Page 77 - January 20 2012

Cold Cash 123’s overpowering win in the Championship at Sunland Park makes him a strong contender for year-end championship honors.
also ran a huge race from post position three, but could not match strides with Cold Cash 123 late, settling for second at odds of 17-1.
Cold Cash 123 stopped the clock in :18.733, just missing the track record of :18.613 set by Champion Double Down Special in 2010. The three-year-old Oak Tree Special gelding earned $157,000 for his ninth career win, and sixth win from eight starts in 2011.
“He’s been stepping away a little slow. He just takes a few jumps to get up there with the rest of them. Today we tried something differ- ent,” said Baldillez. “We put a tail on him, and he stood up there and left in front.”
The Championship at Sunland Park was Baldillez’s first race back since breaking his collarbone in September at Zia Park. Baldillez, who rode Cold Cash 123 to victory in the Rainbow Derby-G1, recuperated at trainer Sleepy Gilbreath’s ranch in Brock, Texas, and galloped Cold Cash 123 in the weeks leading up to the Championship.
“He’s been training great,” said Baldillez. “He’s just been a great horse all year. He’s matured a
lot throughout the year and he’s gotten stronger. Today he put it all together. He’s a great horse.”
Favored in the Championship at Sunland Park, Cold Cash 123 is also now one of
the favorites for year-end honors from the American Quarter Horse
Association. The 2011 Champions will be announced on Jan. 18 at the Heritage
Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City. According
to the Bays, no matter what happens that night, Cold
Cash 123 will likely make his first appearance of 2012 at Remington Park in March or April, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the Champion of Champions-G1.
“I still prefer the 440s,”
Walter said of Cold Cash 123’s
racing future, adding with a laugh, “I’d really love it to be 480!”
Bodacious Dash (First Down Dash-St Pats Tea) starts his stud career at 6666 Ranch on the strength of this second-place finish, adding to a season in which he was also second in the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby. Last year, the colt won the Texas
Classic Futurity-G1 for owner Johnny Trotter, of Hereford, Texas. Trey Wood trains Bodacious Dash, who was ridden by Ricky Ramirez.
Gerardo Ochoa-Pena owns and trains third-place finisher Rylees Boy (Heza Motor Scooter-Pipistrelle), who also finished third
in this race in 2010. A six-year-old in 2011, Rylees Boy won the Remington Park Championship-G1 and the Sunland Park Championship Challenge under regular ride Joe Ruiz.
The remaining order
of finish was Louisiana Senator (Jess Louisiana Blue- Corona Perfection), Here
Kittykittykitty (Genuine Strawfly-One Diamond Cat), Celtic Classic (Check Him Out-Mahlanka), Prospect To The Top (Coronas Prospect-Cream To The Top), Sir Seth (First Down Dash-Quiet Courage), Time For A Cigar (Corona Cartel- Time For A Goddess), and Favorite Cartel (Favorite Trick-TB-Shenoshercorona).
Sunland Park $350,000 • 400 yards :18.733 • si 103
Special Task
Oak Tree Special
Easy Lady Oak
COLD CASH 123, g.
Takin On The Cash
Hot Cash 123
To Hot To Hug
SPEEDHORSE, January 20, 2012 75
Lisa Dominguez/Coady Photography