Page 148 - June 2018 Speedhorse

LQHBA Lassie Futurity-RG2
IM FOR REAL
by Michael Compton
Despite being defeated by fastest qualifier Rogue One by less than 1-length in a trial heat April 27, Im For Real was dispatched at
odds of 28-1 in the main event, the $283,715 Lassie Futurity-RG2 at Delta Downs on May 18, while Rogue One was sent off as the race favorite.
With Guadalupe Lucio Jr. in the saddle, Im For Real broke from the 8-post and bumped at the start of the 330-yard test and raced in sixth position early.
Rogue One and jockey Everardo Rodriguez broke alertly and assumed command away from the starting gate, quickly shooting clear by a 1/2-length. In the lane, Rogue One had spurted clear by 1-length, but with a strong late rally, Im For Real caught Rogue One nearing the finish to score by a neck for her first ever win and initial stakes score.
“I’ve been working her and I felt she was really confident,” said Guadalupe Lucio Jr.
“I wasn’t surprised she ran this good. She left it all out on the track. She stood in the gate just as we practiced. She didn’t leave as well as I expected, but by the second jump she got down to running.”
In winning for the first time in four career starts, Im For Real stopped the timer in a lively
:16.571, earning a career-high 101 speed index for trainer Josue Huitron.
With her victory in the LQHBA Lassie Futurity, Im for Real, a homebred for Dale Rogers, improved her lifetime record to 4-1(1)-1-1.
The lucrative winner’s share of $141,858 pushed her bankroll to $145,861.
Im For Real finished
fourth in her career debut
over a muddy track in February at Louisiana Downs. She followed that initial outing with
a game third place finish in a straight maiden affair before finishing second to Rogue One in the trial after leading that dash early.
Rogers bred Im For Real out of multiple winner Imnotplaying. She has produced 100% winners from two starters. Im For Real is her first stakes winner and top money earner. She is from the female family of First Place Princess, winner of the 2002 AQHA East Distaff Challenge Stakes-G3 at Delta Downs.
Rogers also owns Im For Real’s sire, Whathaveigottado, a Grade 3 winning brother
to Champion and World Champion sire Stoli.
Runner-up Rogue One (Heza Fast Dash-Miss Jess Rogue) debuted in the trial, where she dueled with Im For Real throughout and edged clear late for an impressive score. The sorrel filly was bred in Louisiana by Triple M Farms.
The Mighty Moose (Fast Prize Dash-Ko Ko Corona)
scored in her April 27 trial, winning by 3/4-length as the odds-on favorite. She was sent to post as the second wagering choice behind Rogue One in the main event. Rebecca Brown bred the filly in Louisiana.
Five Bell Cartel (Five Bar Cartel-Some Quick Dasher), Logans Fast Dasher (Heza
Fast Dash-Logans Game), Amending the Bar (Five Bar Cartel-Making Amends), Flamin Hot Fortune (Jet Black Patriot-Toast to Fortune), MPS Triple Zazoom (Triple Vodka-Zazoom), TM Fast Prize Doll (Fast Prize Dash-Strawfily Doll) and Brexit (Five Bar Cartel-Ms Skyfall) completed the order of finish.
Delta Downs $283,715 • 330 yards :16.571 • si 101
Shazoom
Whathaveigottado
Strawberry Silk
IM FOR REAL, ‘16, f.
Dash Plays On
Imnotplaying
First Place Princess
146 SPEEDHORSE, June 2018
Im For Real & Guadalupe Lucio Jr. rally to win the $283,715 LQHBA Lassie Futurity-RG2
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