Page 192 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3
KVN CORONA
by Tracy Gantz
Champion KVN Corona, named for Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy, captured the $235,200 El Primero Del Ano
Derby-G3 at Los Alamitos on March 31. KVN Corona remains undefeated. He
was six for six in 2017, including the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 and PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G2, and he was named Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of the year.
Trainer Paul Jones began KVN Corona’s 3-year-old season in the March 4 trial El Primero Del Ano Derby. With this victory, KVN Corona qualified the second fastest, behind Yanque.
“He’s been such a good horse. He just gets it done,” said Jones a few days before the final. “He needed that last race in the El Primero trials. We gave him a break and he had been off for a little bit. I think he’s ready to improve.”
KVN Corona did improve. With Jesus Ayala in the irons, he broke fifth and was bumped early. However, that didn’t stop
him as he powered to the front and won by
a 1/2-length. He completed the 400 yards in :19.683 for a 95 speed index. The $98,784 from this victory takes his earnings to $679,534.
“He’s a pleasure to train,” said Jones. “He’s the kind of a horse that makes trainers look good. He didn’t get away quite as good as I thought he would and kind of got brushed a little bit. Two or three jumps and he was right
there. It’s always tough because you’re running against the best 3 year olds here.”
Jones trains KVN Corona for Keith Nellesen, who bred the colt in the name of McColee Land
& Livestock LLC. Both Nellesen and Van Noy were able to attend Los Alamitos to witness the triumph.
“It’s a lot better watch-
ing it live than on TV late
at night being on the East
Coast,” said Van Noy. “All thanks to the trainer and the people behind the scenes who take care of him day in and day out. They should be getting all the credit because they are the ones that are doing the hard work.”
Nellesen admitted to being nervous before the race. “I’m always nervous,” he said. “He’s just a pro. He comes out and does what he has to do. He had some health issues going into the Los Alamitos $2 Million.
“We knew the last race, he really needed it to get fit. He’s not a horse that is just going to run away from quality horses, but it’s going to take a special horse to beat him.” So far, that special horse doesn’t exist.
Nellesen bred KVN Corona from Executive
Looks, who won the 2008 Manor Downs Futurity-G1, 2009 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Stakes-RG3, and 2009 La Villita Stakes. Executive Looks has produced nine winners from 14 starters, including Big Lew, a full brother to KVN Corona bred by McColee
and winner of the 2016 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1, and stakes-placed Executive Perry. The second dam, Sticky
N Picky, was a multiple stakes winner.
Eddie Garcia rode Black Fryday (Favorite
Cartel-Ruths Chris) to second for owner Ronald Hartley and trainer John Cooper.
Jones also trains third-place King Of Appeals MV (Tres Seis-Queen Of Appeals). Eduardo Nicasio rode the colt, who is a home- bred for Paulo Otavio Freire Macedo.
Followed by The Revenant (Favorite Cartel- Remember Me Rose), Ditto Head (Foose- Lavish La Jolla), Eyes The Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Eyesa Painted Bug), One More Cigarr (Walk Thru Fire-Sizzling), Rockin Asteroid (Parsons Rock-Five Star Cruise-TB), Yanque (Favorite Cartel-Red Hawk Chick) and Eagles Policy (One Dashing Eagle-CC Policy).
Los Alamitos $235,200 • 400 yards :19.683 • si 95
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
KVN Corona, ‘15-c.
Executive Menace
Executive Looks
Sticky N Picky
190 SPEEDHORSE, April 2018
KVN Corona and Jesus Ayala score a 1/2-length victory in the El Primero Del Ano Derby
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