Page 222 - December_2023

RACING NEWS
POLITIKO
by Tracy Gantz
Politiko and jockey Justine Klaiber have a good collaboration going. Klaiber, the only female jockey to have won a million-dollar race at Los
Alamitos, has piloted the colt in all six of his starts across three states. Most recently, they captured the Oct. 29 Ah Sigh Handicap at Los Alamitos.
Sent away as the 9-10 favorite, Politiko came out of the gate very cleanly for Klaiber from the outside post. They went to the front and stayed there for the entire 350 yards, winning by three- quarters of a length in :18.033.
Eddie D. Willis trains Politiko for the Edward B. Melzer Revocable Trust. Politiko has competed at Remington Park, Ruidoso Downs, and Los Alamitos, winning a race at each track. This was the colt’s first stakes victory.
Bobby Cox bred Politiko in Texas from his winning homebred Apollitical Jess mare Apolitical Pac. Cox has bred Politiko’s first three dams.
The third dam, Runaway Dee Dee, was multiple stakes-placed. Apolitical Pac, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Jesstifiable, has produced six starters, all winners, including Pappacito, winner of the 2023 Old South Derby and multiple graded stakes-placed, as well as stakes-placed Apolitical Xpression and Quorumm.
J. Francisco Diaz’s homebred Checkn Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Checkn Fire) finished second. Jesus Ayala rode the filly for trainer Lindolfo Diaz. Checkn Cartel won two of five previous races.
Cesar Franco piloted Jessa Dashin Hero
(Mr Jess Perry-Belle Helene) to third for trainer Heraclio Botello, Jr. and owner Vic3tory, LLC. Jessa Dashin Hero is still a maiden after four starts.
Kevins Knockout (KVN Corona-Aquafina) and Seperate Kisses (Separatist-Kiss A Kardashian) finished fourth and fifth. Southern Divine was scratched.
AJ RUN FOR CASH
by Michael Compton
AJ Run for Cash lived up to her moniker in the $16,000 Falling in Loveagain Handicap at Los Alamitos on Nov. 4. Ridden by Irving Lara, AJ Run For Cash broke well and went straight to the front of the nine-horse field after the start of the 300-yard dash. The gray filly received pressure from start to finish, but held all the challengers at bay to score by a nose over Kiss Me Flyin at the wire. AJ Run For Cash covered the distance in :15.594, earning a 90 speed index.
Owned by Boardshorts Stables, LLC and trained by Juan Aleman, AJ Run for Cash is now a winner in six of 18 lifetime starts (three wins at Los Alamitos) and has placed in five others. The $8,800 winner’s share of the purse increased her bankroll to $97,250. It is the second stakes win of the filly’s career, having won the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass last year.
Bred in California by Rancho El Cabresto, Inc., AJ Run for Cash is produced from the stakes-winning mare Shyann Cash. Winner of the 2003 California Breeders’ Freshman Stakes at Los Alamitos, Shyann Cash also finished third in that year’s Kindergarten Futurity-G1.
Kiss Me Flyin (Kiss My Hocks-Shirleys Strawfly) and jockey Henry Lopez just missed, finishing second in a determined effort. The 3-year-old sorrel filly is owned and bred by Donald and Peggy Boyle and was a winner of two straight heading into the Falling in Loveagain Handicap for trainer Paul Jones.
Forever Dynasty (Hes Relentless-Forgotten Dynasty), piloted by Juan Leon, pressed the winner early and finished third just a nose behind the runner-up in the blanket finish. Campaigned by Jeryl Hartley, the gray filly is trained by Sergio Morfin.
Remember Her (Kiddy Up-Remembering Florence), JR Dash Of Coronado (Coronado Cartel-JR Dash Of Shania), Jessica Cruz (FDD Dynasty-Jess Cruz), In Doubt (Favorite Cartel-Babe On Fire), Jess Dynasty B (FDD Dynasty-Jess B Mighty), and Feldzpar (Moonin the Eagle-Nellie Delaney) completed the order of finish.
POLITIKO
by Michael Cusortelli
Politiko, a gray son of Favorite Cartel racing for the Edward B. Melzer Revocable Trust, won the $50,000 Los Alamitos Two-Million Juvenile Stakes
at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.
Prepped by Eddie D. Willis, Politiko covered
350 yards in :17.716, and his margin of victory was a neck from SC Time To Run. Eduardo Nicasio rode the colt.
Politiko was coming off of a third-place finish in a Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1 trial on Nov. 19. The colt was bred in Texas by four-time AQHA Champion Breeder Bobby D. Cox, and he was a $90,000 purchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale.
Politiko is out of Apolitical Pac, a homebred winning 11-year-old daughter of Apollitical Jess and
a finalist in the 2014 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 and Oklahoma Futurity-G2 at Remington Park. The colt is a half brother to Apolitical Xpression, who ran third in the 2019 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs.
Campaigned in three states, including Oklahoma and New Mexico, Politiko has won four of eight starts and has banked $76,298. His first stakes win was the 350-yard Ah Sigh Handicap at Los Alamitos on Oct. 29.
SC Time To Run (Apollitical Jess-Spit Curl Diva) pocketed the $11,250 runner-up share of the purse for his owner Dunn Ranch. Francisco Calderon rode the Oklahoma-bred gelding for trainer Monty Arrossa. Angel Soul (Docs Best Card-Fire Soul) finished third, 1-length behind Politiko. Ramon Sanchez rode the California-bred filly for owner CD Horses Inc., and trainer Jaime Gomez. Followed by Moonin The Blues (Moonin The Eagle-Moonie Blues), Corruptor (Favorite Cartel-Corona Mas Fina), Roar Like A Lion (Separate Interest-Just Walk By), Remember John (Apollitical Jess-Dinastia Toll BRZ), and Magic Castle (Favorite Trick-Miss Racy Cartel). Kickin Famous and Winners Share were scratched.
220 SPEEDHORSE December 2023
Ah Sigh Handicap
Falling In Loveagain Handicap
Los Alamitos Two Million Juv.
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos • $28,000
350 yards • :18.033 • SI 82
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
POLITIKO, ‘21-c. Apolitical Pac
Shenoshercorona Apollitical Jess
Kpax
Los Alamitos • $50,000
350 yards • :17.716 • SI 91
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
POLITIKO, ‘21-c. Apolitical Pac
Shenoshercorona Apollitical Jess
Kpax
Los Alamitos • $16,000
300 yards • :15.594 • SI 90
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
AJ RUN FOR CASH, ‘f-20. Shyann Cash
Apollitical Time Takin On The Cash Windis Shyann