Page 190 - Speedhorse, December 2018

Texas Classic Derby-G1
HOTSTEPPER
by Michael Cusortelli
Rebounding from a third-place finish in his Oct. 19 trial Hotstepper rallied from his rail post to win 440-yard $375,610 Texas Classic
Derby-G1 at Lone Star Park on Nov. 10. Hotstepper made his quarter-mile trip in
:21.615 under jockey Cody Jensen, and the gelding’s margin of victory was a head from fastest qualifier Curls Happy Wagon. C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath
prepped Hotstepper for own- ers Johnny D. Cope, R.D. Hubbard, Rafter W Stables, and Henry Southway.
Hotstepper earned the $167,148 winner’s share of the purse. The gelding won two of his six outs during the Ruidoso Downs sum- mer meet, including the $1.239-million All American Derby-G1 on Sept. 2.
“He’s always been a little bit of an overachiever,” said
New Mexico Classic Futurity-RG2
Jensen. “He might not be the fastest, but he always gives you a chance to win and make a little money.
Raced in New Mexico and Texas, Hotstepper has won six of 15 starts, and he has banked $1,254,409, of which $485,096 was earned from seven outs during his two-year- old campaign.
During his juvenile season, Hotstepper ran second in the Texas Classic Futurity-G1
and third in the All American Futurity-G1.
“Usually when a horse has a rough 2-year-old campaign, it takes a toll on him as a 3 year old,” Jensen said. “But Sleepy and his crew do such
a good job with him at their place. He’s been a lot more mature mentally this year.”
Hotstepper was bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches
LP, and he is the first starter produced by his dam, Pandorum, a 9-year-old graded stakes winner.
Runner-up Curls Happy Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Eye A Spit Curl Girl) was ridden by Jorge Torres. Stacy Charette-Hill prepped the filly for owners Michael A. Pohl and Martin Stacy. Hes Limitless (Corona Cartel-PJ Chick In Black) ran third under Agustin Silva for owner Jack Smith Farms and trainer John Stinebaugh.
Followed by This Is A Deal Too (Dealagame- Lady Lilia), Dash For Stone (Tempting Dash- Lassie O Toole), DF AJ Green Leaves (Apollitical Jess-Three Green Leaves), Intense Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Remember Me Rose), Three Bar Cartel (Capo De Capi-Eyesa Ridicolous To), Serendipity Rocks (Rock Solid Jess-Precious Serendipity) and Another Shot (Tempting Dash-Fontanas Stoli).
WOODYS COPY CAT
by Danny Camp
Woodys Copy Cat notched her first stakes win in the $315,450 New Mexico Classic Futurity-RG2 at Zia Park on Nov. 4.
She stepped away from the 10-post and within a few jumps had the lead. Ridden by Manuel Guiterrez, the filly crossed the wire a neck to in front and completed the 400 yards in :19.687, earning a 94 speed index.
Woodys Copy Cat brought home the $151,416 winner’s share of the purse for owner Enrique Barrera and trainer
Cynthia Gonzales, boosting
her total lifetime earnings to
$240,782.
Woodys Copycat deadheated in the Oct. 14 trials to share the fastest qualifying score. She has
won three races out of seven starts. Woodys Copy Cat was second in the New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2 and was a finalist in the Four Corners Futurity earlier this year.
M J Farms bred Woodys Copy Cat out
of 3-time winner Fast Copy Miss. The mare was runner-up in the 2006 Four Corners Futurity-G3. Fast Copy Miss has produced 100% money earners from eight starters, including Daddys Copy, who was a runner-up in the Sunburst Stakes-RG3 earlier this year. Woodys Copy Cat is her first stakes winner and top earner.
“We all know good horses make good trainers,” said trainer Cynthia
Gonzales. “So far, Woodys Copy Cat is making every- body on our team look good. She has her quirky ways and will do anything and do it good. But when your’re done, you have to leave her alone or she gets real grouchy.”
She continued to say, “She’s good in the gates and a good ride in the morning. She pulled up really good, cool joints and eating good. We
are looking forward to the Shue Fly Futurity at Sunland.”
HS Paul Walker (Osbaldo- Strawberryberryfast) and Alonso Rivera were second for owner Fernando Solis Grajeda and trainer Jesus Carrete.
Wood Be A Superstar (Woodbridge- Starsmith) finished in third place under Ricky Ramirez for owner Aldai Transport and trainer Blane Wood.
Zee James (Jesse James Jr-On A Bunny), Flo Jos Mojo (First Moonflash-Rainbows N Diamonds), Tooflashyforyou (First Moonflash- Holland Fire), U Got The Look (Jesse James Jr-The Masters), Saul (Sign To Be A Runaway- The Rainbow Rea), Easy Over The Moon (First Moonflash-Easeful Dinastia) and Igotmybiggirljeanson (Big Daddy Cartel-Prada N Jeans) completed the order of finish.
188 SPEEDHORSE, December 2018
Lone Star Park $375,610 • 440 yards :21.615 • si 95
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
HOTSTEPPER, ‘15-g.
Tres Seis
Pandorum
Daring Diversion
Zia Park $315,450 • 400 yards :19.687 • si 94
Dash Ta Fame
Woodbridge
Champagne Lane
WOODYS COPY CAT, ‘16-f.
Heza Fast Man
Fast Copy Miss
Miss Bully Bach
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography Dustin Orona Photography