Page 196 - SPEEDHORSE April 2018

Mardi Gras Derby
THE CAZADOR
by John Moorehouse
The fastest qualifier from the March 17 trials,
The Cazador secured his first stakes victory in
the $87,506 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs on March 17. The sorrel colt broke on the lead and ahead of the pack and was able to hold on throughout for a 3/4-length wire-to-wire victory. The Cazador finished the 400 yards in :19.439, missing the seven- year-old track record by less than four-hundredths of a second, while posting a career best 107 speed index.
Rayne Knight owns the colt, who was limited by shin soreness during his rookie campaign. Despite this, however, The Cazador was the fastest quali- fier to and a finalist in the 2017 LQHBA Laddie Futurity-RG2.
The Cazador is trained by Michael Zingelmann and banked a $38,378 payday in the Mardi Gras Derby that more than tripled his lifetime earnings to $57,006. John Hamilton, who is back in action after suffering a broken leg last November at Evangeline Downs, rode the colt to victory. The Cazador now has a race record of 6-3(1)-1-1.
Zingelmann co-bred The Cazador with Curtis Crenwelge out of winner Told Ya. The mare has produced 100% money earners from three starters, including top money earner and Grade 1 finalist Zihuatanejo. The Cazador is her first stakes winner.
Featuring Fast Jess (Heza Fast Dash- Featuringmissjess) finished 2nd for owner Fernando Ramos and trainer Eduardo Morales. Noe Castaneda was aboard. Gunna Be Alright (Heza Fast Dash-JJ Streakin Illusion) and jockey David Alvarez placed 3rd for owner Maxxiprime Enterprises, LLC and trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. Followed by Cos I
Get It (Tee Cos-Come An Get Me), JRS Taylors Runnaway (Sir Runaway Dash-No Matches Tonight) and Jet Black Secret (Jet Black Patriot-Devins Secret). A Canadian Chill, Heza Jess Cuervo, Storm Patriot & TF El Whiskey were scratched.
Streakin La Jolla Stakes
TF RACEE RUNAWAY
by Michael Compton
TF Racee Runaway scored his second stakes vic- tory in the $15,000 Streakin La Jolla Stakes at Louisiana Downs on March 17.
With Everardo Rodriguez in the saddle, TF Racee Runaway broke in third from the 8-post, dueled throughout, and took the lead in the stretch to prevail by a neck at the wire. TF Racee Runaway completed the 400 yards in :19.562 for a career-best 104 speed index.
TF Racee Runaway brought home the $9,000 winner’s share of the purse for owner Tate Farms
and trainer Lanny Keith, boosting his cumulative lifetime earnings $541,896. The bay gelding now has a race record of 18-5(2)-4-3(1).
TF Racee Runaway went winless in seven starts last year after his victory in the 2016 LQHBA Futurity-RG1. However, he kicked off his 2018 season with a third-place finish in the Mr Jess Perry Stakes-RG3 on Feb. 24.
TF Racee Runaway was bred by Teddy L. Berry out of unraced Racee Rainbows. She has produced 100% money earners from five starters. TF Racee Runaway is her first stakes winner and top money earner.
Runner-up Pop Rocket Jess (Jess Pop My Rocket- Mita Jenny), who was seeking his fourth straight win, battled gamely under Ricardo Hernandez Jr. and just missed for owner M&M Stables LLC and trainer Gary Mason.
Zenergetic (Dominyun-Zenergy) and Juan Garcia Jr. led early and took third in a blanket finish for owner Zenergetic Group and trainer Trey Ellis.
Jes A Spitfire (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Delightful), Sunset Run (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song), Beyondthecos (Tee Cos-Beyondthegame), Sixes Flash (Streakin Sixes-Viborita), Heza Beach Bum (Escondido Beach-Light My Cigar) and MPS Jewels Fantasy (Okey Dokey Fantasy-Jewels Princess Rio) completed the order of finish. Sizzlin Stewart was scratched.
Harris County Stakes
SOUTHERN TEMPTATION
by Michael Cusortelli
Southern Temptation secured his first stakes vic- tory in the $20,000 Harris County Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on March 31.
Under jockey Francisco Calderon, who dedicated this ride to the late Cesar Gomez, the gelding broke in fifth and continually gained ground. He crossed the wire a neck in front of the competition. The team covered the 550 yards in :28.015, posting a 91 speed index.
Owned by P and J Racing Ltd, Southern Temptation was winning for the fourth time in
23 starts and the third time in five outs at the 550 distance. The $12,000 winner’s share of the Harris County purse pushed his total bankroll to $91,286.
“He’s a true 550 horse,” said trainer Leon Bard of Southern Temptation.
Karen Cummings bred Southern Temptation
out of unraced Passem Up Perry. The mare has produced 100% winners from four starters. Southern Temptation is her first stakes winner and top money earner. The sorrel gelding is a half-brother to SF Hot Pass, an Ivory James gelding who was a finalist in the Texas Maturity-G2 at Sunland Park in 2017.
Southern Temptation was coming off a fourth- place finish in a 400-yard West Texas Maturity trials on Feb. 16. The Harris County vicory is his first since Sept. of last year. His resume includes a fifth-place finish in the 2016 Bank of America New Mexico Championship Challenge-G2.
First Impulse (Volcom-Tosca’s Rock) and Victor Urieta Jr. came in second for owner Guadalupe Barrientos Sr. and trainer Josue Ponce.
Under Antonio Alberto, JW Who Dat (Agouti-EW Comment) finished third for owner Fernando Ramirez and trainer Robert Meche.
Desdemona Rambler (Tempting Dash-Kritters Effort) and Im Your Queen (Jess Zoomin-Splash Of A Flash) completed the order of finish.
Louisiana Downs • $77,755 400 yards • :19.439 • si 107
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
THE CAZADOR, ‘15-c. Told Ya
Runaway Wave Toast To Dash Beduinos Dashingly
Louisiana Downs • $15,000 400 yards • :19.562 • si 104
First Down Dash
Sir Runaway Dash
Runaway Wave
Streakin La Jolla Rainbows N Promises
TF RACEE RUNAWAY, ‘14-g. Racee Rainbows
Sam Houston Race Park • $20,000 550 yards • :28.015 • si 91
First Down Dash
A Tempting Chick
SOUTHERN TEMPTATION, ‘12-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Passem Up Perry
Tempting Dash
Southern Knockout
194 SPEEDHORSE, April 2018
RACING NEWS
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