Page 186 - July 2022

RACING NEWS
Colors of Houston P&A F.-G2
WL VAN HALEN
Wby Emily Paulk
L Van Halen soared to his third victory in
the $60,357 Colors of Houston Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G2 at Sam Houston Race Park.
The gelding broke in second from the 1-post under Ali Rivera and quickly secured the lead. Cowgirl Cartel attempted to duel for first, but WL Van Halen proved best with a 1 1/4-length win.
The Jose Lopez trainee completed the 300 yards in :15.604, posting a career best 95 speed index.
The gelding secured the $22,936 winner’s share of the purse for owner Guerras Racing Stables, which boosted his cumulative earnings to $43,640.
With this event marking his first stakes win, WL Van Halen was also the third place finisher in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Juvenile and a finalist in the PSBA American Paint Classic Futurity-G1 earlier this year.
Charles Legget bred WL Van Halen out of winner CL Trap Queen, who was a third place finisher in the 2016 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G3 and was a finalist in the 2016 Victoria Ennis Memorial. WL Van Halen is her first foal.
Racing for Zackery Rios, Cowgirl Cartel APHA (Dash Master Jess QH-Camo Cowgirl) dueled throughout, but was outfinished and placed second under Eliazar Vera for trainer Noe Rios. Little Sonny APHA (Little PYC-Sallye Rand QH) and jockey Ricardo Garza-Cruz came in third for owner Ervey Balderas and trainer Frank Mendez. WL Meme King APHA (MHM Hotwire-Unrepentant), OP Royal Nitro APHA (CRM Livewire-OP Rebbecca), Limits Rtob Broken APHA (Taken It Tothe Limit-Miss Wide Open QH), Eagles Prey ApHC (Moonin The Eagle QH-Paint This Kitty), A Daring Encounter APHA (Downright Daring QH-Brief Encounter), VP Double Down Dash APHA (Dos Poruno-GW Money Dash) and WL Casanova (MHM Hotwire- Quick Dashin Cowirl) folowed,
Miss Polly Classic-G2
SHOTT GUN
Iby Michael Compton
t had been two years since the accomplished Shott
Gun had visited a winner’s circle following a stakes event, but the classy gray gelding changed that
with a determined score in the $50,000 Miss Polly Classic-G2 at Delta Downs on June 4.
Ridden by Gilbert Ortiz, the Bobby D. Cox homebred dueled with Hezaa Fast Boy early and throughout the 400-yard fixture. Sent off as the race favorite, Shott Gun prevailed at the end of a thrilling stretch-long duel, proving narrowly best by a head over his stubborn rival at the finish.
The winner stopped the timer in :19.942 over a track listed as wet fast and earned a speed index of 88 in the victory.
The $30,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Shott Gun’s lifetime bankroll to $543,509 and the win improved his record to 14-7-2-1 for trainer
M. Heath Taylor. At two, Shott Gun captured the $826,000 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 and last year
he qualified for the All American Derby-G1 and the Rainbow Derby-G1. The 4-year-old Texas-bred is produced from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Popping.
Runner-up Hezaa Fast Boy (Heza Fast Dash- Brenda Beautiful), piloted by David Alvarez, ran admirably to just miss for owner Rogelio Marquez and trainer Jesus Marquez. JJ Heza Fast Jr. (Heza Fast Dash-Forever Real) and jockey Ubaldo Luna broke in at the start and rallied late to finish
third for owner J and J Stables and trainer Jose Carrizales. The 4-year-old sorrel gelding is a graded stakes winner of more than $80,000.
Quorumm (Tre Seis-Apolitical Pac), Swamp Eagle (Heza Fast Dash-Gee Whit), Corona Louisiana Blu (Jess Louisiana Blue-Corona
De Estrellas), Denalia Sweet Jess (One Sweet Jess-Denali Chick), and Hennessy Xo Tlc (The Louisiana Cartel-Xo Kate) completed the order of finish. JM Friday was scratched.
Vinton Stakes
BLESSHER SWEET HEART
Bby Michael Compton
lessher Sweet Heart may have fooled her rivals
with a non-threatening moniker, but the 17-1 longshot dueled throughout in the 400-yard Vinton Stakes at Delta Downs on May 28, and displayed the heart of a lion in turning back all her rivals to score in the $40,000 event.
Ridden by Guadalupe Lucio Jr., Blessher Sweet Heart raced just off the early pace of San Lorenzito after the break. She moved to engage for the lead with odds-on race favorite Put Me N Coach and dueled to the finish with that rival.
In a brave performance, Blessher Sweet Heart held the favorite at bay to score by a head at the wire. In registering the initial stakes win of her career, the 3-year-old bay filly stopped the timer in :20.057, earning a speed index of 85.
Owned by Fausto Mendoza and trained by Joel Huitron, Blessher Sweet Heart improved her record to 10-3-2-1 and the $24,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her lifetime earnings to $55,920.
Bred in Louisiana by Steve and Margo Romero, Blessher Sweet Heart is a daughter of Jet Black Patriot and is produced from the Heza Fast Dash mare Reckless Fast Dash.
Runner-up Put Me N Coach (Carters Cartel- Allizoom) just missed after getting bumped at the start. Everardo Rodriguez piloted the bay gelding for owner Lorena Morales and trainer Ruben Chavez.
San Lorenzito (Jess Louisiana Blue-Shazee) showed the way early under Rolando Cabrera and finished up third for owner Rogelio Marquez and trainer Jesus Marquez.
GPF Lawman (Feature Mr Bojangles-Midnight Swingin), Corona Blues (Jess Louisiana Blue-Ko Ko Corona), Quid Pro Quo (Five Bar Cartel-Jess Tempting to Fly), and TDZ Royal Runaway (Sir Runaway Dash-Thequeenhasgonenuts) completed the order of finish.
Sam Houston • $60,357
300 yards • :15.604 • si 95
Cartel Success QH
MHM Hotwire
Elaina Go Go
WL VAN HALEN APHA, ‘20-g.
CL Trap Queen
Royal Quick Flash Texas Showboat
Delta Downs • $40,000
400 yards • :20.057 • si 85
Game Patriot
Jet Black Patriot
First Down Hemp
BLESSHER SWEET HEART, ‘19-f.
Heza Fast Dash
Reckless Fast Dash
Reckless Renee
Delta Downs • $50,000
400 yards • :19.942 • si 88
Valiant Hero SHOTT GUN, ‘18-g.
Eye Popping
First Down Dash
Corona Chick
Mr Eye Opener
Shes Jess Special
184 SPEEDHORSE July 2022
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography