Page 168 - May_2023

RACING NEWS
Easily A Possum Classic
PONTE TRUCHA
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translated by Speedhorse
The 2023 stakes program at the Hipodromo de Las Américas Racetrack has not aroused the interest of Quarter Horse owners, continuing the behavior observed in the two previous meets.
In the first three weekends of the season that began on Feb. 25, three of the eight scheduled stakes have been canceled due to lack of registrations, with the exception of the Mexico Derby, which was run with the 10 finalists.
The Easily A Possum Classic, held on March 12, was one such race, since only five three-year-old horses participated, whose owners paid a registration fee of $33,000 pesos (approx. $1,766 U.S.) to which was added
the contribution of $100,000 pesos (approx. $5,351 U.S.) from Hipodromo de las Américas administration, creating a total purse of $260,200 pesos (approx. $13,922 U.S.).
It was an impeccable start
for all, where Ponte Trucha
(#2) immediately led the group, responding to the direction of jockey Yair Daniel Báez Soto; however, when he seemed to
have a certain victory, the filly
Jess Call Me Angel came from behind, taking away the leaders advantage in the last strides and culminating in a photo finish
that was decided by a nose difference in favor of Ponte Trucha.
The 350 yards were covered in :17.55 (SI
80) by the bay colt trained by Rubén Romo García and owned by Cuadra Los Gavilanes. His two-year-old campaign in the United States includes a victory in the Louisiana Downs Futurity-G3, as well as third place in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2, and TQHA Sires’ Cup
Futurity-G2. Now, in his debut in Mexico, he scores this win to put his record at 8-5-0-2 with earnings that already exceed 5 million pesos (approx. $270,672 U.S.).
Ponte Trucha is from the second crop of the stallion Duponte and out of the dam Apollitical Dasher (by Apollitical Jess), bred in the United States by Rancho El
Cabresto, which consigned him to the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale through agent James Ranch. He was purchased for $18,000 by Armando Cortez. His paternal and maternal genetics are top notch. Duponte, his sire, is a Champion Three-Year-Old Colt by renowned producer Havanna Goodtime (by Ivory James), making him maternal brother to Sunnyside
166 SPEEDHORSE May 2023
Ponte Trucha (#2) wins the Easily A Possum Classic under jockey Yair Daniel Báez Soto.
Hipodromo de las Americas
$13,922 • 350 yds :17.55 • SI 80
American Runaway
Duponte
Havanah Goodtime
PONTE TRUCHA, ‘20-g.
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Dasher
Brazilian Dasher
Miguel Angel Espinoza Espinosa