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perfect in two outings and the $134,389 win- ner’s share increased the sorrel gelding’s bankroll to $139.729. KJ Little Duce Coup was a domi- nating winner of his March 11 trial, winning by 1 3/4-lengths in that front-running victory.
“He showed me that he is going to like more distance,” related John Lee. “It surprised me that he has done so well at 300 yards.
The horse is going to want more distance. He surprised us in the trials. We didn’t think he was ready. We just wanted to get him an out and teach him something. We were surprised when he ran so big in the trial race. And then after that, we weren’t surprised in the finals. He showed us what he could do in the trials.”
As far as finishing first and third in the
race, John said, “It was nice. KJ Flying Cowgirl would have won the race if she hadn’t stumbled 100 yards from the finish line. I don’t think they
would have caught her if she didn’t stumble. That cost her a 1/2-length. I think we would have run one-two. She learned something, too.
“When you raise them and see them every day of their lives, it’s about all the work you put into it. We put a lot of work into the babies, and to get a reward out of the work is pretty cool. It makes you want to go home and do even more.”
A full brother to stakes winner KJ Frankie B, KJ Little Duce Coup is out of Xquizit, a 1/2-sister to stakes winner and track record- setter Jesstifiable. Xquizit was a 2-time winner during her career and qualified to the 2012 West Texas Futurity-G1 after winning her trial.
Runner-up Lets Leave (Favorite Cartel-Time To Leave), with jockey Francisco Calderon in the irons, just missed in a strong effort and had to settle for second for owners Barron Racing LLC and Empire Racing and trainer Eric Valenzuela.
A convincing winner of his trial heat, Lets Leave was bred in California by Edward Allred. The sorrel colt, who is out of a stakes-winning mare, was sold to his current owners for $122,000 at last year’s Los Alamitos Equine Sale.
KJ Flying Cowgirl (Flying Cowboy 123-KJ Hotflash) closed ground late to finish third, a neck behind the runner-up. Ridden by Sergio Dominguez, the sorrel Arizona-bred filly shares the same connections as the winner, and she won her trial heat by a head.
Rayanare (Apollitical Jess-Mongoose Jet Eye), Line Drive Dash (Tempting Dash- Shazooms Pop Pop), Think On It (Corona Cartel-Budder Think Twice), Zero To 100 (Muddy Waters-Desirio Sassy Lady), Reason To Remember (Good Reason SA-Jess Racy Eyes) & Bacardi (FDD Dynasty-Jess Another Habit) followed. Twin Forks scratched.
Kj Little Duce Coup (#7) took the lead as the field approached the finish line.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE May 2023 151
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