Page 85 - 2 November 2012

ontario Jackpot Futurity
HuRRI CARtel
by Tracy Gantz
Hurri Cartel first impressed Oklahoma trainer Clinton Crawford at the 2011 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
“He was a good, typy-looking little colt,” said Crawford. “He didn’t have a lot of black type, but he was well made. He had a good move to him, and I just kind of liked him.”
When the bidding stalled at $4,000, Crawford jumped in and got him for $4,700, signing the ticket in the name of his client, Nadia Marcoux. Hurri Cartel turned out to be a terrific bargain, as he most recently won the $170,355 Ontario Jackpot Futurity at Fort Erie.
Crawford’s first step was to geld the colt, who has done just about everything right in his training.
“He’s a real good-natured
horse and has a perfect disposition,” said the trainer. “He sets his feet perfectly in the gate and has done it right since day one. He’s pretty much a natural.”
Hurri Cartel debuted at Remington Park, where he won a $20,000 maiden claiming race and then a $25,000 claimer.
“We didn’t have him paid into anything at Remington,” said Crawford, “and we thought it would be nice to start with a
couple of claiming races. We made
him work himself to the top.”
Hurri Cartel did exactly that. At Fair Meadows, he defeated two other Crawford runners, Send A Candy Guy and Hiclass Vodka,
to win the Fair Meadows Juvenile. Hurri Cartel won his trial for the Speedhorse Futurity-G2, but the track came up muddy for the final. He finished fifth, while Hiclass Vodka won the race.
“Josh Romero was riding him,” said Crawford. “He said he didn’t really slip, but it was pure slop and he acted like he didn’t like it. Josh said he couldn’t ever get him going.”
Marcoux is from Canada, and Crawford has succeeded in the past few years by taking a string to Fort Erie in the fall. It seemed only logical to try Hurri Cartel in the Ontario Jackpot Futurity.
Tony Bennett, who rode Hurri Cartel at Remington, was back aboard, and the two popped out of the gate on top from post five. First Down The Track stayed closest, trading the lead with Crawford’s gelding. But Hurri Cartel put the filly away and pulled out to win by a length in :17.660.
“I started going to Canada in 2008,” said Crawford.
“I’m not saying it’s easier up there—I’ve taken several and gotten beat. But they don’t have a whole lot of horses, and at this time of year they are getting tired. If you take fresh horses, you can do well.”
It takes Crawford about 20 hours to haul horses to Fort Erie from his Oklahoma base, but it has certainly been worth it. Three days before the Jackpot Futurity, he won
the CanAm Nations Cup Stakes with Carl Pevehouse’s I See Candy Paint.
Crawford may try to get an invitation for Hurri Cartel to the Southwest Juvenile Championship-G1 at Zia Park.
“I don’t know if they’ll let him in, but I’ll throw his name into the hat,” Crawford said.
The trainer won the Southwest Juvenile last year with Pevehouse’s Send Me A Candy Tree.
It would be even more special if he could win it this year with a horse he co-owns.
Tammy Johnson and Jack Manning bred Hurri Cartel in Texas from unraced A Classic Serenade. The mare’s five other starters include two winners. Classic Guitar, the second dam, won the Northwest Distaff Challenge and Portland Meadows Fall Derby. Classic Guitar is a half-sister to stakes winner Shining Asset.
Richard Wincikaby’s First Down The Track (Corona Cartel-First Down Runner) held onto second by a head with Brian Bell aboard. Winner of the Princess Futurity at Ajax Downs, the filly, trained by Don Reid, also ran second in the All Canadian Futurity.
Reid also trains third-place Jesskissmytexas (Mr Jess Tex-Strawfly Fortune), piloted by Helen Vanek. Donald Ito bred and owns the colt, who ran third in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity earlier this year.
Completing the field were McM Tres Episode (Tres Seis-Sheza First Episode), Sugar Bar (Sugarman Perry-Hannas Rare Bar), Stolin Ivory (Ivory James-A Sixes Cowgirl), Eye Zoom (Eye Dash-Azooma), Corderoy Road (Rock Solid Jess-Reckless Wish), Poutn With Speed (Its All About Speed-Poutnlori), and Heza Wylie Coyote (Star Fire Dash-Sheza Biker Chick). CR Northern Shake Em, One Famous Glass, Straitfromtheghetto, and Wash And Press were scratched.
Fort Erie $170,355 • 350 yards :17.660 • si 101
Corona Cartel
Teller Cartel
Jet Along Jamie
HURRI CARTEL, ’10-g.
Chicks Beduino
A Classic Serenade
Classic Guitar
Hurri Cartel wins the $170,355 Ontario Jackpot Futurity by a length under Tony Bennett at Fort Erie Racetrack.
SPEEDHORSE, November 2, 2012 83
racing news
Michael Burns Photography