Page 182 - August 2019

Heartland Futurity
MERCILESS FIRE
by John Moorehouse
Score one for consistency. After logging the top qualifying time for the Heartland Futurity, Merciless Fire also was the fastest in the field for the stakes event itself, winning the 11th running of the $92,160 futurity held at Indiana Downs on July 27. A two-year-old gelding owned by Louis Ramirez, Merciless Fire now has scored back-to-back victories at the Indiana track—following a two-month layoff after going winless in his initial two starts. Claudio Barraza trains Merciless Fire, and Juan Galvan was the jockey. After completing his 300-yard trial in :15.551 to top the qualifying ladder on July 6, Merciless Fire nearly matched that time in the futurity. He broke from the 2-gate and seized a 1/2-length lead as he entered the stretch. A battle with The Black Ace ensued during the final yards, but Galvan got Merciless Fire back in front to win by a 1/2-length margin.
The victory—the first in stakes company for Merciless Fire—reaped a $50,688 payday that expo- nentially increased the young gelding’s total earnings to $55,840. He was purchased for $12,000 at last fall’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
King Camden Running Horses, Inc., bred Merciless Fire out of winner Walk Thru My Soul. Merciless Fire is her first starter.
Randy Smith trains the other two horses who hit the board. The Black Ace (Bodacious Dash-Ally Bye Bye) finished a game second under Shanley Jackson
for owner Deborah Smith. WRS Apolliticalivory (Apollitical Blood-Sassy Follies), the post-time favorite, and jockey Berkley Packer took third place for Williams Racing Stables, Inc.
WRS Quick Blood (Apollitical Blood-WRS Quick Wagon), First Hero V (One Valiant Hero-Perrys First), Mts Sixty Six Cartel (Carters Cartel-Going Sixty
Six) and Katapult (Captain Courage-Runaway Ivory) completed the finishing order. Chicks A Perry V, Desert Canyon and Secret Passenger were scratched.
Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby
PACKIN SECRETS
by Heather Ridgway
Ricardo Martinez had a stellar night as owner/ trainer with his horse Packin Secrets who, after recovering from a torn ligament in his stifle last
October, came back and won the $76,480 Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby at Indiana Grand Race Course on July 6.
Packin Secrets made his first start back after his injury in the June 22 trials to this Derby, winning by 1/2-length to qualify fourth. In the finals, the bay gelding broke third from the 2-post under Jorge Garcia and led at the first call. The pair maintained the lead throughout and crossed the wire a head in front of fastest qualifier WRS Valentino in :19.879, earning a 91 speed index.
“This horse did everything really good,” said Garcia. “He’s a perfect horse and he’s my first stakes win.”
The $76,480 winner’s share of the purse boosted Packin Secrets bankroll to $100,144 with a race record of 5(2)-0-1 from 7 starts. The gelding won last year’s Heartland Futurity, which was also run at Indiana Grand Race Course.
John A. Wolpert bred Packin Secrets from lightly raced C U Tamale. Packin Secrets is her first foal.
WRS Valentino (Mighty B Valiant-WRS Kissandteller) was second under Berkley Packer for owner Williams Racing Stables, Inc. and trainer Randy Smith.
Pritty (Coronado Cartel-SFR Fire N Brimstone) was third for owner Miguel A. Lechuga and trainer Ricardo Martinez, who had Jose Beltran aboard.
Worth Doing Right (Tempting Dash-Forever Bradgelina), La Jolla Diamante (First Moonflash- Valentina La Jolla), Beaus Coupe (Foose-Bouquette), Unwritten Law (Dominyun-Rare Encore) and
Bits Leaving You (Coronas Leaving You-High On Sassy) completed the order of finish. Hospitaliti and Serious Side were scratched.
Bradford Stakes
COUNTRY BOY 123
by Heather Ridgway
Country Boy 123 scored an impressive win in the $52,160 Bradford Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course on July 6.
Under Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, the 6-year-old gelding broke on top from the 3-post and was never headed. Country Boy 123 crossed the wire a clear
1 1/4-lengths in front. The pair completed the 400 yards in :19.648, good for a 97 speed index.
Capturing his 19th victory from 31 outs, Country Boy 123 improved his lifetime earnings to $314,135 with the $28,688 winner’s share.
Based in Ontario, Canada, Country Boy 123 spends most of his time at Ajax Downs, except when owner, Ruth Barbour DVM sends him to train with Anothony Cunningham in Indiana.
His previous starts in Indiana have both ended in second place finishes in the 2017 and 2018 Indiana Championship.
Carolyn C. Bay bred Country Boy 123 out of 2008 Texas Distaff Challenge-G3 winner Very Dashin 123. She has produced 100% money earn- ers from four starters. Country Boy 123 is her first stakes winner and top earner.
WH Kenny G (Gold Medal Jess-Designer Dash) was second under Oscar Macias for owners Ronald Brown and Robert Ray and trainer Ronald Brown.
Shanley Jackson rode Stinkin Rich (One Famous Eagle-Miss Scarlet) to third for owner Carolyn Bruce and trainer Matt Frazier.
Tres My Heart (Heart Of The Cartel-Famous Mariah), Accountably (American Runaway-Check The Account), AS And JS (Apolitical Jess-Adolph Tres Knockout), Flight To La Jolla (Hiclass La Jolla-I Fly American), Sweet 16 (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fovee), Encore (Corona Cartel-Jess Genuine) and A Tacky Chick (Tac It Like A Man-A Chick Of Class) completed the field. Shenoshisgame and Sir Diamond Corona scratched.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino • $88,936 300 yards • :15.571 • si 93
One Famous Eagle
Hes Relentless
MERCILESS FIRE, ‘17-g
Walk Thru Fire
Walk Thru My Soul
This Dreams Flying
Threadbare Gypsysoul
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino • $76,480 400 yards • :19.879 • si 91
Habits Secret PACKIN SECRETS, ‘16-g.
No Secrets Here
Habitual Dreamer Ivory James
C U Tamale
El Streaker
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino • $52,160 400 yards • :19.648 • si 97
Chicks Beduino
Country Chicks Man
COUNTRY BOY 123, ‘13-g. Very Dashin 123
Country Zevi Dash Thru Traffic
Very Striking
180 SPEEDHORSE, August 2019
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography