Page 186 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1
EXPRESSIONS N SNOW
by Tracy Gantz
Racehorses who win a big race naturally endear themselves to their owners, but Expressions N Snow has always meant a lot to
owner/breeder Sharon Hafliger.
“She’s a pretty special horse,” said Hafliger.
“She’s just nothing but heart. That filly just knows where the finish line is and she’s going to get there first. She’s that determined.”
Expressions N Snow has won six of nine races and has never finished worse than second (though she was once disqualified from second). Her determination again paid off in the $68,500 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Derby-G1 at Remington Park on March 24.
James Flores, her only rider, was again aboard. Expressions N Snow broke a little slowly in fifth and was brushed and carried out. The filly fought to gain the lead throughout the majority of the 350 yards, taking the advantage just before the finish as fastest qualifer Bully Pulpit rallied to her outside. She defeated the favorite by a neck in :17.696 for a 85 speed index.
“God bless James. He could have ridden that little Appaloosa filly (Cajun Prize),” said Hafliger. “He stayed true to our mare. He knows what she is.”
Amanda Tongay trains Expressions N Snow, who runs in the names of Hafliger and R.J. Ziegler.
“She finished strong and got us the win,” said Flores. “There was a lot of traffic going on there, but I just tried to stay in my lane and hustle her as best I could
and get the win. That horse (Bully Pulpit) was running big and we were lucky to hold him off.”
Expressions N Snow had met Bully Pulpit before. In three meetings last year, she bested the gelding twice.
She won the 2017 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1 at Fair Meadows when Bully Pulpit finished seventh after he encoun- tered trouble.
Bully Pulpit beat Expressions N Snow
by a neck in their trial for the Pot O’ Gold Futurity-G1 at Will Rogers Downs, both
of them qualifying for the final. Then, Expressions N Snow defeated Bully Pulpit by 3/4-length in the Pot O’ Gold finals.
Both of them were named Champion Paints at the end of the season. Expressions N Snow was voted Champion Solid Paint-Bred 2-Year-Old Filly, while Bully Pulpit was voted Champion Solid Paint-Bred
2 Year Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding.
Expressions N Snow
is also special to Hafliger because she is one of only two foals the breeder has been able
to get from Expressions In Stone. Hafliger bred the Quarter Horse mare, who finished third for the breeder in the 2006 Kansas Bred Futurity.
“We’ve had so much trouble keeping those colts alive out of that mare,” said Hafliger.
Hafliger bred Expressions N Snow in Oklahoma. Both Expressions N Snow and the mare’s first foal, If Ur Buyn Im Flyn, are by two-time APHA World Champion SM Country Snowman.
If Ur Buyn Im Flyn earned $54,692 and quali- fied for several stakes, including a 4th in the 2014 Tulsa State Fair Stakes and a 5th in the Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1.
Remington Park $68,500 • 350 yards :17.696 • si 85
Country Quick Dash
SM Country Snowman
Western Lineage
EXPRESSIONS N SNOW, ‘15-f.
SC Chiseled In Stone
Expressions In Stone QH
Flying Tava
Expressions N Snow and regular rider James Flores win the $68,500 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Apploosa Derby by a neck
184 SPEEDHORSE, April 2018
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography