Page 128 - May 2018 Speedhorse
P. 128
Sam Houston Futurity-G2
FM IM A ZATANAZ TOO
by Tracy Gantz
FM Im A Zatanaz Too notched his first stakes victory in the $440,600 Sam Houston Futurity-G2 on April 28, the richest race of the
2018 Sam Houston Quarter Horse meet.
It was the first stakes win for owner Jose
Fabian Hernandez, who was very proud of his horse, trainer and rider.
“I had bought a few horses in the past,” said Hernandez. “But last year my partners and I purchased 11 yearlings at sales in New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. FM Im A Zatanaz Too was a $35,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Sale. We knew he was a nice horse, but win- ning this futurity is amazing.”
Though FM Im A Zatanaz Too qualified the fourth fastest, he went off as the 2-1 favor- ite. Manuel Gutierrez had ridden him in the April 6 trial, where they scored by a neck, and he was back aboard for the final.
Patriotic Games broke on top, with FM Im A Zatanaz Too breaking third from the inside. FM Im A Zatanaz Too quickly began dueling with Patriotic Games and they battled to the wire of the 330-yard event. FM Im A Zatanaz Too pushed his neck in front, stopping the clock in :16.823 for a career-high 95 speed index.
The gelding is undefeated from two starts and the $176,240 winner’s share of the purse boosted
his cumulative lifetime earn- ings to $178,040.
Robert Meche trains
FM Im A Zatanaz Too for Hernandez. The trainer dedi- cated the win to his son Jess, a former jockey who died in
a training accident at Delta Downs in 2013.
“I know he is watching and he will always be with me,” said Meche.
McColee Land & Livestock LLC bred FM Im A Zatanaz Too out of graded stakes winner Dashingfordestiny and consigned him to the Ruidoso sale through Lazy E Ranch LLC as agent. Dashingfordestiny has produced 100% money earners with six winners from 12 start- ers, including 2015 West Texas Derby-G3 winner Tempting Destiny and stakes-placed Illtakeyouforaride. FM Im A Zantanaz Too becomes the second stakes winner of the brood.
The second dam is multiple Champion Dashing Phoebe. It is a family full of black
type, as Dashing Phoebe also produced multiple Champions Heartswideopen and Special Phoebe as well as stakes winners Furyofthewind and Solid Demand.
Rodrigo Aceves piloted Patriotic Games (First Down Dash-Miss Game Tee) to sec- ond. Eduardo Morales trains the colt for owner Ramiro Jaime Flores Sr. Patriotic Games finished second in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity-G3 earlier this year.
Cadillac Cash (FDD Dynasty-Evans Express) finished third under jockey
Jose Martinez for owner Rolando Morales and trainer Saul Ramirez Jr. In his racing debut, Cadillac Cash won his trial for the Sam Houston Futurity as the fifth-fastest qualifier. Ramirez won the inaugural Sam Houston Futurity in 1994 as a jockey aboard A Touch Of Victory.
Hesgonnabesomebody (FDD Dynasty- Witchs Streak), Moment Of Fury (Furyofthewind-Moment Of Epiphany), Slyng Schott (Ivory James-A Shot At Glory), Tempting Bye Dash (Tempting Dash-Dashin Chick) and Jess Master Angel (Dash Master Jess-Mi Angela) completed the order of finish. Sadly, Elite Five (Five Bar Cartel-Significant Choice) fell in mid-stretch. Dominyun Tee Off was scratched.
Sam Houston Race Park $440,600 330 yards :16.823 si 95
First Down Dash
Tempting Dash
A Tempting Chick
FM IM A ZATANAZ TOO, ‘16-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Dashingfordestiny
Dashing Phoebe
126 SPEEDHORSE, May 2018
FM Im A Zatanaz Too & Manuel Gutierrez win the $440,600 Sam Houston Futurity-G2
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography
