Page 196 - August 2019

Big Lew Handicap
TEQUILA SANGRIA
by Tracy Gantz
In only her second outing of the year, Tequila Sangria became a stakes winner by capturing the $15,000 Big Lew Handicap at Los Alamitos on July 12.
“We’re real proud of her,” said trainer Mike Casselman. “I knew we could have gotten her in a little easier. I wasn’t sure that it was a good deci- sion, but she ran really well against tough company last year, and she came into this race doing well.”
In the 350-yard Big Lew, Tequila Sangria and jockey Jesus Ayala broke third and quickly made the lead. Tequila Sangria pulled away for a 1 1/2-length victory.
They completed the sprint in :17.505, which was good for a 97 speed index.
Casselman trains Tequila Sangria for owner Dr. Steve Burns. Last year, Tequila Sangria broke her maiden and qualified for the Golden State Million Futurity-G1. She is two for two in 2019.
Burns bred the filly in California from stakes- placed Ynot Bar. The mare has produced 10 winners in 15 starters, including Grade 1 winner Ynot Walk and winner Dont Pass Bar, the dam
of Champion Quirky. Ynot Bar is a half-sister to stakes-winner Stel Easy.
Eduardo Nicasio rode Dexxter (Corona Cartel-Tres Of Linda) to second for owner Howard Nichols and trainer Jaime Gomez. Dexxter was coming off a second in the Dillingham Handicap.
Arizona Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Check Her For Cash), owned by K & R Allred Ranch LLC and bred by Kevin and Robin Allred, finished third under jockey Erasmo Gasca for trainer Hector Magallanes. The gelding ran second in the 2018 Pot O’ Gold Futurity and Los Alamitos Wild West Futurity.
Ali Babe Foose (Foose-Babe On The Fly) crossed the wire in fourth place and was followed by SC Coronada (Coronado Cartel-Spit Curl Diva) and High Flier (Foose-Jetsetter).
Jens L List Mem. CA Brds. S.
BOLT FOR GOLD
by Tracy Gantz
Bolt For Gold accomplished two important firsts in the $25,000 Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders’ Stakes on July 27. He was
winning his first stakes race, and he successfully stretched out to 400 yards for the first time.
The gelding’s three previous wins all came at 300 yards, though he missed by only a neck at 400 yards in the 2018 Corona Chick Handicap. Earlier this year, he also ran third in the 400-yard Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge.
In the Jens List with Cruz Mendez up, Bolt For Gold bumped at the start. He recovered well to get to the lead, withstand a blanket finish, and win by a head. Bolt For Gold completed the 400 yards in :19.873, posting a 90 speed index.
Mark Skeen trains Bolt For Gold for Mesa Valley Farms LLC, which bred the gelding in Utah. Skeen also trained Sheza Hot Catch, the dam of Bolt For Gold, for Mesa Valley. The mare won twice at Los Alamitos, and she has produced two starters, both winners, including Sweet Paree. Bolt For Gold is her first stakes winner and top earner. Canucatcher, the second dam and another Skeen trainee, finished second in the 1994 Central Wyoming Fair Derby.
Martha Wells’ homebred Red Hawk Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Red Hawk Chick) finished second under Erasmo Gasca for trainer Matthew Fales. Red Hawk Cartel won the 2018 California Breeders’ Freshman Stakes
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Accommodating (Walk Thru Fire-Sables Bono) ran second with Vinnie Bednar in the irons. Scott Willoughby trains the gelding, who won two allowance races earlier this year.
Rounding out the field were Anas Image (Hawkinson-City Image), Cavuto (Foose-Sizzling PJ) and Callender (Kiddy Up-Pie Maid).
Calif. Brds. Sprint Stakes
CHANCE TO FIRE
by Tracy Gantz
Chance To Fire had gotten close in several stakes and he finally got to take home his own trophy in the $25,000 California Breeders’ Sprint Stakes at
Los Alamitos on July 27.
Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Christopher
O’Dell, Chance To Fire broke in second but took command early. Sent away the 3-2 favorite, he held off challenger Madam Of Fire MV to win by a neck in :17.408 for 350 yards, posting a 101 speed index.
Abigail Kawananakoa owns Chance To Fire, buying him for $170,000 from breeder Dr. Ed Allred in the 2016 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. The gelding finished second in the 2017 Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2, 2018 Governor’s Cup Derby-RG3, and 2018 PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G3. The $13,750 winner’s share from this purse boosted his cumulative earnings to $348,986.
Allred bred Chance To Fire from his homebred winner Elans Last. The mare has produced seven win- ners from 10 starters, including multiple stakes winner Nymph. The second dam, Elans Special, the dam of World Champion Really Special, captured the 1987 All American Futurity-G1 and earned $1,186,540.
Cruz Mendez piloted Madam Of Fire MV (Walk Thru Fire-Solid Connection) to second for owner Vince Genco and trainer Jose Flores. A 4-year-old filly, Madam Of Fire MV finished third in this year’s Miss Princess Handicap-G3.
Hector Ornelas’ homebred First Royal Cartel (Favorite Cartel-First Royal Dutchess) finished third. Jesus Ayala rode the 4-year-old colt for trainer Jorge Farias. First Royal Cartel won one of three prior starts.
My Favorite Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell), The Revenant (Favorite Cartel-Remember Me Rose), Ray Donovan (Favorite Cartel-Tahma Hawk), Firey Colt (Walk Thru Fire-Lady Tenaya) and Remember The Rose (Walk Thru Fire-Remember Me Rose) com- pleted the order of finish.
Los Alamitos • $15,000 350 yards • :17.505 • si 97
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
TEQUILA SANGRIA, ‘16-f. Ynot Bar
Shenoshercorona Chicks Beduino Fames Easy
Los Alamitos • $25,000 400 yards • :19.873 • si 90
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
BOLT FOR GOLD, ‘16-g. Sheza Hot Catch
Shenoshercorona Corona Caliente
Canucatcher
Los Alamitos • $25,000 350 yards • :17.408 • si 101
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Separatist
Walk Thru Fire
CHANCE TO FIRE, ‘15-g. Elans Last
Elans Special
194 SPEEDHORSE, August 2019
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