Page 184 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

Oklahoma Futurity-G3
LONG WAGON HO
by Tracy Gantz
Julio Corral is only 21 and has been a licensed trainer for three years. But he grew up in his father’s shedrow and has been around horses all his life. He and his family collaborated with Long Wagon Ho, who rewarded them with a victory in the $371,200 Oklahoma Futurity-G3 at Remington Park on March 24.
“As soon as I could, I got my license down at Will Rogers,” said Corral. “But I was 6 or 7 years old when my dad was already training.”
The entire family lives in LaSalle, Colorado, not far from Arapahoe Park. Father, Modesto Reyes and mother, Elva Corral work with Julio, and his younger sister, Josselin Reyes, helps after school as well.
They currently have about 22 in train- ing, and Julio said that once Arapahoe opens they usually pick up another 10 to 15, keeping everybody busy.
For the Oklahoma Futurity, they hauled three horses to Remington. Long Wagon Ho took the trip twice. First for a training race and then for the trials. The colt won his trial by 3/4-length and qualified the eighth fastest.
In the finals, Long Wagon Ho went off as the sixth choice at 11-1. With Alfredo Triana Jr. in the irons, he broke fourth and was bumped early.
“We didn’t get away that good,” said Triana. “I thought he could have got away a little bit better. When I asked him to run, he started running and just kept on going. I thought he (Reggies Bailbond) actually got me, but I couldn’t really tell by looking over.”
It came down to a photo-
finish, but Long Wagon Ho
nosed out Reggies Bailbond
for the win. Long Wagon Ho
completed the 300 yards in :15.459 for a career high 89 speed index.
Long Wagon Ho is undefeated in two starts and the $148,480 winner’s share of the purse boosted his total lifetime earnings to $154,264.
“It was close and exciting,” said Julio. “We kind of knew he had a chance. We had hauled in 11 hours from Denver to Oklahoma. It always helps for them to stay there for two weeks and train where they are going to race.
“He’s all class. He is just like an older horse. He knew what he was doing and everything has been good,” continued Corral.
Long Wagon Ho was bred by Grant Farms LLC out of graded stakes placed The Long Straw, who finished second in the 2007 Colors
of the Wind Handicap and third in the 2006 Texas Distaff Challenge-G3. The 2006 Texas Hi-Point Three- Year-Old Filly produced eight winners from 18 starters, including stakes placed The Cartel Straw. Long Wagon Ho is her first stakes winner and top money earner. His second dam is graded stakes winner Super Calidocious, who won the 1998 All
American Congress Derby-G3, Ring of Roses Derby and Mt. Pleasant Meadows Derby. Long Wagon Ho was purchased in the
name of Martin Olmedo for $13,000 at the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, and he runs for Julio. His investment has already turned a profit with plenty of racing ahead for the first- year runner.
“He’s a little club-footed on his right,” said Julio. “And a lot of people don’t like that double-bred stuff. But we really liked him when we picked him up.”
Long Wagon Ho is inbred 3 x 2 to Strawfly Special. He is by PYC Paint Your Wagon, who is out of a Strawfly Special mare, and out of The Long Straw, a daughter of Strawfly Special.
Remington Park $371,200 • 300 yards :15.459 • si 89
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
LONG WAGON HO, ‘16-c.
Strawfly Special
The Long Straw
Super Calidocious
182 SPEEDHORSE, April 2018
Long Wagon Ho & Alfredo Triana Jr. hold on to win the $371,200 Oklahoma Futurity-G3.
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography