Page 198 - August 2019

Garañones Derby
LA RAPID KING JUDEA
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Eduardo Silveyra
The demanding qualifying races to the Garanones Derby were carried out with
49 Mexican-bred runners, from which the 10 finalists returned to the track on June 16, running once again at 350 yards for a purse of $1,307,780 pesos (approximately $67,792 US dollars).
The filly Danny Cool set the best qualify- ing time of :17.501, followed closely by the gelding BB Cartel (:17.509), together starring in a dramatic duel in the last qualifying race and for which she was preferred at the betting box, closing with odds of 1.50 for first place.
When the finals began, the runners dis- persed over the track: SE Teller Jolla (#1) and Miss Okey Okey Qbrew (#2) moved to the inner barrier; through the center advanced LA Rapid King Judea (#3); and BB Cartel (#4) pushed the the runners in gates 5 through 8 outwards towards the right, including favorite Danny Cool. It was an act that merited BB Cartel’s disqualification to tenth place.
The race continued with Miss Okey Okey Qbrew at the front, who soon left SE Teller Jolla behind and continued her meteoric run against the onslaught of LA Rapid King Judea, the latter under rider Mario Alberto López Marmolejo. It was in the last stride when the grey colt reached the finish line first, winning by a nose’s differ- ence over the tenacious filly who gave a powerful performance despite being the least favorite to win (closing with odds of 30 to 1).
It was necessary for the finish-line photo to appreci- ate the minimal difference between the two leaders, which on the clock was reflected by one hundredth
of a second – :17.32 for LA Rapid King Judea and :17.33 for Miss Okey Okey Qbrew, both with a speed index of 87.
It was the second visit
to the winner’s circle for
the team of Cuadra Los
Gavilanes, as they had previously won the Javier Rosique Palavicini Classic that same afternoon with Lafishingonabugsmoon, who was ridden by Yair Daniel Báez Soto.
The trophy was presented by Adriana Gómez Barnola and Javier Rosique León for the Mexican Association of Quarter Horse Breeders and Horsemen. Trainer Rubén Romo García received the award in the name of Cuadra Los Gavilanes, which has had excellent results in the current season, as he is also in charge of the conditioning of LA Rapid Dove, the winner of the Mexico Derby.
LA Rapid King Judea was bred by Ramiro González Ozuna, owner of Rapid Fire Jess and the mare Queen Judea (by Strawfly Special). The colt has shown outstanding skills on the track in his first season, winning the Selecta
Auction Futurity and plac- ing second in the Mexican Breeders Futurity, sufficient merits to be designated in Mexico Champion 2-Year- Old Colt; in 2019 he finished third in the Desafio Crianza Mexicana Derby, then immediately participated in the qualifiers of the Mexico Derby, winning his heat but did not reach the neces- sary time to advance to the
finals; he was enrolled in a “Special Prize” race for non-finalists, winning by more than 2-lengths difference.
La Rapid King Judea reached this final after winning the third of six qualifying races, scoring :17.609 for the sixth fastest time. In
17 starts, he’s won 11 times, plus a second
and a third place. For this triumph he added $549,015 pesos (approximately $28,459 US) to his earnings account, which now exceeds 4.2 million pesos.
“He is a very strong and consistent colt with his performance, he arrives very well at long distances. In this race, it was impressive how he stretched to win the race in the last stride. Without a doubt, an excellent preparation
of Rubén Romo and his team,” said Ramiro González Ozuna, who is confident that he will maintain his performance in the current season, competing in the Derbies restricted for Mexican breds.
Surprising everyone, Miss Okey Okey
QBrew took second place under the direction of Yair Daniel Báez Soto for the benefit of Cuadra Titanium and trainer Sergio Flores López. She was bred by Hector Pacheco and is by Quik Brew out of Especially Okey (by Okey Dokey Dale).
In third place concluded the filly Danny Cool directed by José Ángel Ambrosio Medina for Rancho El Suspiro and trainer Gonzalo Bastida Pacheco. A breeding of Cuadra La Presita, she is by Danny Cartel and out of One Cool (by Separatist Jr). She is the winner of the Mexican Breeders Futurity.
The other finalists arrived in the following order: Y She Left (Azyoucansee–She Left You), SE Teller Jolla (La Jollaroid–Tellem Jamie), Quickity Cartel (Catch The Cartel–Quickity Famous), BR Corona de Chivali (Southern Corona–Chivali Go), Crisp Horse (Sea Horse Corona–Crisp), Cheeta Steal (Cheetah Woods–Feet Down Six) & BB Cartel (Watchful Vigilance–B B Good)
Hipodromo de las Americas $67,792 • 350 yards :17.32 • si 87
Feature Mr Jess Rapid Fire Jess
Dollish
LA RAPID KING JUDEA, ‘16-c.
Strawfly Special Queen Judea
The Nile Queen
196
SPEEDHORSE, August 2019
La Rapid King Judea (#3) and Mario Alberto López win the Garañones Derby by a nose.
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