Page 153 - July 2017

Heritage Place Derby-G2
HOLD AIR HOSTAGE
by Tracy Gantz
Dan and Tiara Darling, who race in the name of Darling Farms, have only been buying and racing horses for four years and
already have had incredible success.
They raced and stand One Fabulous Eagle,
who earned $664,547 on the racetrack, and their Hold Air Hostage scored in the June 3 Heritage Place Derby-G2 at Remington Park.
“My father-in-law, Jim Leslie, used to be a trainer,” said Dan. “I sent him to Ruidoso, and he picked out One Fabulous Eagle. We didn’t get him—they bought him back—but then I bought him later.”
At the 2015 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, Dan Darling purchased Hold Air Hostage as a short yearling for $12,700.
“I just saw him at the sale and liked him,” said Dan.
In the Heritage Place Derby, Hold Air Hostage took a measure of revenge against Apollitical Scout, who had defeated Hold Air Hostage in their May 14 trial.
In their heat, Hold Air Hostage and Apollitical Scout battled for the lead through- out the 400 yards. They alternated on the front end, with the filly edging Hold Air Hostage by a neck at the wire.
Rodrigo Vallejo rode Hold Air Hostage in the trial and in the final piloted Duponte, last year’s Heritage Place Futurity-G1 winner.
Rider Ricky Ramirez had won an April 27 allowance race on Hold Air Hostage and was back aboard the gelding for the Heritage Place Derby finals.
This time, Hold Air Hostage, who drew the rail, didn’t let the filly head him. They battled again, but the gelding remained in front. Coming to the wire, he drew off to win by 1 3/4-lengths in :19.385.
“Seems like he likes that post one, he settles in really good,” said Ramirez. “The longer we’re in there, the better he stands.
“I’m very excited to win this race” the jockey continued. “He broke really hard—the ground kind of broke from under him because he broke so hard. But he broke beautiful, and the horse just ran a super performance.”
Judd Kearl took over the training of Hold Air Hostage this year for the Darlings.
“The horse was training super,” said the trainer. “The way the horse got away, we knew he liked running down the racetrack.”
Dan Darling explained that Hold Air Hostage came out of last year’s Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Futurity with chips.
“We knew he was a good horse,” said Dan, who pointed out how impressive Hold Air Hostage was in breaking his maiden by 1 3/4-lengths at Will Rogers Downs last year.
“He set the fastest time for the Mystery, and then he came back and just didn’t run. I X-rayed him and found the chips. We had the chips fixed, and he’s back to his old self now.”
Dan told Kearl that Hold Air Hostage would need to earn his way into other rich races this year.
Dan recalled that Kearl told Tiara, “Don’t worry—we’re going to win it.” That encour- aged Dan to bet even more on his horse.
Hold Air Hostage earned $124,782 for the Heritage Place Derby victory. His earnings now total $154,836 and his record is 7-4(1)-1-1.
Luis Miguel Albores Gleason bred Hold Air Hostage in Oklahoma from Fols Zookie Cookie, a three-time stakes winner. The mare has produced 10 winners from 12 starters, including Grade 1 winner Zookie Street, Grade 3 winner Thru Rebas Eyes, and
graded stakes-placed Brave Heart Won.
Apollitical Scout (Apollitical Jess-Swingin Cartel) finished second for owners Karen and Preston Cloud. Clinton Crawford trains the filly, who was ridden by Omar Reyes. Apollitical Scout earlier this season won the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby-RG3.
Jimmy Brooks rode fastest qualifier Kiss My Heineken (Carters Cartel-Fredaville) to third for trainer Eddie D. Willis and own- ers Jeff Carter and Justin Massey. Kiss My Heineken has won two races and has finished in the top three in eight of his 10 races.
In fourth was Duponte (American Runaway-Havanah Goodtime), followed
by Capshaw Capo (Capo De Capi-Zoom A Strider), Rock About It (Rock Solid Jess-Not Sable Shes Rose), In Class (Jess James Jr-Shez Classy Now), Eyema Texas Cowboy (Capo De Capi-Eyema Texas Lady), Aberdonian (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Strawfly Sting), and Spit Prize Corona (Spit Curl Jess-Fast Prize Corona).
Remington Park $297,100 • 400 yards :19.385 • si 101
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
HOLD AIR HOSTAGE, ’14-g.
Fols Gold
Fols Zookie Cookie
Zookie Cookie
Hold Air Hostage & Ricky Ramirez score the victory in the $297,100 Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby
SPEEDHORSE, July 2017 151
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography