Page 148 - July 2017

Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1
KVN CORONA
by Tracy Gantz
Veteran trainer Paul Jones has won plenty of million-dollar futurities, but owner Keith Nellesen never had.
The combination of the two individuals resulted in a huge victory for Nellesen in the $960,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 at Los Alamitos on June 18 with Nellesen’s colt KVN Corona.
Prior to the June 4 Ed Burke Million Futurity trials, KVN Corona won a 300-yard maiden race at Los Alamitos by 1 1/4-lengths.
He then won his Ed Burke Million Futurity trial heat.
In that race, although the colt was bumped at the break, he recovered well under regular rider Ramon Sanchez and finished big. He was in sixth place at the first call, but took
the lead and had a neck lead at the top of the stretch. KVN Corona finished his trial with a 1/2-length margin in :17.657, qualifying with the second fastest time.
Thus, KVN Corona came into the Ed Burke Million Futurity finals unbeaten with two wins from two starts.
Jockey Ramon Sanchez piloted KVN Corona in all of his victories and was back
aboard the gray colt for the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity finals.
Sanchez and KVN Corona broke out of post six in third position, and KVN Corona immediately demon- strated his gameness.
Immediately taking the lead, KVN Corona fought hard with an equally game J Fire Up, who also wan her Ed Burke trial for the final qualifying position.
It was KVN Corona, however, who emerged victorious over the filly by a head at the wire.
Sent off as the 19-10 favorite, KVN Corona completed the 350 yard Grade 1 stakes event with a final time of :17.575. The clocking earned him a career high 94 speed index and his first stakes victory.
“First one we’ve won,” said Nellesen, who grew up in Idaho and now lives in Utah.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” the owner continued. “I’m just a kid from Idaho who just
loved horses. This is a dream- come-true type of a thing.”
Nellesen is much more than a “kid from Idaho.”
He co-founded the solar and security company Vivint Inc., founded the social media mining company NUVI, and he also serves as CEO of the investment com- pany McColee Partners.
His business plan for his Quarter Horse business is to
race fillies, develop them into broodmares, and breed runners.
The colt KVN Corona represents a depar- ture from his original plan. “He’s the first colt we’ve ever run,” Nellesen stated.
Nellesen bred KVN Corona in the name of his McColee Land & Livestock LLC.
Nelleson named the youngster after Kyle Van Noy, who is a linebacker with the New England Patriots when they won this year’s Super Bowl. Van Noy played football in Utah at Brigham Young University and is a good family friend.
Los Alamitos $960,000 • 350 yards :17.575 • si 94
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
KVN CORONA, ’15-c.
Executive Menace
Executive Looks
Sticky N Picky
146 SPEEDHORSE, July 2017
KVN Corona and jockey Ramon Sanchez win the $960,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 by a head
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos