Page 178 - Speedhorse, December 2018

LQHBA Louisiana Million Night
Evangeline Downs Derby
STONE COLD LEADER
By Michael Cusortelli
Stone Cold Leader, a gelded son of Brookstone Bay and the seventh-fastest qualifier, earned his fourth career stakes vic- tory in the 400-yard Evangeline Downs Derby on Dec. 15.
Racing for Patrick Richardson of Huger, South Carolina, and sent to post as the 3-1 co- second choice in the full field
of 10 sophomores, Stone Cold
Leader defeated second-fastest
qualifier and 17-10 favorite Jess
Adalida by 3/4-length in :19.458.
Rolando Del Rio Pina rode the
gelding for trainer Joe Davis.
Stone Cold Leader earned
a lifetime-best 104 speed index while banking the $80,005 winner’s share of the $160,010 purse. The gelding was coming off of a nose victory in one of seven Evangeline Downs Derby trials on Nov. 24.
Stone Cold Leader was bred by Mark Michel of Pierceton, Indiana, and is one of four winners from five starters produced by Sheza Classy Leader, a homebred winning and
stakes-placed 12-year-old daughter of the Special Leader stallion Leader Of The Class. Stone Cold Leader is a full brother to Sheza Classy Bay, a Brookstone Bay filly who fin- ished second in the 2016 Speed Sale Stakes at Indiana Grand, and he is a half-brother to Jumpn Chick, a daughter of Jumpn who ran
third in the 2016 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby at Indiana Grand.
Campaigned in four states, Stone Cold Leader has won nine of 18 outs and he has banked $426,333. His four stakes victories include last year’s 300-yard $184,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity
and the 350-yard $177,000 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity, both at Indiana Grand.
Stone Cold Leader has earned $232,391 from nine starts this season, and his four wins at 3 include a 1-length score
in the 400-yard $212,000 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs on June 30.
Jess Adalida (Jess Louisiana Blue- Wortherweightingold) banked $27,202 for owner Ruben Garcia Montemayor. Manuel Gutierrez rode the multiple stakes winning filly to second place in this race for trainer Josue Ponce.
Fastest qualifier Three Bar Cartel (Capo de Capi-Eyesa Ridicolous) finished third, 1-length behind Stone Cold Leader, for owner Ruben Garcia Montemayor. Jesse Levario rode the graded stakes winning gray gelding for trainer Josue Ponce.
Racanteur (High Rate Of Return- Shanachee), Ls Concho (The Louisiana Cartel- Tobins Lass), Sr Shambles (Desirio-Parisz), The Red Rocket (Walk Thru Fire-Check
N Fetch), Zathuras Patriot (Game Patriot- Zathura), Wrs Quick Jess (One Sweet Jess-Wrs Quick Sister), and Pycs Crock Of Cash (Pyc Kant Katch Me-Miss Crock Of Cash) com- pleted the order of finish.
Evangeline Downs $160,010 • 400 yards :19.458 • si 104
First Down Dash Brookstone Bay
Le Ritz
STONE COLD LEADER, ’15 g.
Leader Of The Class Sheza Classy Leader Mystery Stride
Above: Stone Cold Leader’s winning connections include owner Patrick Richardson, trainer Joe
D D a a v v i i s s a a n n d d j j o o c c k k e e y y R R o o l l a a n n d d o o D D e e l l R R i i o o P P i i n n a a . . L L e e f f t t : : T Tr r a a i i n n e e r r Joe Davis and owner Patrick Richardson.
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