Page 152 - November 2017

Refrigerator Handicap
COBALT CREEK
by Michael Compton
Cobalt Creek has been competitive in graded stakes company throughout his career, but on Oct. 7, the 5-year-old sorrel gelding joined the
ranks of stakes winners by capturing the $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap-G1 at Lone Star Park.
With Ricky Ramirez riding for trainer John Stinebaugh, Cobalt Creek overcame a bump at the start and rallied strongly in the lane to defeat early leader Wild Tycoon by a neck at the finish. Cobalt Creek covered the 440 yards in :21.593, earning a speed index of 93. “We had a little bit of a rough beginning, said Ramirez. “He broke decent, but got into a little bit of traffic, got bumped around. Once they opened up a lane for him, he came running.”
Owned by VWP Jr. Inc., Cobalt Creek improved his record to 27-7(1)-4(1)-5(4) and increased his bankroll to $258,303. Prior to notching his initial stakes win, Cobalt Creek had placed in 5 stakes races, including a 2nd in the 2017 Develop A Plan Stakes-G3 and 3rd in the 2015 Rainbow Derby-G1.
Bred in Missouri by Jim Streelman & Bill Dale, Cobalt Creek, a 1/2-brother to graded stakes-
placed Distant Fury, is out of 2-time stakes winner Checknbac. The mare, who won 7 times and earned $216,410, has produced 100% earners from 6 starters.
Runner-up Wild Tycoon (Tempting Dash-First Down Hemp) was 2nd under Raul Ramirez Jr. for trainer Carlos Saldivar & owner Rogelio Marquez. Race favorite Dutcher (Apollitical Jess-Louisiana Eye Opener) was 3rd under Rodrigo Vallejo for owners Jumonville Farms & Brian Ranch and trainer James Padgett II. Followed by Heza Bell Perry (Heza Fast Dash-De Bell Perry), Kraken Black (First Down Mr Jess-Lajollaslastthought), Kid
Can Dash (Down N Dash-Quickid Perry), He Is The Risingstar (Mr Jess Perry-Meddlin Mischief), Apollitical Wave (Apollitical Jess-Wave Running), EBW Catalyst (Mr Jess Perry-EBW Obsession) & KW Cowboy (Mighty Corona-Tres Dia Noche).
Alex Picov Memorial Futurity
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Danny Camp
Aperfect five for five race record is impressive indeed. That’s what Had To Be Ivory has accomplished so far. His latest win was the $95,548 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity at Ajax Downs on Oct. 9.
Fastest qualifier from the Sept. 18 trials, Had To Be Ivory lost ground after breaking third from the 7-gate. Regular rider Tony Phillips encouraged the bay gelding to a gritty second half of the race that showed them 3/4-length in front at the wire. That effort stopped the clock at :19.940 and earned a 101 speed index.
The $40,805 winner’s share pushed Had To Be Ivory’s lifetime earnings to $69,931. He now has a race record of 5-5(2)-0-0.
Connections include breeders/owners Carol & Jaime Robertson and trainer Bryn Robertson.
Had To Be Ivory is out of stakes winner Had To Be Fandango, winner of the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. Had To Be Ivory, her first starter, previously won his trial and the finals of the $20,617 John Deere Ajax Juvenile Challenge on July 19.
Second fastest qualifier AJ Chick In 15 (Apollitical Jess-PJ Chick In Black) finished second. She is owned by Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe. Ramiro Castillo was in the irons.
Fourth fastest qualifier Island Vodka (Triple Vodka-Pantherisland) finished third. Her team includes owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe. Scott Sterr was handling the reins.
Diane Dynamite (Foose-Strawfly Sting), Senator Woot (Louisiana Senator-Scootan Wootan), Silky Senator (Louisiana Senator-Denali Peak), Express Your Desire (Desirio-Midnight Express B), Miss Racy Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Miss Racy First Down) and Firing Red Jess (Mr Jess Tex-Easily Holland) completed the order of finish. Draggin Wagon was scratched.
Alex Picov Memorial Champ.
COUNTRY BOY 123
by Danny Camp
Country Boy 123 has won his last five out of six races, his latest in the $73,946 Alex Picov Memorial Championship at Ajax Downs on Oct. 9.
The bay gelding broke seventh from the 5-gate and steadily increased his position and momentum. Country Boy 123 used his late speed and driving finish to score the win, crossing the wire a neck in front and stopping the timer at :21.710 to earn a 102 speed index.
The $28,560 winner’s share pushed the geld- ing’s cumulative lifetime earnings to $163,123. He now has a race record of 11(5)-3(1)-0 from 18 outs. Country Boy 123 is the winner of four other stakes events, including the 2016 Ajax Derby Challenge and Picov Derby and the 2017 Picov Maturity and All Canadian Classic Maturity. The gelding also fin- ished second in the Ajax Championship Challenge and was fourth in the AQHA Derby Challenge Championship-G3.
Connections for the gelding include owner Ruth F. Barbour and trainer Bryn Robertson. Regular rider Cory Spataro was in the saddle.
Bred in Michigan by Carolyn Bay out of 2008 Texas Distaff Challenge-G3 winner Very Dashin 123. Country Boy 123 is her top earner and first stakes winner. The mare has produced 100% win- ners from four starters.
Albertt (Mr Jess Tex-Squincheyes) finished second under Cassandra Jeschke. The gray gelding is owned/ trained by Scott Reid. Valiant Stoli Time (Valiant Hero-Its Stoli Time) finished third under Ed Walton for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe.
Hickerson, (Country Chicks Man-Easily Holland), Fiesty Icon (Sugarman Perry-Fiesty Spirit), One Famous Glass (One Famous Eagle-Quick Glass), Steel Patriot (Game Patriot-Miss Jess Perry) & Alakazaam (Mezoomn-Corona Deluxe) com- pleted the order of finish.
Lone Star Park • $75,000 440 yards • :21.593 • si 93
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Check Him Out Running Bac
Walk Thru Fire
COBALT CREEK, ’12, g. Checknbac
Ajax Downs • $95,548 400 yards • :19.940 • si 101
Ivory James HAD TO BE IVORY, ’15-g.
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Ajax Downs • $73,946 440 yards • :21.710 • si 102
Chicks Beduino
Country Chicks Man
COUNTRY BOY 123, ’13-g. Very Dashin 123
Country Zevi Dash Thru Traffic Very Striking
150 SPEEDHORSE, November 2017
RACING NEWS
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