Page 42 - 30 March 2012

Mardi Gras Derby
MOssy Oak TrEE
by Tracy Gantz
new Year’s resolutions may not be just for humans. Mossy Oak Tree finished his 2-year-old season last year with two wins, seven
months apart, in nine starts. He has completely turned that around as a 3-year-old in 2012, stringing together three consecutive victories in as many starts, including the March 10 Mardi Gras Derby.
Country Talker broke on top from post two, but the race really
developed on the outside.
I Special Too jumped out
ahead of Mossy Oak Tree, who immediately took up
the challenge. Mossy Oak Tree gamely drew even with I Special Too and put his neck on the line in front at exactly the right moment, clocking the 400 yards in :19.906.
Jockey Donald Watson has ridden Mossy Oak Tree in every one of his 12
starts. With the Mardi Gras victory, the pair kept their Louisiana Downs record together perfect with four wins in four starts. Last year, Mossy Oak Tree also finished second in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes-RG2 at the Fair Grounds. Kevin Broussard trains him for owners Christopher Gautreaux and Mac Sumpter.
Gautreaux bred Mossy Oak Tree in Louisiana from All Eyes On
Madison, who started only twice. As a broodmare, she has produced five winners from six starters, including stakes winners Eyes Okey and Eye For Dale plus stakes- placed Holy Ground.
Russell Williams’ home- bred I Special Too (Heza Fast Dash-Special Time Too) was making only her fourth start in the Mardi Gras Derby. She also finished second in her
trial. Saul Ramirez Jr. rode her in the final for trainer Frank Cavazos.
Country Talker (Straight Talker-Streakin Miranda) finished third for owner Los Primitos and jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. The gelding’s trainer, Miguel Rodriguez, won the Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2 with Cajun On Star in the next race.
Rounding out the field were Mr Sonic Boom (Easy Winning Jet-Ms Baseline), Political Option (Jess Louisiana Blue-In His Dreams), Toast To Lady Di (Toast To Dash- Lady Di’s Princess-TB), Wandaslouisianagirl (Jess Louisiana Blue-Rockets Fortune), Straight Runnaway (Straight Talker-The Look Of A Winner), and Kokopelli Blues (Jess Louisiana Blue-Kokopelli Hills). Favored Mr T Perry (First Prize Perry-T Storm-TB) drifted to the outside rail and lost his rider.
Louisiana Downs $95,684 • 400 yards :19.906 • si 98
Special Task
Oak Tree Special
Easy Lady Oak
MOSSY OAK TREE, ’09-g.
Mr Eye Opener
All Eyes On Madison
Madisonville Queen
Racing news
Oklahoma Derby
CruzIn ThE WaGOn
by John Moorehouse
after a very successful campaign as a 2-year- old, Cruzin The Wagon shows no signs of a sophomore slump.
Terry and Mary Louise Pursel’s Oklahoma-bred filly improved to 2-0 in 2012, prevailing by a nose in a five-way photo finish to win the Oklahoma Derby on March 17 at Remington Park, where Cruzin The Wagon has a 4-0 record. The first-place share of the purse, a sum of $54,000, pushed
Cruzin The Wagon’s lifetime
earnings to $208,032.
In eight outs, Cruzin
The Wagon has failed to reach the winner’s circle
only once. Three of her seven victories have come
in stakes company. She
won two futurities last season—the Northlands-G3 at Canterbury Park and the Valley Junction-G3 at Prairie Meadows. The Brent Clay
40 SPEEDHORSE, March 30, 2012
trainee also won her derby trial, posting the top qualifying time of :17.322 in the process.
Tel A Story seized the initial lead, break- ing best from the inside starting gate. The Corona Cartel filly remained in front entering the final 100 yards, but Cruzin The Wagon showed some late speed, coming on strong to out-nod Eufaula Me at the wire.
Jockey Stormy Smith was aboard Cruzin The Wagon, who posted her sixth speed index of 90 or better in eight career outs.
Michael Pohl bred Cruzin The Wagon out of stakes win- ner Penelope Cruzin. Penelope Cruzin won the 2006 Governor’s Stakes at Hoosier Park. Two of Penelope Cruzin’s six foals have made starts, but Cruzin The Wagon is the only winner.
Eufaula Me (Okey Dokey Dale-Yawls Spreadn Rumors), another Clay trainee, finished second to have a three-race winning streak snapped. The gelding is owned by John Lawless and had jockey G.R. Carter Jr. in the irons. Easydoesitcindy (Scrutinizer-Cindys First CD) took third place by a head for owner/breeder Abelardo H. Flores Jr. Trainer Eddie Willis saddled the filly and Jimmy Brooks rode.
The remaining order of finish was Sumokin (Country Chicks Man-Bye Bye Baby Goodbye), Tel A Story (Corona Cartel-Perry Story), Lil Kool Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Little Kool Barbie), Eye Slip By (Eye Yin You-Queen With A Title), Troubador B (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Mega Dashability) and Folly Del Rey (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Disco Del Rey). Kelli Kae was scratched.
Remington Park $135,000 • 350 yards :17.592 • si 90
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
CRUZIN THE WAGON, ’09-f.
Okey Dokey Dale
Penelope Cruzin
Cairina
Dustin Orona Photography natalie Glyshaw/hodges Photography