Page 156 - Speedhorse December 2019

Golden State Million Futurity-G1
RUNFORYOURLIFE
by Tracy Gantz
Christopher O’Dell has trained many stakes winners over the years, but a million-dol- lar futurity had thus far eluded him until Nov.
3 at Los Alamitos.
O’Dell qualified four horses to the
$1,038,850 Golden State Million Futurity-G1 during the Oct. 20 trials, and he got the job done with Runforyourlife.
“I’ve never won one of these big ones,” the ecstatic conditioner said after the race. “This is the first time for me. I’ve run seconds and thirds in million-dollar races. I’ve won futuri- ties and derbies, but I’ve never won a million- dollar race.”
O’Dell wished his father, Jim, could have seen the race.
“He trained and so did my grandpa,” said Christopher. “It was a big family affair. When I was a jockey, they were always there. My family had a lot of horses. My dad used to come out when I had Catchmeinyourdreams. He came down a couple of times from Missouri to see him run.”
Christopher trained Catchmeinyourdreams, who won four aged Championships about 15 years ago.
Eduardo Nicasio piloted Runforyourlife for O’Dell in the Golden State Million Futurity.
Sent away as the favorite from the rail post position, Runforyourlife bumped with Geothermal at the start,
but that didn’t keep him from gaining the lead by the first call and keeping it the remainder of the race.
Runforyourlife battled with Circle City and edged that rival by a nose in :19.924, which was good for an 89 speed index.
O’Dell trains Runforyourlife for Rosenthal Ranch LLC. The gelding this year had previ- ously won three races and finished second in the Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2.
“This horse has improved in every
single race,” stated Nicasio, who has ridden Runforyourlife in all six of his races. “He’s been coming on and coming on. I was a little nervous in the gates because the filly next to us, Geothermal, was moving.
“My horse was in the gates for a long time,” the jockey continued. “He didn’t break the same as he usually does, but after about 200 yards, he was coming on fast. He’s an incred- ible horse.”
Connie Rosenthal had purchased Powerful Favorite, Runforyourlife’s year-older full brother, for $90,000
at the 2017 Los Alamitos Equine Sale for her husband, Bob. But Bob died in early 2018 before ever having
the chance to see Powerful Favorite compete. Under O’Dell’s tutelage, the geld- ing has since won the 2018 Governor’s Cup Futurity
and 2019 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1, El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3, and Governor’s Cup Derby-RG3.
Powerful Favorite’s ability led O’Dell to check out Runforyourlife at the 2018 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Rosenthal Ranch bought Runforyourlife for $100,000 from breeder Dr. Steve Burns’ Burns Ranch.
“It takes a lot of money to buy them,”
said O’Dell. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to cultivate some owners, but you have to produce some results.
“We’ve been lucky to do that the last few years,” he said. “I think they trust me and they know that I’m going to do the best I can.”
Los Alamitos $1,038,850 • 400 yards :19.924 • si 89
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
RUNFORYOURLIFE, ‘17-g.
Corona Cartel
Remember Me Rose
Im Moonlighting
Runforyourlife and jockey Eduardo Nicasio win the $1,038,850 Golden State Million Futurity-G1 by a nose at Los Alamitos.
152 SPEEDHORSE, December 2019
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos