Page 149 - July 2017

“He’s like part of our family,” said Nellesen. “We got to meet him in college. We name our horses after different things, and we named him KVN Corona when he was just a little foal.”
Nellesen actually offered KVN Corona at the 2016 Ruidoso Select Sale through the consignment of Lazy E Ranch.
But, he decided to keep the colt and bid on him at $140,000.
“We bring all of our horses to the sales to sell,” said Nellesen. “I really liked this horse for a long time. I’ve had other things that we could do with him if racing didn’t work. I set a limit. I had one bid left in me, and luckily we got him.”
Mike Joiner broke KVN Corona in New Mexico before Jones took over as his trainer at the track.
“This colt is about as professional as you can get for a colt,” said Jones. “He does every- thing right. He’s really well mannered. He gets in the gate, he stands good, and he runs straight. I give credit to the Joiners. He was sent to me and he’s just a pro.”
Paul Jones and Ramon Sanchez were win- ning their third Ed Burke Million together. Previously, they won the race in 2008 with Foose, that year’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, and in 2011 with Separate Fire, that year’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.
Nellesen bred KVN Corona out of Executive Looks, who won the 2008 Manor Downs Futurity-G1, the 2009 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Stakes-RG3 at Lone Star Park, and the 2009 La Villita Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.
Executive Looks also placed in a slew
of stakes events in her race career, earning $277,891. Named the 2009 Texas Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Filly, the mare has produced 100% money earners that include nine winners from 14 starters.
The top earner in the brood is Big Lew ($622,367), also bred by McColee and winner of the 2016 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1. Big Lew is a full brother to KVN Corona.
Another foal out of Executive Looks, Executive Perry, scored a second place finish in the 2016 Mexico Futurity.
Jaime Gomez bred and trains second-place J Fire Up (Kiddy Up-This Boogie Fires), and he owns the filly with Dan and Tiara Darling’s Darling Farms and Ernesto Solis. Ridden by Jose Nicasio, J Fire Up qualified the 10th fast- est in winning her trial after finishing second in a maiden race.
Chance To Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Elans Last) finished third after two previous victo- ries, including his Ed Burke Million Futurity trial and a maiden race at Los Alamitos. Cody Jensen is the gelding’s regular rider and he was aboard for the Ed Burke Million Futurity finals
Lance Robinson and KVN Corona owner Keith Nellesen
for trainer Christopher O’Dell and owner Abigail Kawananakoa.
Completing the field were Apollitical Stone (Apollitical Jess-La Fantacia Sone), Platki (Corona Cartel-Tender Flyer), SC Vapor Trail (Corona Cartel-Spit Curl Diva),
Sumokinintheboysroom (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Sumokin), Remember To Dash (First Down Dash-Remember Me Rose), Indescribaly Blue (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Queens R Blue), and Jess My Kiss (One Sweet Jess-Dreaming Of Kisses).
Ramon Sanchez returns with KVN Corona after their Ed Burke Million Futurity victory
SPEEDHORSE, July 2017 147
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