Page 194 - August 2019

Calif. Brds. Matron Stakes-RG3
THERMONUCLEAR ENERGY
by Tracy Gantz
When Thermonuclear Energy won the 2018 California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-RG3, she had to put on a strong finish to grab the lead. This year, she blasted to the front almost immediately and truly put on a show for her second consecutive vic- tory in the $40,000 event on July 27. With regular rider Eduardo Nicasio aboard, Thermonuclear Energy powered home to score by 1 1/4-lengths
in :19.599 for 400 yards, which was good for a 97 speed index. The mare has now earned $450,757.
Christopher O’Dell trains Thermonuclear Energy for the Parsons Family Limited Partnership, which bred the mare in California. Earlier, Thermonuclear Energy won the 2019 Charger Bar Handicap-G1, 2018 Ivan Ashment Handicap, 2017 Las Damas Handicap-G3, and 2015 Los Alamitos $2 Million Juvenile.
Terrific Energy, the dam of Thermonuclear Energy, is a multiple graded stakes winner. The mare has produced 12 winners, including stakes winners Terrific First Down and Terrific Synergy.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Tough To Figure (Walk Thru Fire-Big Jan) finished second with Vinnie Bednar up. Scott Willoughby trains the 5-year-old mare, who won the 2018 Stablewood Farm Stakes and 2019 Ivan Ashment Handicap.
EG High Desert Farms’ homebred Matilda Czech (Fast Prize Cartel-Short Czech) ran third. Jonathan Roman rode the 4-year-old filly for trainer Jesus Nunez. Matilda Czech won the 2017 California Breeders Freshman Fillies Stakes and 2018 Girl Secrets Handicap.
Completing the field were La Rusa (Walk Thru Fire-Corona Fria), Zendaya (Foose-Red Hawk Chick), Just Walk By (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), Strawfinders Jessee (One Sweet Jess-Strawfinder), Time To Leave (Walk Thru Fire-Departing), Pick A Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) and Jacque On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Jacque Seis).
Independence Day H.-G3
EAGLES POLICY
by Tracy Gantz
Eagles Policy surprised just about everybody
in winning the $25,000 Independence Day Handicap-G3 at Los Alamitos on July 6. He went
off as the longest shot of the seven-horse field at nearly 23-1 and defeated 2-time 2018 Champion Hotstepper, the 13-10 favorite.
When the gate opened in the 300-yard Independence Day, Eagles Policy and jockey Jonathan Roman popped out on the lead. Hotstepper wasn’t far behind, but Eagles Policy never let him past, winning by a head in :15.329 and earning a 98 speed index.
Jesus Nunez trains Eagles Policy for Enrique Gonzalez’s EG High Desert Farms. It was the geld- ing’s first stakes victory, his previous best being in allowance races. After Eagles Policy was winless in 2018, Gonzalez and Nunez decided to geld him.
“He didn’t behave in the gate and would get into trouble,” Gonzalez said. “He was always anxious in the gate.”
San Gregorio Racing Stables Inc. bred Eagles Policy in California from 2007 Oklahoma Futurity-G3 winner CC Policy. The mare has pro- duced eight winners from 17 starters, including stakes winner BP Valiant Policy and stakes-placed BP Tres Seis Policy, BP Apolliticalpolicy, and BP Im The Man.
Cody Jensen rode Hotstepper (One Famous Eagle-Pandorum) to second for trainer Paul Jones. R. D. Hubbard, Izora Southway, Johnny Cope, and Ray Willis own the Champion.
Ray Donovan (Favorite Cartel-Tahma Hawk) fin- ished third under jockey Ruben Lozano for owners Jose Pantoja and Jorge Silva and trainer Clemente Hurtado.
Completing the field were Elicity (Apollitical Jess-Flame N Flash), Jess Bet Me (One Sweet Jess- Miss Kittys Bar Bet), My Favorite Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) and Chance To Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Elans Last).
Calif. Brds. Freshman Fillies S.
A MERE BAIL
by Tracy Gantz
EG High Desert Farms LLC has done well on California Breeders’ Champions Night at Los Alamitos with homebred Letty Bail Regis Out and
her offspring. The mare herself won the California Breeders’ Debutante in 2012. Her son Diamonds Blue Eye won last year’s Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders’ Stakes, and this year her daughter A Mere Bail won the $25,000 California Breeders’ Freshman Fillies Stakes on July 27.
In the Freshman Fillies, favored Jess A Favorite Kiss stumbled at the start, but still managed to be on the lead early. A Mere Bail, ridden by Luis Ramirez, chased her in second, finishing strongly to win by 1/2-length in :18.005 for 350 yards, posting an 83 speed index. The filly brought home the $13,750 winner’s share, boosting her total lifetime earnings to $15,810.
Jesus Nunez trains A Mere Bail for EG High Desert Farms. A Mere Bail began her career in May at Los Alamitos, finishing fifth once and third twice. She broke her maiden in the Freshman Fillies.
EG High Desert Farms bred A Mere Bail out of Letty Bail Regis Out, who has produced three start- ers, all stakes winners, including 2019 Vandys Flash Handicap winner Bail Czech.
Howard Nichols’ homebred Jess A Favorite Kiss (Jess Being Valiant-Favorite Kiss) finished second under jockey Jesus Ayala for trainer Paul Jones. In three previous starts, Jess A Favorite Kiss broke her maiden and ran fourth twice.
Armando Viramontes piloted Kick It On Back (Seperate Interest-Dash Till Dawn) to third for owner Rebecca Novo-Normanly and trainer Jerry Wallace II. Kick It On Back broke her maiden in her most recent start.
My Diamond Foose (Foose-Single Sadie), Mia Cartel (Fast Prize Cartel-Eyesontheprice) and Fayvorite Chick (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) com- pleted the order of finish.
Los Alamitos • $40,000 400 yards • :19.599 • si 97
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino
THERMONUCLEAR ENERGY, ‘14-m.
Mr Jess Perry
Walk Thru Fire
Terrific Energy
First Down Energy
Los Alamitos • $25,000 300 yards • :15.329 • si 98
One Famous Eagle
One Dashing Eagle
EAGLES POLICY, ‘15-g. CC Policy
One Sweet Dash Corona Cartel Southern Policy
Los Alamitos • $25,000 350 yards • :18.005 • si 83
The Chocolate Rocket
A Mere Chocolate
A MERE BAIL, ‘17-f.
A Mere Classic
Bail Me Out Baby
Letty Bail Regis Out
Artesias Merridoc
192 SPEEDHORSE, August 2019
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