Page 179 - Speedhorse October 2018

Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity
VIVA LE DON
by John Moorehouse
Viva Le Don was the second-quickest quali- fier for the Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity during the Sept. 8 trials, but in the stakes final on Sept. 23 at Will Rogers Downs, the gelding had no equal.
In the trials, Viva Le Don drew clear from the 7-gate and won in a driving finish with a 1 1/2-length margin.
In the finals, the brown gelding led at every call, prevailing in the $266,765 event to record his first-ever stakes victory.
Owned by Rockin J Running Horses, Viva Le Don got to the winner’s circle for the second time in five outs. The gelding broke his maiden in the Black Gold Futurity trials, covering the 350 yards in :17.744, which stood up second on the qualifying ladder. The gelding surpassed that effort in the futurity itself, finishing in :17.442 for a 99 speed index.
Randy Wilson was aboard for an impressive stakes-winning run by Viva Le Don, who broke on top from the outside gate in a 10-horse field, led by a 1/2-length at the first call, maintained that advantage going into the stretch, then pulled away during the final yards to win by three-quarters.
The pre-race favorite at odds just over 3-1, Viva Le Don already had experience in stakes company, finishing fourth in the Heritage Place Juvenile at Remington back in June. That also marked his most recent out prior to the Black Gold trials.
Viva Le Don collected a handsome $106,706 payday, exponentially increasing the total earnings to $121,650.
Tammy Kay Johnson trains Viva Le Don, one of two stakes winners out of her stable on this Will Rogers card. Johnson also prepped Rock A Billy, another com- petitor owned by Rockin J Running Horses who won the Will Rogers Distance Challenge.
Johnson, in combina-
tion with Jack Manning,
bred Viva Le Don out of
Viva Arriba, a 2009 mare
who reached the winner’s circle twice in 17 career starts. Rockin J Running Horses owns Viva Arriba, who has foaled two offspring so
far—both of them starters and winners. Charlies Fury (Furyofthewind-Jess
Charlena) made a steady run for second place for owners Tom and Kathleen McNally. The Michelle Hurdle trainee had James Flores in the irons.
Lota Candy (Lota PYC-Ranch Candy), a 15-1 longshot, hit the board in third place.
Owned by Lota Hero Racing, the gelding is trained by R.L. Robinson and had Andrew Samaniego aboard.
The remaining order
of finish was Money All
Day (One Famous Eagle-A Dream To Remember), West Texas Dasher V (Tempting Dash-Act Up), Cindy
Easy Train (Freighttrain B-Easydoesitcindy), Tarish (Prospect To The Top-Fast Prize Zoom), Freighttrain B Fast (Freighttrain B-Excessive
Chatter TB), Mary Janes Hero (Valiant Hero-CR Isabella) and Bullitrain (Freighttrain B-Guns A Streakin).
Will Rogers Downs $266,765 • 350 yards :17.442 • si 99
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
Rockin The Tetons
VIVA LE DON, ‘16, g.
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Viva Arriba
Arriba Reba
Viva Le Don and Randy Wilson receive every call winning the Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity
SPEEDHORSE, October 2018 177
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography