Page 90 - January 20 2012

Hialeah Derby
ToRTuGA Tony
by Tracy Gantz
The Indiana/Florida circuit agrees with Tortuga Tony, who is turning that schedule into his specialty. For the second season the gelding has won in both states, most recently capturing the $169,300 Hialeah Derby in south Florida.
As the gate opened in the Hialeah Derby, Tortuga Tony bulleted out of the rail post position, paying no attention when Blood Red Cadillac from post two
veered out and brushed Flyingwitheagles. Jockey Randy Edison sent Tortuga Tony straight to the front, and they drew off from the field in the middle of the 440-yard race. KT Makin A Tax Move closed in the final yards, but Tortuga Tony refused to let him past, winning by a neck.
Tortuga Tony’s time of
:21.456 was good for a 103
speed index and approached
the track mark of :21.252.
It also bettered his time of
:21.762 in his trial, in which he finished third and was the sixth-fastest qualifier.
Trainer Paul Jones bred Tortuga Tony
in partnership with Vaughn Cook in New Mexico. Jones campaigned him through his first four starts, which included a second in
the 2010 Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational. Jorge Gonzalez now trains the gelding for owner Jose Ivanez. Prior to the Hialeah Derby, Tortuga Tony won the July 2 Indiana Live QHRAI
Derby at Indiana Downs and placed in four other stakes, including the Hialeah Laddie Futurity and South Florida Derby during the 2010-11 Hialeah season.
Just Wanna Be Me, the dam of Tortuga Tony, won the 2005 Dashing Folly Handicap and placed in three other stakes. The mare has produced five winners from seven start- ers, including Teller Bye, who finished second in the 2011 Pen Pal Stakes. Just Wanna Be Me is a half-sister to Paint rac-
ing Champion Tiene Mucho Blanco and stakes- placed Devons Signature and See If I Care.
Victor Olivo rode KT Makin A Tax Move (Maknmoves-Lanella) for owner Gustavo Flores and trainer Victor Gonzalez. Third to Tortuga Tony in the Indiana Live QHRAI Derby, KT Makin A Tax Move won the Oct. 29 All American Congress Derby at Beulah Park and ran third in the Dec. 10 Sunshine State Stakes at Hialeah.
Jazz Be First (Bono Jazz-Last Shall Be First), the fastest qualifier for the Hialeah Derby and the 9-5 favorite, finished third under jockey Alex Baldillez Jr. Ricardo Martinez trains the colt for Alejandro Medina. Jazz Be First defeated Tortuga Tony in both the Hialeah Laddie Futurity and Governor’s Stakes.
Rounding out the field were Wagon
To Hollywood (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Hollywood La Jolla), Flyingwitheagles (Feature Mr Jess-Dashing Phoebe), Gottabeme (Hadtobenuts-Silver Gypsy-TB), Speed Smith (Prime Talent-Speedy Empress), I Am That Hero (Sweet First Down-Miss Fine La Jolla), Blood Red Cadillac (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Hanna B Jazzin), and Makeover Moment (Corona For Me-Its Called Class).
Hialeah Park $169,300 • 440 yards :21.456 • si 103
Corona Cartel
Stel Corona
Our Lips Are Sealed
TORTUGA TONY, g.
Dash To Chivato
Just Wanna Be Me
Shirleys Signature
Tortuga Tony has won a stakes race in Florida in each of the last two years—most recently this wire-to-wire win in the $169,300 Hialeah Derby.
88 SPEEDHORSE, January 20, 2012
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Coady Photography