Page 115 - 18 January 2013

Hialeah Park Derby
FEATURE MY NEWS
by Michael Compton
Feature My News flashed plenty of promise as a colt early in his career for owner Alicia Hill Smith. The son of Feature Mr Jess is
much more focused on running these days, however, after being gelded last summer. Since then, Feature My News has turned into a win machine for Smith, most recently notching his second derby score by winning the $192,520 Hialeah Park Derby on Dec. 30.
Winless as a juvenile in 2011, Feature My News finished third in the South Florida Derby at Hialeah in February of 2012 but failed to cross the wire first in seven starts as a colt with trainers Kenny Roberts and Matt Frazier.
“I’ve had the horse since he was 4 months old,” said Smith. “He was always a little stud- dish, but not bad. Overall, he was very well behaved. Kenny told me after a disappointing race at Delta Downs that we should geld him because he thought he was uncomfortable.
“Kenny expected him to get to running after the procedure,” she added. “Kenny was right. ‘News’ finished second in his first race after we cut him and he has been unbeat- able since. We always knew he could run. I’m thankful we found the answer.”
Following the second-place finish in a 400- yard maiden dash at Fair Grounds in August, Feature My News won the QHRA Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park by 1 1⁄4 lengths, setting a new track record for 400 yards (:19.58) in the process. A maiden no longer, Feature My News became the first stakes winner for Smith,
who has been in involved in racing American Quarter Horses for three years.
“This horse is so special to me,” said Smith of her first stakes winner.
Smith was quietly optimistic heading into the Hialeah Park Derby as Feature My News was the fastest qualifier, closing like a freight train to win his trial on Dec. 15. He had to employ similar tactics in the Derby. Racing in fifth following the break, Feature My News— as is his style—spotted the field position away from the gate. With encouragement from rider Shanley Jackson, Feature My News gathered himself through the lane and collared paceset- ter Sstrickortreat approaching the wire to win in a head bob on the line. Feature My News covered the 440 yards in :21.771.
“It was a great win,” said Smith, who watched the race from home in Georgia while on the phone with Roberts, who sent the horse to Frazier’s barn at Hialeah. “He’s never really been a good gate horse. It takes him a
little while to get going, but when he does, it’s something to watch.”
Smith resides with her 10 broodmares on 160 acres in Rebecca, Georgia, about two hours north of the Florida-Georgia border. The latest addition to the broodmare band
is Goodnews Montanna, the dam of Feature My News. Like Feature My News, Goodnews Montanna was bred in Florida
by W. W. McKibbin of Ocala. A two-time winner during her racing career, the mare has also produced graded stakes-placed Goodnews Gran.
“The week before the Hialeah win, Mr. McKibbin called me and asked if I was interested in buying the mare and her filly (now a yearling) by Corona Cocktail,” Smith said. “He had offered before, but it just didn’t feel right then. This time it did.”
Smith’s farm features a five-eighths mile training track which she utilizes to put her youngsters through their early paces.
“I like a well behaved horse,” said Smith, who has ridden and galloped horses for trainers and is active in barrel racing. “I remember one morning I took ‘News’ out for a routine gallop over the track and he literally ran off with me he was feeling so good. I immediately called Kenny and said this horse is feeling so good,
he’s so happy, it’s time to ship him to you. “He went like a million bucks in his first track work for Kenny at Louisiana Downs,”
she added. “I was proud of ‘News.’ He had his head tucked and just did everything right. I think Kenny was impressed. I give a lot of credit to Kenny for the success of this horse.”
Sstrickortreat turned in a strong effort but settled for second under
jockey Freddie Martinez. Owned by Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC, Sstrickortreat (Zoomin For Bux-Treat Her Lika Lady) is conditioned by Brandon Muniz.
Sizzling Perry finished third with Raul Gutierrez in the irons for trainer Alfredo Gomez. Owned by Wade Helton, Sizzling Perry (Mr Jess Perry-Sizzling Lola) broke his maiden in his Hialeah Derby trial.
Country Boy Deluxe (Country Chicks Man-Corona Deluxe), TF First Pick (Dash To First Place-Pick Your Passion), This Panther Purrs (Panther Mountain-Nora Jane La Jolla), Logans Dash (Toast To Dash-Logans Game), Mr Sonic Boom (Easy Winning Jet-Ms Baseline), Wave Carvers Cartel (Wave Carver- Cash Cartel),and Texasindependencegal (Mr Ottyes-Lovely Legs) completed the order of finish in the Hialeah Park Derby.
Hialeah Park

Mr Jess Perry
Feature Mr Jess
Brenda Feature
FEATURE MY NEWS, ’09-c.
Dash Of Romance
Goodnews Montanna
Goodnews Ashley
Feature My News nosed out Sstrickortreat to win the $192,250 Hialeah Park Derby.
SPEEDHORSE, January 18, 2013 113
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography