Page 154 - July 2017

Firecracker Futurity-G2
SIXES FLASH
by John Moorehouse
Score one for the underdog.
After taking the 10th qualifying spot from the June 10 trials for the Firecracker Futurity-G2, Sixes Flash streaked to victory in the $274,325 stakes event, held on July 1 at Delta Downs.
Sixes Flash ended up claiming the bump spot in the Firecracker Futurity, finishing his trial in :17.825 to snag the 10th and final spot in the futurity lineup.
In his trial heat, he recovered after stum- bling at the start for a third place finish. Still, his qualifying performance, combined with
an 0-5 record in previous competition, made Sixes Flash a longshot at odds of almost 14-1 at post time.
None of that mattered when the gates opened, however. Drawing the 2nd post position, the Erasmo Hernandez trainee made a good break and established himself as a strong second-place runner behind Capital Ice. Those two horses remained first and second going into the stretch, but Sixes Flash proved best during the final yards, using a strong late kick to beat his rival to the finish line by a neck margin.
Rolando Cabrera rode Sixes Flash to the win, completing the 350-yard trip in :17.622, a significant improvement over his
performance in the trials. Rancho Herradura banked a $137,162 payday for
the victory, exponentially increasing his bankroll to a new total of $147,405. Sixes Flash was purchased for $6,500 at the 2016 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, held in Oklahoma City.
The colt, who is owned
by Rancho Herradura LLC,
picked a fine time to break
his maiden. Although having no wins under his belt in his prior five outs, Sixes Flash did place third in the Old South Futurity, held in May at Delta Downs.
Jerry Windham bred Sixes Flash and home- bred the colt’s dam, 2-time winner Viborita. The mare has produced 100% earners from two starters thus far among three total off- spring. Sixes Flash is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Trial winner and second place qualifier Emnent (Dominyun-Bodacious Dream) made a strong rally late to finish in second place for owner Bobby Cox. The Kenneth Roberts, Sr. trainee had jockey Donald Watson in the irons. Emnent scored a fourth
place finish in the May
13 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs after finishing second in his trial heat for that race.
Trial winner and fifth place qualifier Capital Ice (Ivory James-Fantastic Six) faded late, but still hit the board in third place for owner Jody Garcia and trainer Jose Sanchez, who saddled the winner in the
Firecracker Derby held the previous day. Regular rider Jose Martinez drew the riding assignment. The gelding finished fourth in the April 29th Sam Houston Futurity-G2. With that race he won his trial heat after win- ning the shake in the first day of trials for the fifth place spot for day one.
Desire Astoli (Desirio-Stoli Victory) finished fourth and was followed by Easy Gold Pop (Gol-Scoops Victory Pop), Capitan Jimbob (Desirio-War Silks), who was DQ’d from fourth to sixth for interference, SR Shambles (Desirio-Parisz), Dont Temp Me (Tempting Dash-Fast Prize Rose), First Girl Ever (Favorite Cartel-Snow Pack) and Flash Version (First Moonflash-Dye Version).
Delta Downs $274,325 • 350 yards :17.622 • si 91
Streakin Six
Streakin Sixes
Indigo Illusion
SIXES FLASH, ‘15-c.
Shazoom
Viborita
Jess An Illusion
152 SPEEDHORSE, July 2017
Sixes Flash & Rolando Cabrera win the $274,325 Firecracker Futurity-G2
RACING NEWS
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography