Page 128 - May 2017

Sam Houston Futurity-G2
THIS IS AN EAGLE
by Michael Cusortelli
This Is An Eagle, a colt campaigned by Mary G. Lynne Thompson of Navasota, Texas, was the prompt 6-5 favorite in the $483,600 Sam Houston Futurity-G2 on April 29.
Racing against a reported 12 mph head wind, This Is An Eagle broke well from the 6-gate and took the lead at first call. With a driving finish This Is An Eagle crossed the wire 1/2-length in front of rival JA Am I Blue.
This Is An Eagle and rider Francisco Calderon stopped the timer in :16.542, earning a career best 103 speed index. Leon Bard trains the colt.
This Is An Eagle was acquired by Thompson for $100,000 at last year’s Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale in San Antonio.
The colt was bred by three-time leading owner at Sam Houston Race Park Pete Scarmardo,
who was also represented at the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 final by This Is A Deal Too, a half brother to This Is An Eagle.
“I watched this baby grow up in Pete’s pas- ture,” said Bard of This Is An Eagle. The trainer was winning the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 for the first time.
“I went by at least once a month and looked at him and This Is A Deal Too and some of the other colts he had,” Bard continued. “Of all the colts he had, we felt these were the best two.
“We followed them when they went to Granada Farms for sale-prepping,” Bard added. “It’s hard to separate them. They are both very good colts. This Is A Deal Too got in trouble tonight, but he’ll be back.”
The third-fastest overall qualifier from two nights of trials held on April 7-8, This Is An Eagle made his debut with a dominating 3-length win as the 13-10 favorite on April 8, the second day of the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 trials.
This Is An Eagle is out of
winner Lady Lilia. The mare
has produced 100% money
earners from four starters,
including graded stakes placed
winner This Is A Deal, who
placed second in the 2015
running of the Sam Houston
Futurity-G2 and was a finalist in that season’s Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star Park. This Is An Eagle is Lady Lilia’s first stakes winner as well as her top earner.
This Is An Eagle’s second dam, Grade 1 win- ner Lady Tenaya, has produced 18 winners from
26 starters, including three stakes winners, all of whom are half-brothers to Lady Lilia, including Desirio, winner of the 2004 All American Juvenile Invitational-RG3 at Ruidoso Downs and the inau- gural running of the 2006 Zia Park Championship, and 2010 Hobbs America Derby-G2 winner Corona For The Lady.
Winning both of his lifetime starts to date, This Is An Eagle earned $193,440 from his vic- tory in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 to push his cumulative bankroll to $195,240.
Bard said that the colt would be pointed toward the 400-yard Rainbow Futurity-G1 trials on July 7-8 as well as to the 440- yard All American Futurity-G1 trials on August 18-19, both at Ruidoso Downs.
“If everything goes well, he’ll come back here to Texas for the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 trials (at Lone Star Park in the fall),” Bard added.
JA Am I Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Teki Cetan) finished 2nd for owner Irma Z. Vargas. The sorrel colt, who won his trial
heat to qualify overall ninth to the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 finals, was ridden by Jesse Levario for trainer Rolando Almanza.
Lena Cartel (Carters Cartel-Miss Lena Perry) finished in third place for owners David and Meg Brown. Rodrigo Vallejo rode the Texas-bred filly for trainer Judd Kearl. Lena Cartel won her trial heat to qualify tenth overall the the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 finals.
Capital Ice (Ivory James-Fantastic Six), who won a shake to qualify, ran 4th and was followed by fastest qualifier Kas Tempting (Tempting Dash-Beaukas), Tempting Goinbye (Tempting Dash-Goinbye), LJ Fastest Time (The Louisiana Cartel-Risen Eagle) & This Is A Deal Too (Dealagame-Lady Lilia). Hesa Icon scratched and Nocturnes scratched after flip- ping in the gate prior to the start.
Sam Houston Race Park $483,600 • 330 yards :16.542 • si 103
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
THIS IS AN EAGLE, ‘15-c.
First Down Dash
Lady Lilia
Lady Tenaya
126 SPEEDHORSE, May 2017
This Is An Eagle (#7) and jockey Francisco Calderon win the $483,600 Sam Houston Futurity by 1/2-length.
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Coady Photography