Page 161 - July 2017

Four Corners Futurity
SEMINOLE SENATOR
by Michael Cusortelli
Seminole Senator, the second-fastest qualifier from the June 2 trials, broke his maiden in the 350-yard $83,713 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park on June 18.
Ridden by Felipe Garcia-Luna and aided by a reported 10-mph tail wind, Seminole Senator was second from the 4-hole and in the lead by a head
at the first call. He maintained that margin and defeated the field in :17.425, earning a 92 speed index. Justin Joiner prepped the bay gelding for owners Joe David Yates, Richard Young, Richard T. Sturdevant, and Terry Wootan.
Seminole Senator earned the $39,345 winner’s share of the purse to push his bankroll to $42,183.
The gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Wootan Racing of Llano, Texas, and he is the first stakes win- ner produced by his dam, the lightly raced Overeasy Annie. From six starters, Seminole Senator is her first stakes winner and top earner. The gelding made his debut at Sunland Park on March 24, running fifth in a 300-yard West Texas Futurity-G2 trial.
BF Diversion (Winners Version-BF Divine Dynasty) was 2nd under Cesar Gomez for owner Birrell Farms & trainer Wes Giles. Eduardo J. Lugo’s Mountain Holme (Gone To The Mountain-Quick Way Holme) ran third under Ruben Calderon for trainer Jimmy Guerra Jr. Followed by Osbaldo Blue Diamond (Osbaldo-Lady Chimes), Beyond 15 (Desirio- Featuring Senorita), FDD Can Jazz (FDD Dynasty- Jazzy Corona), Marissa (Corona Cartel-Tres Of Linda), Ramble It On (Ima Ramblin On-Make It Special), Big Daddys Lajolla (Big Daddy Cartel-Babydoll La Jolla) & A Diamond Mercedes (Dejon-A Classic Diamond).
The Four Corners Futurity has been a mainstay on the stakes schedule of San Juan Downs, and now SunRay Park, since 1984. Past winners include Champion Feature Mr Bojangles, who banked the winner’s share of a $120,000 purse six years ago.
Vals Fortune Stakes-RG2
HEZA LOUISIANA DASH
by Michael Compton
Sent away as the 3-5 favorite, veteran stakes per- former Heza Louisiana Dash justified his odds, promptly dominating four rivals for his fifth career stakes victory.
With jockey Gilbert Ortiz in the irons, Heza Louisiana Dash took command as they broke on top from the 1-post in the 400-yard dash and was never headed. He cruised through the lane, opening up
by as many as 2-lengths, and coasted to the wire for a 3/4-length score. He stopped the timer in :19.426 over the muddy track, earning a 102 speed index in the winning effort.
The $36,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Heza Louisiana Dash’s lifetime earnings
to $417,641 for owner T M Ranch. The Kenneth Roberts Sr. trainee improved his record to 11(5)- 6(6)-3(1) from 22 starts. The 5 year old’s richest victory came in the 2015 LQHBA Derby, and he also won the 2017 Open Me A Corona Stakes-RG2.
Heza Louisiana Dash was bred in Louisiana
by Jumonville Farms/Burnett Ranch out of 2-time winner Eyejesslovelouisiana. She is a 1/2-sister
to Grade 1 placed Dutcher and Eye On Corona. Eyejesslovelouisiana has produced 100% winners from 3 starters, including Grade 1 finalist Louisiana Fast Dash. East Hi-Point Aged Gelding Heza Louisiana Dash is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Roberts also saddled Jes A Fast Dasher (Heza Fast Dash-Jes A Game), who chased the winner across the finish, getting second by a head for owner Tony Doughtie. Noe Castaneda was aboard.
Ridden by Santiago Mendez, Jess A Saint (Jess Louisiana Blue-Laughing Saint TB) finished third for owner/trainer Miguel Rodriguez.
Cute Mic Jagger (Oak Tree Special-Shannons Fame) and Jethro Almitey (Heza Fast Dash- Dash In The Wind) completed the order of finish. Running Game Patriot was scratched.
Miss Polly Classic-G3
JESS BEIN THE HERO
by Michael Compton
With a name like Jess Bein the Hero, Juan Martinez Labastida’s four-year-old son of Valiant Hero may not have super powers, but the handsome black colt has proved one thing in seven lifetime starts: he’s a winner.
With a strong performance in the Miss Polly Classic Stakes-G3 at Delta Downs on June 24, Jess Bein the Hero became a graded stakes winner for the first time. Ridden by Santiago Mendez, Jess Bein the Hero raced in contention throughout the 400-yard test and defeated even-money favorite Politically Corrupt by a neck at the wire, stopping the timer in a lively :19.386 and earning a speed index of 103.
It was the fifth victory from seven lifetime starts for Jess Bein the Hero, who previously annexed this year’s Swift Stakes and Streakin La Jolla Stakes for trainer Miguel Rodriguez. The $30,000 winner’s share of the Miss Polly increased his earnings to $81,553.
Bred by Curtis Crenweige, Jess Bein The Hero is out of graded stakes placed winner Jess Braggin. She is a 100% money earning producer from 8 starters, including graded stakes placed and top money earner Braggin Bout My Zoom and stakes placed Braggin N Dashin. Jess Bein The Hero is her first stakes winner.
The gelding Politically Corrupt (Apollitical Jess-Adorable Deer), with Rodrigo Vallejo in the irons, finished second in a game effort, just missing for owner Double H Racing Investment LLC and trainer Jose Sanchez. John Hamilton guided Dwayne Saucier and Michael Taylor’s Brave Heart Won (Apollitical Jess-Fois Zookie Cookie) to a third place finish. Taylor is co-owner and trainer of the gelding.
Cobalt Creek (Walk Thru Fire-Checknbac), Tic Dale (The Louisiana Cartel-Hailies Dale), Senator Tamale (Louisiana Senator-Real Hot Tamale), Double Down (Valiant Hero-Fast Prize Doll) and String Bet (Tinys First Corona-Check the Account) completed the order of finish.
SunRay Park • $83,713 350 yards • :17.425 • si 92
Jess Louisiana Blue
Louisiana Senator
SEMINOLE SENATOR, ’15-g. Overeasy Annie
Corona Perfection Holland Ease
Annie Eye Over
Delta Downs • $60,000 400 yards • :19.426 • si 102
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
HEZA LOUISIANA DASH, ‘12-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Eyejesslovelouisiana
First Prize Dash
Louisiana Eye Opener
Delta Downs • $50,000 400 yards • :19.386 • si 103
First Down Dash
Corona Chick
JESS BEIN THE HERO, ‘13-c.
Mr Jess Perry
Valiant Hero
Jess Braggin
Love At First Glance
SPEEDHORSE, July 2017 159
RACING NEWS
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Coady Photography
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