Page 58 - 12 October 2012

adequan will rogers derby Challenge
seCoNd PaINTed sIGN
by Tracy Gantz
until the Sept. 30 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge at Will Rogers Downs, Second Painted Sign had scored most of his
victories against Oklahoma-bred competi- tion. He successfully expanded his horizon
in the Challenge, defeating three Oklahoma- breds, three Texas-breds, an Arkansas-bred, and a Louisiana-bred. In the process, he earned a berth to the Oct. 27 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G1
at Prairie Meadows.
Sent away as the 4-5 favorite, Second Painted Sign broke well from the outside, just a step behind Valjean
on the rail. With Debbie Freeman up, Second Painted Sign quickly grabbed the lead. While Valjean briefly made a race of it, Second Painted Sign spurted away
to win as much the best. He crossed the wire two lengths
red Cell will rogers distance Challenge
Will Rogers Downs $39,150 • 400 yards :19.746 • si 102
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
SECOND PAINTED SIGN, ’09-c.
Vital Sign
Stylish Sign
Down Pillow
clear in :19.746 for the 400 yards. Bred by The Mixer Ranch, Second
Painted Sign was a $75,000 buyback at the 2010 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. A two-
time winner last year at 2, he earlier this year captured the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Oklahoma-bred Derby. Mary Passmore Kirby acquired the colt after his second start at 2, and Jackie Kirby then took over his training.
(Valiant Hero-Thanks Jens) finished second with Larry Payne aboard. Guillermo Valdivia trains the filly, who won the Miss Olene Stakes at Remington Park earlier this year.
The Sunday Assassin (FDD Dynasty-Oh Dusty Bunny) ran third for owner Bowen Arrow Farms, trainer Robert Dimitt, and jockey G.R. Carter Jr. From nine previous starts, the gelding won three races, including an allow- ance/optional claimer at Remington in May.
Completing the field were Cartels Beauty (Corona Cartel-Brenda Feature), Note The Blues (Jess Louisiana Blue-Note The Chick), Plan An Atac (Granite Lake-Runatac),
Early Takeoff (Early Flyer-TB-Running Reward), IB A Teller Cartel (Teller Cartel- Phoebes Runaway), and Uncle Sam Sweetfly (Hawkinson-Shes Sweet N Can Fly). Dorree was scratched.
Winner Stylish Sign, an earner of $28,306, produced Second Painted Sign, one of her six winners from eight starters. The mare is also the dam of 2010 Speedhorse Gold & Silver Cup Futurity-G1
and Oklahoma Futurity-G2 winner First Painted Sign. Third dam Sages Pillow Talk produced multiple Grade 1 winner Easy Conversation and stakes-placed Easy Option.
Vicki Tebow’s Valjean
eMPeror ValerIaN
by Michael Compton
From a stellar female family, Emperor Valerian put his genes to good use on Sept. 30, winning the $34,560 Red Cell Will Rogers
Distance Challenge in Claremore, Oklahoma. The 4-year-old half-brother to 2005 Los Alamitos Million Futurity-G1 winner Value
The Man battled for the lead throughout and edged clear late to win by three-quarters of a length. Piloted by Ricky Ramirez, Emperor Valerian covered the 870
yards in :45.797, earning a speed index of 92.
It was the second stakes win for the 4-year-old geld- ing. He also won this year’s Brigand Overnight Stakes
at Ruidoso Downs. The $16,934 winner’s share of the purse escalated his bank-
roll to $77,442 for owner Salvador Pimienta. Bred in Oklahoma by Kelly/Yearsley Equine, Emperor Valerian
56 SPEEDHORSE, October 12, 2012
has now won five of 21 appearances and is four for six this season under the tutelage of trainer Ralph Muniz.
Emperor Valerian comes by his talent naturally. Produced from the multiple stakes- placed mare Sheeza Lil Val, Emperor Valerian is from a family of stakes winners. The leading earner for Sheeza Lil Val is the aforementioned Value The Man. In addition to his two stakes
victories, the son of Heza
Fast Man also placed in four stakes, including the 2008 Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1 and the 2005 California Juvenile Challenge-G3. All told, Value The Man won seven of 46 starts, placed in 16 others and earned $577,600 in a brilliant career. Sheeza Lil Val has also produced Valiantly, winner of the 2002 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G1.
Red Cell Distance Challenge runner-up Hes A Real Stone (SC Chiseled In Stone-Show Candash) broke on top under Cody Smith. He was quickly collared by Emperor Valerian but kept to task in game fashion to secure the place spot for owner Deere Connection and trainer Matt Whitekiller.
Chase This Chic (Country Chicks Man- Boppem Easy), racing in the colors of owner and trainer Dean Spears, closed fastest of all late to finish third under Tony Bennett.
Reporting under the wire behind the top three were Ura Champ (American Champ- TB-Sixy Hemp), Apollo Rocks (Apollo- TB-Aamerican Baby), Street Meter (City Street-TB-Meters Off), and second choice in the wagering Osu Cowboy Attitude (Dash to Chivato-Hiclass Attitude), who flashed brief speed and then faded.
Will Rogers Downs $34,560 • 870 yards :45.797 • si 92
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
EMPEROR VALERIAN, ’08-g.
Dashing Val
Sheeza Lil Val
Sheeza Zevi Lady
Racing news
kellie Johnston: Coady Photography kellie Johnston: Coady Photography