier Lota Eura. Francisco Quintero rode the sorrel gelding for trainer Tony Cunningham.
Relentlessly Special was bred in Oklahoma by Monty McNair, and he was coming off of a third-place finish
in his Governor’s Stakes trial. A $57,000 purchase
by the Cunninghams at
last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, the gelding is out
of Specialscountrychick,
a winning daughter of Champion Country
Chicks Man who ran
second in the 2012 Black Gold Futurity Championship-RG3 at Will Rogers Downs.
Relentlessly Special’s second dam, the stakes-winning mare Special Anywhere, produced three stakes-winning half siblings to Specialscountrychick, including 2013 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge-G3 winner Specials Gold.
“He goes out and does his job every start and every day,” said Tony Cunningham of
Relentlessly Special. “He’s showing what kind of horse he is.
“I have to give credit to my wife, Lisa,” the trainer added. “She’s the one who picked him out at the sale.”
Raced exclusively at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Relentlessly Special has banked $184,436 from six outs, and his three wins include a half- length victory in the 300-yard $148,000 Heartland Futurity on Aug. 12.
Lota Eura (Lota PYC-Eurapollitical Girl) was coming off of a half-length win in the last Governor’s Stakes trial, and the homebred brown gelding earned the $31,400 runner-up share of the purse for his owner, Whiting Ranch. Jose Ruiz rode Lota Eura for trainer Ricardo Martinez.
Swackhammer (Carters Cartel-Martinis N Bikinis) ran third, while pocketing $15,700 for his owner Cuadra Azabache. The bay gelding was ridden by Antonio Rodriguez for trainer Jessica Vazquez.
VGK Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-The One The Only One) ran fourth and was followed by HG Favorite Energy (Favorite Cartel-Miss Energy P), Brillant Speed (The Marfa Lights-Sheza Loaded Dream), Jess B Gone (One Sweet Jess-Bye Bye Birdy), Readi Dusty (Readi To Be Famous-Tiny Hanka), Ynot A Hero (Valiant Hero-Ynot Now), and Immediate (Seperate Interest-Favorite Bye).
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE December 2023 213
Governor’s Stakes
Coady Photography
Horseshoe Indianapolis
$157,000 • 350 yards :17.572 • SI 98
One Famous Eagle
Hes Relentless
This Dreams Flying
RELENTLESSLY SPECIAL, ‘21-g.
Country Chicks Man
Specialcountrychick
Special Anywhere