Page 190 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2
GUIDRY PRIDE II
by John Moorehouse
Guidry Pride II scored his first victory from just his second start in the $294,942 Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2 at Louisiana Downs on March 17.
“He ran a little green in the trials like babies do,” trainer Wendy Garcia told stallionesearch. com in a video interview conducted after the race. “Today he had a great, sharp break and just stuck there. Thank God we won.”
In the Feb. 24 Mardi Gras Futurity trials, Guidry Pride II veered in a bit coming out of the eight-hole, but gave a fine performance and was outfinished by a just nose.
The gray colt qualified to the main event with the ninth qualifying position.
Being green did not slow down the colt in the Mardi Gras Futurity finals.
Guidry Pride II overcame an early bump as he came out of the three-hole. He was in sec- ond place the majority of the contest and was up at the wire to finish the 300-yard contest in :15.370, posting a career-high 98 speed index over a fast track.
Guidry Pride II brought home the largest share of the purse, depositing the $139,710 winner’s share.
Now holding nearly $141,000 in total earnings from just two starts, Guidry Pride II improved by more than 0.36 seconds over his qualifying time.
Juan Garcia Jr., Wendy’s brother, was in the irons for both the qualifying race and for the stakes-winning run.
“When he broke, he got bumped a little bit from his rear end, but it didn’t bother him much,” the jockey observed.
“He got back together and finished strong and ran a good race.”
Wendy Garcia noted that having her brother aboard the eventual winner of the race was just “luck of the draw,” considering the team had six different two year olds in the Mardi Gras Futurity trials.
Garcia’s husband is veteran jockey Modesto Pina, and Juan Garcia Jr. credited Pina for playing a major role in this outcome.
“He’s the one who taught me everything to ride and still does get after me when I make mistakes,” said Juan.
Wendy Garcia echoed the praise for
Pina. “It’s awesome, but I can’t do it without my husband,” she stated. “He’s my big sup- port and backup to the whole thing that goes on here.”
Assuming Guidry Pride II comes through his post-race evaluations healthy, he will be headed to the Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 at Delta Downs next. The trials to that race are
finished second for owner Juan F. Martinez- Labastida. Miguel Rodriguez is the trainer and Luis Vivanco rode the brown gelding, who won his trial heat to qualify with the third fastest time to the finals.
Flamin Hot Fortune
(Jet Black Patriot-Toast To Fortune), another high- priced acquisition from the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale at $15,000, hit the board in third place for KK Horse Racing. The Jose Garcia trainee had Damian Martinez in the irons. The sorrel filly was second in her Feb. 24 trial heat, just behind TF
Lil Black Runaway, for the eighth fastest qualifying time.
The Mighty Moose (Fast Prize Dash-Ko Ko Corona) followed in fourth place,
with Igottarampage (Whathaveigottado- Rampaging Cash), Hott Chocolate (Corona Caliente-Twelve Fifty Eight) and Ms Pilot Tee (Tee Cos-Ms Pilot ID) completing the order of finish.
Fastest qualifier Quick To Flirt, trial win- ner TF Lil Black Runaway and trial winner Wild Card Patriot were scratched.
on June 16, with the finals on Johnny and Cynthia
Guidry bred Guidry Pride II out of 2-time winner Guidrys Boodie Doo.
The 2009 mare has produced 100% winners from her two starters. Beside Guidry Pride II, Guidrys Boodie Doo is the dam of Guidrys Tradition.
Guidry Pride II is the first stakes winner and top money earner of the brood.
Guidry Pride II’s second dam is three-time winner Pop That Couchie. The 1992 finalist in the 1995 Louisiana Derby-G2.
July 7.
188 SPEEDHORSE, April 2018
Guidry Pride II’s owner Eduardo Juarez purchased the stakes winning colt for $6,500 at the 2017 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Yearling Sale.
TDZ Louisiana Toast (Jess Louisiana Blue-Shes A Royal Toast), the pre-race favorite at less than 2-1 odds at post time,
Louisiana Downs $294,942 • 300 yards :15.370 • si 98
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
Runaway Wave
GUIDRY PRIDE II, ‘16-c.
Panther Mountain
Guidrys Boodie Doo
Pop That Couchie
mare was a Champions Day
Guidry Pride II and Juan Garcia Jr. are up for the win in the Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2.
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Hodges Photography