Page 181 - Speedhorse October 2018

Iowa Double Gold Futurity
ANASTTASIA
by Michael Compton
Safe to say that Jorge Haddad’s Texas home- bred Anasttasia is fond of the track at Prairie Meadows. After winning her trial race wire- to-wire as the fastest qualifier for the $150,565 Iowa Double Gold Futurity by a commanding 2 1/4-lengths on Aug. 18, the filly returned to annex the main event on Sept. 1 to notch the first stakes victory of her young career.
Piloted by Bonifacio
Quiroz, Anasttasia flashed good speed away from the gate in 350-yard stakes event, quickly opening a 1/2-length on her rivals. She maintained that advantage through much of the lane and held off a late rally from Choochoowannaboogie to win by a neck at the finish. Anasttasia stopped the timer in :17.671, earning
a 94 speed index. Trained by Clinton Crawford,
QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity
Anasttasia improved her record to 6-2(1)-2-0 and lifted her bankroll to $86,837 with the $67,754 winner’s share of the purse.
The filly had previously qualified for
and was a finalist in the $479,196 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG3 at Retama Park in July.
Haddad bred Anasttasia out of the multiple graded stakes-placed First Down Dash mare Las Alamitos. Anasttasia is
has produced 100% money earners from 28 start- ers. Anasttasia becomes her fourth stakes winner.
Choochoowannaboogie (Freightrain B-Zoomin Affair) and Robert Valero were second for owner Harley Moser and trainer Shawna Manriquez.
Cashair (Dashair-Southern Fast Cash) was third under jockey Nakia Ramirez for owner Leo Butell and trainer Jason Olmstead.
HR Back N The Day (Freighttrain B-What a Justice TB), Sweet Bab Of Return (High Rate of Return-Lil Bag of Shake), Another Overdraft (Mighty B Valiant-Jess Ready Too Wear), Decapi Kid (Capo De Capi-Kimze), Thats So Fetch (Prospect To The Top-Perrys Queen Bug), HR Meant to Be (Jess Lips-HR Ebony Princess) and Make This My Favorit (Favorite Cartel-A Loving Legacy) completed the order of finish.
as, “a wonderful thing. We are very excited,” he said in a press release. “We work hard at this and we do all the work ourselves, so it makes it even sweeter to get a reward like this. Randy [Smith] has become a great friend to us. He’s honest and has all the integrity you could ask for in a trainer.”
Favorite & top qualifier Pritty (Coronado Cartel-SFR Fire N Brimstone) was 2nd under Yordanis Amaro for owner Miguel Lechuga & trainer Ricardo Martinez. First Habits (Habits Secret-Balenciaga), another Martinez trainee, was 3rd under Juan Galvan for owner Gerardo Corral. Followed by Nacho Binez (Habits Secret-Chikita Espesial), Daddys Moe (Carters Cartel-Prairie Fire), Famous Cucuy (Jazz Be First-Famous Washer), Hopeful Success (Cartel Success-Hopeful Suspect), Abe (Jazz Be First-Magics Born Illusion) & Coronados Quicksilver (Coronado Cartel- Zoomin Zoey B). Stoneburner scratched.
Prairie Meadows $150,565 • 350 yards :17.671 • si 94
Corona Cartel
The Louisiana Cartel
The Louisiana Girl
ANASTTASIA, ‘16-f.
First Down Dash
Las Alamitos
Easy Henryetta
a sibling to Ragazzo, winner of the 2009 Heritage Place Futurity-G1, Grade 2 winner Giorgino, and stakes winner Features Lucky Charm.
Las Alamitos enjoyed a solid career on the racetrack, winning 5 of 22 outings and twice Grade 1-placed with $202,480 banked. She finished second in the 1996 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G1 and third in the 1997 Governor’s Cup Derby-RG1. The mare
WRS VALENTINO
by John Moorehouse
WRS Valentino was a pleasant surprise for his connections in the $169,274 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity, out-nodding fastest qualifier & pre-race favorite Pritty at the wire to win on Aug. 25 at Indiana Grand Race Course. Home-bred by Williams Racing Stables Inc., the gelding logged his 2nd win in 3 starts. The $66,017 payday took his earnings to $74,167.
Breaking from the 2-gate, WRS Valentino got bumped at the start, but rider Omar Reyes kept him on course and he
caught the favorite. The 2
horses dueled to the final
stride, where WRS Valentino
got up by a nose.
“A couple of horses moved and it helped him at the start. About 3 or 4 jumps in is when he really starts going,” Reyes said in a press release. “And, it always helps to be right next to a big runner.”
Randy Smith, the all-time leading trainer in the history
of Indiana Grand, also saddled the QHRAI SSA Derby winner on this same card. Smith trained 3 of the futurity finalists, and as part of the jockey assignments, Reyes ended up riding WRS Valentino for the first time. The 350-yard trip took :17.840, generating an 89 speed index.
“This is one of those horses that has just had bad luck,” Smith said after the race. “Even tonight, there was some bumping out of the gate. But he has always shown he has heart and
that he won’t quit.” Williams Racing Stables
also home-bred WRS Kissandteller, the dam of WRS Valentino. Unraced, WRS Kissandteller has 100% earners from 2 starters. WRS Valentino is her 1st stakes winner. Randy & Gwen Williams, who own Williams Racing Stables, have 17 total horses, including broodmares, & babies.
After the race, Randy Williams described the victory
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino $169,274 • 350 yards :17.840 • si 89
Valiant Hero
Mighty B Valiant
Mighty B Doll
WRS VALENTINO, ‘16, g.
Teller Cartel
WRS Kissandteller
Hava Zevi
SPEEDHORSE, October 2018 179
RACING NEWS
Linscott Photography Coady Photography