Page 143 - May 2018 Speedhorse

Dixie Downs Derby
TINYCAPITANA
by John Moorehouse
Tiny Capitana made an addition to her bankroll with a victory in the $21,285 Dixie Downs Derby at the Utah track on April 21. Not only did it mark her first win in stakes company, but the filly also banked an $8,514 payday that nearly quadrupled her career earnings to a new total of $11,481.
A three year old who was winless in her seven prior outs, Tiny Capitana would not be denied in this one. The Josh Taylor trainee broke well from the 9-post and quickly took the lead, maintaining a nar- row advantage at each remaining call in the 350-yard race and hitting the wire first by a neck at the front of a blanket finish.
Alex Carrillo rode Tiny Capitana, who finished the race in :17.768 for a career-high 99 speed index. Pedro Mena owns the filly, who was a finalist in the Wyoming All Breed Futurity and Wyoming Downs Futurity dur- ing her rookie campaign.
Keith Hildabrand bred Tiny Capitana out of 5-time winner Tiny Flyin Levis, who was a finalist in the 2004 Black Gold Derby-RG3. Tiny Capitana is her first stakes winner while Predisan Pappa is her top money earner.
Bay Max (Dashair-Weekend Traffic TB), the fastest qualifier, settled for second this time. Home- bred by Casey Woolsthulme, the gelding is trained by Ryan Christensen and had Jesus Virgen in the irons. Krash Your Party (Krash Cartel-Hasta La Veesta) finished third. The gelding is owned by BNB Racing and trained by Ricardo Castillo. Armondo Viramontes drew the riding assignment. Followed by Juno Jess (Jess Zoomin-Junos Eye), Tempting Finale (Tempting Dash-Uzoom Corona), UD Goldenboy (JR Dynasty Mountain-Bvlgari B), Thats Amore La Blue (First Down Dash-Amore La Blue), Acadillac (Azoom-Louisiana Cadillac), One Hot Party (Stel Corona-The Partys On Fire) and Corrupt (Stel Corona-Hayleys MyName).
James S. Smith Memorial H. Wheatland Handicap
CMBOOMSHAKALAKA BIGCHAMPIONTB
by Tracy Gantz
CM Boom Shakalaka soared to his third stakes victory in $18,000 James S. Smith Memorial Handicap at Los Alamitos on April 8.
The 3-year-old bay gelding broke fourth from the 2-post, but quickly raced into contention. The entire field bunched up at the wire, but CM Boom Shakalaka stuck his nose on the line first. They com- pleted the 350 yards in :17.714 for a 91 speed index.
CM Boom Shakalaka brought home the $9,900 winner’s share of the purse for co-owner/breeder Randy Dickerson and co-owner/trainer Nick Lowe and boosted his total lifetime earnings to $60,976.
“He got a little hot tonight,” said Lowe. “He’s all racehorse and wants to run.”
Dickerson bred CM Boom Shakalaka out of graded stakes finalist & 3-time winner Mi Fames A Dandy. She has produced 100% winners/ROM from 7 starters, including 2-time stakes winner and top earner CM Got Overserved. CM Boom Shakalaka, the 2nd stakes winner of the brood, also won the 2017 Baxter Andruss Oregon Bred Futurity and the 2017 Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge. He was 5th in this year’s Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 and last year’s AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship-G2.
Spackman Racing and Lin Melton’s homebred Dont Foose With Me (Foose-Queenly Walk) was 2nd under jockey Eduardo Nicasio. Melton also trains the gelding, who was coming off back-to-back allow- ance victories and placed in last year’s Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G3 & California Breeders Freshman Stakes. On Our Way (One Sweet Jess- Attack The Cartel) ran 3rd under jockey G.J. Rangel for owners Lazy Creek Ranch & Jerry McAlevey and trainer Jose Flores. The filly qualified for last year’s Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1 and has won
2 races. They were followed by Apollitical Stone (Apollitical Jess-La Fantacia Sone) & Corona Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Corona Perfection).
by Tracy Gantz
Aclaim off a two-time Kentucky Derby- winning trainer proved the key to the $20,000 Wheatland Handicap at Los Alamitos on April 14.
Quarter Horse My Capullo broke first in the Wheatland, with Big Champion and jockey Juan Sanchez in third to My Capullo’s outside. Big Champion made a huge move around the turn to take the lead, and he drew off for a 4-length victory in :44.408 as the 7-10 favorite.
Trainer Michael Curtis claimed Big Champion at Santa Anita in February from trainer Doug O’Neill, who won the Kentucky Derby with both I’ll Have Another and Nyquist. Big Champion then beat Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at 870 yards in the Wheatland Handicap.
Curtis trains Big Champion for 4 Hares Racing Inc. Since the claim, Big Champion has won three of four races at Los Alamitos, with one second.
Bob Austin and John Witte bred Big Champion in Kentucky from the More Than Ready mare Mizoes Ready. The mare is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Hungarian Boatbaby. Big Champion sold for $35,000 as a weanling and $32,000 as a yearling, both at Keeneland. Curtis claimed him for $12,500.
Nazario Hernandez’s homebred My Capullo (Royaltys Choice-My Sophia TB) ran second under jockey Minor Arana for trainer Felix Gonzalez.
Justamitch TB (Onebadshark-Justawitch) fin- ished third with Christian Aragon aboard for trainer Salvador Naranjo and owner Raul Mariscal.
Bound To Bet (Snowbound TB-Bet She Flys), Mason B TB (Stormin Fever-Excessive Theresa), Back Beauty TB (Hold Me Back-Proud Beauty) and Dream On Brother TB (Run Brother Ron-Dream Spotter) completed the order of finish. Newport Coaster was scratched.
Dixie Downs • $21,285 350 yards • :17.768 • si 99
Mr Jess Perry
Captain Courage
TINY CAPITANA, ‘15-f. Tiny Flyin Levis
Corona Chick Strawflyin Buds
Zevis Levis
Los Alamitos • $18,000 350 yards • :17.714 • si 91
Corona Cartel
Jumping Tac Flash
Carters Cartel
CM BOOM SHAKALAKA, ‘15-g.
Dash Ta Fame
Mi Fames A Dandy
Mito Easy Chick
Los Alamitos • $20,000 870 yards • :44.408 • si 106
Munnings
BIG CHAMPION TB, ‘13-g.
Mizoes Ready
Speightstown La Comete
More Than Ready Victory Roll
SPEEDHORSE, May 2018 141
RACING NEWS
Donaldo Othon Lucero
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos