Page 48 - 12 October 2012

Dash For Cash Derby-G2
CHICKS SMART MONEY
by Stacy Pigott
While the rainy weather and the sloppy, sealed track may have been a bit of concern for some in the $174,000 Dash For Cash Derby-G2 on Sept. 29 at Lone Star Park, it didn’t bother trainer Robert Dimitt. He knew his charge, Chicks Smart Money, could handle an off track with ease. After all, the gelding
had already proven that on Aug 4, when he ran second in the Speedhorse Derby-G3 at Fair Meadows at Tulsa. Rain had pounded the race- track that night, making the track sloppy, and Chicks Smart Money finished a game second behind winner Haulin Candy Salt. This time, Chicks Smart Money went one better to win the Dash For Cash Derby for owners Joe L. and Judith O. Chappell Trust.
“This was his fifth out this year, and he’s had four wins and a second,” said Dimitt. “He just ran a great race. This horse, he runs no matter what. He does it every trip—just runs what he can. He’s just a real good horse.”
Dimitt should know, as he has started Chicks Smart Money and has trained the gelding his whole career. Last year, Dimitt sent him out to finish second in the Black Gold 330 Futurity and eighth in the Black Gold Championship-RG3.
“He had a little bad luck last year. He got away bad in the Black Gold Championship, and that’s the only time he hasn’t run first or second. He ran a great race, he just got away bad. We did surgery on him, and he’s come back really good this year.”
Chicks Smart Money started 2012 with an allowance win at Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and
followed that up with a win in a trial to the Speedhorse Derby. After finishing second in
the finals of that graded stakes, he journeyed to Texas for the trials to the Dash For Cash Derby. Despite a slow start, Chicks Smart Money recov- ered to score a runaway 2 1/4-length win in his trial. His time of :21.460 was the eighth-fastest of the night.
The day after the trials, Dimitt hauled Chicks Smart Money four hours back home to Sallisaw, Oklahoma. The horse, he says, does better in his familiar home environment. He returned to Texas and Lone Star Park the day before the finals, and quickly proved the trip was worth it.
Sent off as the third choice
in the wagering at odds of 6-1
in the finals, Chicks Smart
Money broke well and stalked
early leaders Sweet Oblivion and Fast Prize Mike. By the second call, Chicks Smart Money found the lead and jockey Cody Jensen kept him there, crossing the finish line a half-length better than Fast Prize Mike. The winning time for the 440 yards was :21.320.
Bred by his owners, Chicks Smart Money is the first stakes winner for his dam, winner Beduinos Chick Jet. A multiple graded stakes finalist, Beduinos Chick Jet has also produced stakes-placed JC Wills.
Chicks Smart Money has now won six of 10 starts, with three runner-up finishes. His career earnings stand at $151,409 with the $80,910 winner’s share from the Dash For Cash Derby.
Longshot Fast Prize Mike, at 18-1, tried to steal the show but could only finish second under Jarrod Deschamp. Javier Contreras trains the
colt, who was sixth in the Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs earlier this year. Evelio Salazar owns Fast Prize Mike (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fast Mans Prize), who has finished second in seven of 11 career starts, with two wins.
Lethal Volt (Volcom-Miss Lethal) checked into third with Ricky Ramirez in the saddle for trainer Trey Wood. Dan Adams, P.K. Thomas and Gene White own Lethal
Volt, who was competing in his first derby of the season. The gelding was fifth in the All American Futurity-G1 last year, and second in the Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1.
Rounding out the field were Sweet Oblivion (Mr Jess Perry-Daring Difference), Jess Lips (Mr Jess Perry-Loose Lips), Jess Fly With Me (Fly Jess Fly-The Meteroite), Windham (Shazoom- Crystalinas), and TW Special Feature (Feature Mr Jess-Nylas Special Girl). Charmin Chief Corona and Wahoo were scratched.
Lone Star Park $174,000 • 440 yards :21.320 • si 97
First Down Dash
First Smart Money
Prissy Gold Digger
CHICKS SMART MONEY, ’09-g.
Rock Em Smooth
Beduinos Chick Jet
Tintas Chick
Chicks Smart Money (#2) and Cody Jensen win the $174,000 Grade 2 Dash For Cash Derby by a half-length over Fast Prize Mike (#8).
46 SPEEDHORSE, October 12, 2012
Racing news
Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse