Page 178 - Speedhorse December 2019

Z Wayne Griffin Director S. Div. 1
HOTSTEPPER
by Tracy Gantz
Two “hot” horses, Hotstepper and He Looks Hot, earned provisional berths to the Champion of Champions-G1 with their one-two finish in the first division of the Z. Wayne Griffin Director Trials at Los Alamitos on Nov. 17.
Ramon Sanchez piloted Hotstepper, who
broke on top in the 400-yard event. Hotstepper led throughout and defeated He Looks Hot by a nose in :19.536, which was good for a 98 speed index.
Paul Jones trains Hotstepper for owner Monica Williams. The bay gelding’s victories include the 2018 All American Derby-G1 and Texas Classic Derby-G1. With total earnings of $1,356,316, he was the 2018 Champion 3 Year Old and Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding.
Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP bred Hotstepper out of multiple stakes winner Pandorum. The mare has produced one other starter, stakes-placed winner Hotsempting. Hotstepper’s third dam, Grade 1 winner Daring Difference, is a half-sister to Grade
1 winner Mr Eye Opener and to stakes-placed
Miss Eye Opener, she in turn is the dam of World Champion Special Leader.
Dr. Ed Allred bred and owns second-place He Looks Hot (Walk Thru Fire-Look Her Over). Vinnie Bedmar rode 7-year-old He Looks Hot for trainer Scott Willoughby. Winner of this year’s Spencer
L. Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap-RG1 and Moonist Handicap, He Looks Hot has now earned $1,356,316. Jim Walker’s home- bred Zoomin For Spuds (Zoomin For Bux-A Perfect Cocktail) finished third with Jesus Ayala in the irons. Monty Arrossa trains the 6-year-old gelding, who won the 2016 Champion of Champions-G10. Followed by Mi Amor Secreto (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin In Secret), Suze Returns (High Rate Of Return-Brown Eye Suze) and La Rusa (Walk Thru Fire-Corona Fria).
Z Wayne Griffin Director S. Div. 2
JESSTACARTEL
by Tracy Gantz
Jesstacartel captured the second division of the $15,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Director Trials at Los Alamitos on Nov. 17.
Breaking inward from the rail, Jesstacartel came away from the gate in last. Jockey Carlos Huerta roused him quickly, however, and he stormed up in the final yards to win by a nose in :19.686 to earn a 95 speed index for the 400 yards. That time earned him the provisional berth to the Champion of Champions-G1, a race in which he finished second last year by just a head.
The $8,250 winner’s share of the purse boosted his total lifetime earnings to $663,600.
Mark Skeen trains Jesstacartel for owner Lesley Joyner, who bred the 4-year-old gelding in Utah. Jesstacartel was winning his ninth race in 17 starts, his earlier victories include the 2018 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 and Golden State Derby-G2 and the 2017 Autumn Handicap and Corona Chick Handicap.
Joyner purchased Buena Cartel, the unraced second dam of Jesstacartel, and bred Stolmeacartel, who started only twice. Jesstacartel is the first foal out of Stolmeacartel.
Jose Nicasio piloted As And Js (Apollitical Jess- Adolph Tres Knockout) to second for owner Leonardo Alcala and trainer Monty Arrossa. As And Js won
the 2019 Junos Request Stakes-G2, 2018 Easy Date Stakes, 2017 OHA Mystery Derby, and 2016 Black Gold 350 Futurity.
Richard Frandsen’s homebred Favorite Motion (Favorite Cartel-Mia Ta Fame) finished third under jockey Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores. The 3-year-old gelding also finished third in this year’s Golden State Derby-G2.
Jess My Kiss (One Sweet Jess-Dreaming Of Kisses) finished fourth, with Jess Macho Corona (Corona Cartel-Jess Send Me) following in fifth. Eagles Policy was scratched.
Rebagain Handicap
YOU CAUGHT MY EYE
by Tracy Gantz
The combination of owner-breeder Dr. Steve Burns, trainer Mike Casselman, and sire Favorite Cartel is always formidable. They succeeded again in the Dec. 14 Rebagain Handicap at Los Alamitos with You Caught My Eye.
Sent away at 15-1, You Caught My Eye was out on top and led throughout the 350-yard Rebagain Handicap under jockey Oscar Andrade Jr. The filly scored by a head in :17.664.
You Caught My Eye’s previous stakes experience includes running third in the 2018 Governor’s Cup Futurity-G2. She also qualified for the 2018 Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and 2019 La Primera Del Ano Derby-G3 and Governor’s Cup Derby-RG3.
Burns bred You Caught My Eye in California from his homebred graded stakes winner Hawk Kue Pie. Burns also bred and raced the second dam, Kool Kue Chick, who is a half-sister to Champion Kool Kue Baby and the dam of two other stakes winners. Hawk Kue Pie has produced seven winners from 11 starters, including additional stakes winner Tyson Gay and stakes-placed Militarist.
Cruz Mendez rode Madam Of Fire MV (Walk Thru Fire-Solid Connection) to second for trainer Jose Flores and owner Vince Genco. Madam Of Fire MV in 2019 also finished second in the California Breeders’ Sprint Stakes and third in the Miss Princess Handicap-G3.
Elicity (Apollitical Jess-Flame N Flash), owned by Papas Place LLC, trained by Juan Aleman, and ridden by Ramon Sanchez, finished third. The mare won the 2017 Corona Cartel Stakes.
Completing the field were Singles Cruise (Favorite Cartel-Going Single), Fenian Faith (Apollitical Jess-Three Green Leaves), Ladys A Cartel (Five Bar Cartel-Significant Lady), Love To Reason BR (Good Reason SA-Strength In Numbers), and Jess Zoomin Senator (Louisiana Senator-JZ Annie).
Los Alamitos • $15,000 400 yards • :19.686 • si 95
Mr Jess Perry
One Sweet Jess
JESSTACARTEL, ‘15-g. Stolmeacartel
One Sweet Dash Stoli
Buena Cartel
Los Alamitos • $15,000 400 yards • :19.536 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
HOTSTEPPER, ‘15-g. Pandorum
One Famous Lady Tres Seis
XDaring Diversion
Los Alamitos • $20,000 350 yards • :17.664 • si 93
Favorite Trick TB Shenoshercorona
Hawkinson
Favorite Cartel YOU CAUGHT MY EYE, ’16-f.
Hawk Kue Pie
Kool Kue Chick
174 SPEEDHORSE, December 2019
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
Emily Blankenship, Speedhorse