Page 56 - February 2017

VALENTINO MYSTERY si 101, $233,719
Mexican Champion
Breeder/Owner: Alejandro Arenas Badillo Trainer: Jacobo Dominguez Tellez Jockey: Alberto Deron Zamudio
2016 Record: 8-5(2)-1-1, $233,719, Subasta Selecta F.-RG3, Garanones F.-RG3
Horses participating in Mexico’s Garañones Futurity-RG3 have to go up against similar numbers to the United States’ biggest futurities. In 2016, 200 horses filled the 24 trials, which made Valentino Mystery’s win in the final even more impressive.
Then he had to do it again for the Subasta Selecta Futurity -RG3, a race with 166 vying in the trials. Again, Valentino Mystery emerged victorious, making the gelding a worthy Mexican Champion.
Alejandro Arenas Badillo bred Valentino Mystery in Mexico from the Brimmerton mare Valentina High, herself a Mexican-bred. The bottom line descends from Texas roots, with Valentine High, the second dam, bred in that state. Valentino Mystery is by Mr Queens Mystery, a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of $599,381 who was bred in Oklahoma.
Badillo offered Valentino Mystery in the 2015 Subasta Selecta Sale, but bought him back for 150,000 pesos (about $8,865).
During his championship season, Valentino Mystery also had to prove himself on an off track, which he encountered in the trials for the Garañones Futurity. In the final, Valentino Mystery stayed away from the traffic trouble others encountered and battled the filly Enganada By Rabbits, defeating her by a neck.
“I personally had little hope of winning, given the times recorded by the other rivals,” said Badillo. “But the horse did his thing, and that’s a double satisfaction because he was bred at my ranch, where he is trained by Jacobo Dominguez Tellez, who has been a part of our team for many years.”
Valentino Mystery had to earn his second major futurity on an off track as well. He successfully held off Soliat to capture the Subasta Selecta Futurity.
A jubilant Badillo noted that he had been nervous about the outcome.
“But, we did it and the horse showed today that he can deal with big commitments because all finalists are first league,” the owner/breeder said. “Valentino has a lot of heart and is backed by an entire team.”
Valentino Mystery became the second horse to win both futurities. Previously, only the filly Speed First had accomplished the feat, in 2004.
Shazoom
Mr Queens Mystery
First Place Queen
Takin On The Cash
Keep On Shining
First Down Dash
Illusive Princess
Dash For Cash Take You On
Keep On Turning Moonsashinnin TB Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Illusivo
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Easy Jet
Azuree
Mr Big Wheel Itchy Lady Moonsplash Shedoodit Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Beduino TB Jenny Diver Kiptydoo TB Plos
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug
Windy Ryon
Rona Bar
Duck Dance TB
Here Comes My Baby Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Mito Paint
Crafty Yankee Indian Hemp Serry
Easy Jet
Well Equept
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck Lena’s Bar TB Azure Te TB Minette
Easy Jet
Miss Top Liz Ichibon
Miss Lady Jo 3 Boldnesian Tossed
Dancing Coins Long Last Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go
To Market
Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat
Go Man Go
Suki Tadre Anyoldtime
Irish Kip Vikingson Passum Time
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose
Go Man Go Silent Light Three Bargains Sand Juana Water Prince Classic Rhythm Third Martini TB Shining Saint Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go
To Market
Hide And Seek Mito
Herb’s Miss Crafty Actor Picks Girl Nasrullah
Sabzy
Spy Song
Santa Roseanna Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar
Good Bird TB Silver Creek
Kipty Kate VALENTINO MYSTERY, ’14, G.
Brimmerton
Valentina High
First Down Dash
Fitting Celebration
Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Ronas Ryon Dream Duck Dash For Cash Yankee Doll TB Hempen TB Purely Simple
On A High Valentine High
Pure Hemp
54 SPEEDHORSE, February 2017
Garanones Futurity-RG3
Miguel A. Espinoza / Hipodromo de las Americas