Page 156 - July 2017

Vessels Maturity-G1
BH LISAS BOY
by Tracy Gantz
When BH Lisas Boy didn’t win a berth to the 2016 Champion of Champions-G1, owner/breeder Bill Hoburg was mightily disappointed. BH Lisas Boy has more than overcome that disappointment this year, how- ever. First, he qualified for the rich December race by winning the Los Alamitos Winter Championship-G1, and then
he captured the July 2 Vessels Maturity-G1, which also comes with a berth to the race.
“I was leaning on the rail by the paddock about six or seven years ago watching the horses get saddled for the Champion of Champions,” said Hoburg. “What I would have given to have a horse like that someday. I just never thought I would have a horse as nice as those being saddled that evening.”
Hoburg also trains BH Lisas Boy, who has won seven
Firecracker Derby
MEGA HERO
by John Moorehouse
Delta Downs has been very good to Mega Hero so far this year. The sophomore gelding maintained his perfect record in 2017,
rallying late to win the $172,580 Firecracker Derby at the track on June 30.
After covering the 400 yards in :19.608 in the June 9 trials, fastest qualifier Mega Hero was almost as fast in the stakes final, complet- ing his trip in :19.696 to post a 95 speed index. Trained by Jose Sanchez,
Mega Hero broke from the
9-gate and ran in the mid-
pack at the first call. Moving
up to third place entering the
stretch, Manuel Gutierrez
urged Mega Hero to a
driving finish. The gelding
reached the finish line first
by a 1/2-length margin.
Mega Hero is 4(2)-0-0 thus far in his three year old campaign, with all four victo- ries coming at Delta. His win
stakes throughout his career at four different racetracks in four states.
The fastest qualifier for the Vessels Maturity June 11 trials, BH Lisas Boy went off as the heavy 3-10 favorite. Breaking from the outside post with Cesar DeAlba aboard, BH Lisas Boy battled with The Charm Of
Corona and Jess Ravin, wresting away the victory by a nose in :19.537 for 400 yards.
“He’s running on heart—he needs more distance,” said DeAlba. “He was heads up with every- body. At the 350 mark, I
felt him starting to kick in a little more and we got there.”
Hoburg bred BH Lisas Boy from winner Apollo Snowbound. Each of the mare’s five starters has won. Those starters include
N.W. Hi-Point Distance Horse/stakes winner Yin Your Eyes and stakes-placed BH Country Chrome. 2-time New Track Record setter BH Lisas Boy is her top earner with $406,698. Reliance Ranches LLC’s homebred The Charm Of Corona (Corona Cartel-Charm Dance), a longshot at 29-1, finished second. Cody Jensen rode for trainer Mike Robbins. Jess Ravin (Corona Cartel-Jessica Ravin) ran third under Ramon Sanchez. Valentin Zamudio trains the filly for owner EG High Desert Farms.
Rounding out the field were Freakin Runaway (Ocean Runaway-Streakin Freakin), Time For Jess (Apollitical Jess-Coronation Time), Rip Tide (Corona Cartel-Little Surfer), Stel Easy (Stel Corona-Fames Easy), Flash N Bling (First Down Dash-Suzy Cartel), Zoomin For Spuds (Zoomin For Bux-A Perfect Cocktail) & Dr Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Eye For Corona).
streak includes the Old South Derby in May, which also ushered the gelding into black type.
“This horse has been improving a lot, every race,” Sanchez told Stallionesearch.com in a video interview following the race. “The main thing is, he’s just sound. I think he’s getting better and better. The older he gets, the better he gets.”
Double H Racing Investment LLC, owns
and owns his dam, 2-time winner Separatist In View. She has foaled five starters among seven total offspring. The other stakes winner in the brood is Bedouin In View.
Graceful Eagle (One Famous Eagle- Duplicate Check) took second place under Damian Martinez. Florentino Leon owns the filly and Eusevio Huitron trains her. One Sweet Picky (One Sweet Jess-Sticky N Picky) finished third under Luciano Duenez for owner Ricardo Barrera and trainer Rodolfo Sanchez.
Jess A TR (TR Dasher-Love Ya Miss
Jess), Katharsis (American Runaway-All About Ease), Moral Compass (Separatist-Our Genuine Delight), Ardor (Ivory James-First Fervor), Tres Seis Sign (Tres Seis-Sign Anna First), TD Famous Jes (One Famous Eagle-Jes A Game) and Carmel Diamond (Dictorial- Sixes Diamond) completed the field.
Mega Hero, who
brought home an $86,290 pay- day that pushed his earnings
to $132,385. The vast majority of that bankroll has been accu- mulated this year during his current 4-race win streak.
Mega Hero could be in line for another big payday. Sanchez told Stallionesearch he would be saving the geld- ing for the Dash For Cash Derby to be held later this year at Lone Star Race Park.
Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, LLC, bred Mega Hero
154 SPEEDHORSE, July 2017
Los Alamitos $162,600 • 400 yards :19.537 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
Mighty Invictus
Mighty B Doll
BH LISAS BOY, ’12-g.
Snowbound TB
Apollo Snowbound
Stars Lady Bug
Delta Downs $172,580 • 400 yards :19.696 • si 95
Game Patriot
Jet Black Patriot
First Down Hemp
MEGA HERO, ‘14-g.
Separatist
Separatist In View
Classic Guitar
RACING NEWS
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography Los Alamitos