Page 194 - Speedhorse September 2017

Mexican Derby
TEMPTING SPLASH DASH
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Eduardo Silveyra
The Mexican Derby - the third “jewel” of the Mexican Triple Crown for Quarter Horses
- enrolled just seven participants, but those few were enough to give the race an exciting touch due to the participation of Tempting Splash Dash and Beer Wagon, winners of the Easily A Possum and AMCCCCM Classics, respec- tively. Although it was clear that there would be no horse to win the Triple Crown, there was a keen interest in discovering if any of them would conquer two of the three prized races.
Beer Wagon was the favorite to win, closing with 1.70 odds, while the sorrel Tempting Splash Dash had odds of 3.40. The two magnificent colts: Beer Wagon with José Ángel Ambrosio returning to the post where he had not appeared since Dec. 18, 2016, and Tempting Splash Dash with Mario Alberto López Marmolejo aboard - the rider in all his contests.
Completing protocol and taking their start- ing positions, the race was soon dispatched.
At the start, the delay of both Louisiana Run (#4) and Tempting One (#7) was noted and affected their performance. However, the race flowed with the expected speed. On the inner rail, My Moonflash headed for the wire with
Beer Wagon (#3) moving inward, and the pair closed with a duel where Beer Wagon took the lead. Meanwhile from the 6th position, Tempting Splash Dash came out of the gate and made an impeccable run, taking the lead in the final yards and domi-
nating over Beer Wagon and leaving him in second place by 1/2-length.
The timer stopped at :19.34 for a 100 speed index
to the satisfaction of the members of his team Cuadra Zamarrero, among them Javier Barradas Aguilar and Victor Hugo Ramírez Moreno and guests gathered in the winner’s circle for the awards.
The winner was bred in
the United States by Bob
McClure and is the son of Tempting Dash
and out of Thebabeisback by Splash Bac. In
10 starts, Tempting Splash Dash has a record of 4-3-1, including a first place finish in
the Easily A Possum Classic and now in the Mexican Derby, as well as a second place finish
in the AQHA Mexico Challenge Derby. The purse for the race was $284,000
pesos (approximately $16,055 US), of which $170,400 pesos (approximately $9,633 US) increased Tempting Splash Dash’s earnings,
now reaching more than $900,000 pesos.
Beer Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fredaville) finished second led by José Ángel Ambrosio Medina for Cuadra El Cuartel and trainer Rigoberto Vega López.
Third place went to the filly My Moonflash (First Moonflash-A Super Bowl) led by Yair Daniel Báez Soto for owner Ismael García Hernández and trainer Alfredo Rabanal Salinas.
The other participants were: Tempting One (Tempting Dash-One Slick Jessie), Cruzin And Boozin (Tempting Dash-Penelope Cruzin), Louisiana Run (Louisiana Senator- Confidential Run) and Ketchen Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Lettis All).
Hipodromo de las Americas $16,055 • 400 yards :19.34 • si 100
First Down Dash
Tempting Dash
A Tempting Chick
TEMPTING SPLASH DASH, ‘14-c.
Splash Bac
Thebabeisback
One Slick Babe
Tempting Splash Dash’s connections include Javier Barradas, Tracy Harries, jockey Mario Alberto López, Arturo Olvera Bernal, Victor Hugo Ramírez, and guests 192 SPEEDHORSE, September 2017
RACING NEWS
Luis Prieto Zamudio