Page 141 - 12 April 2013

harrah’s entertainment Futurity-G3
SePaRatiSt FiRStDOWn
by Michael Compton
the $191,560 Harrah’s Futurity-G3 at Louisiana Downs on March 23 attracted a field of 10 promising juveniles each vying for the rich purse with only the trial races on March 2 to their credit. At the conclusion of the feature’s 300-yards, Separatist Firstdown, the 7-2 wagering favorite and third-fastest qualifier, emerged victorious and kept his record unblemished after two career starts.
Ridden by Saul Ramirez Jr., Separatist Firstdown broke sharply from the far outside in post position No. 10 and dueled with A Noble Jess Elie from the outset. The two
foes battled through the lane with Separatist Firstdown edging clear in the late stages to prevail by three-quarters of a length. The sorrel colt, owned by Oscar Canales Ramirez and trainer Isidro Flores, stopped the timer in :15.527 and earned a speed index of 96.
“Saul rode a good race,” said Flores. “He works with a lot of my horses before they get to the racetrack. He rides them in workouts and helps me in the schooling races. Saul was familiar with him before the trials, and that can mean a lot in the races.”
Separatist Firstdown improved from his trial race, a dash he won by a length in :15.576, jump- ing out to a narrow early lead and lengthening his advantage to the finish. Flores expected
improvement from his charge coming out of the trial heat. “He is a smart colt,” said Flores, who currently has 15
head in training. “He’s a fast
learner. We only have to show
him something once. The sec-
ond time he does anything, he
improves. When we took him
to the trial race he really didn’t
know what was going on or
what to expect. He broke
away from the gate good that
day and still ran well enough to win. I thought he would move forward off that race, and I was more confident heading into the finals.”
Bred in Texas by Narciso Flores, Separatist Firstdown is the only foal to race for the win- ning First Down Dash mare Shesa Firstdown Jess. While Separatist Firstdown has flashed
an abundance of speed in winning his first two starts, both at 300-yards, Flores believes the colt will only get better as the distances increase.
“He’s shown that he’s fast,” Flores said. “But he doesn’t crash the gate or anything. He’s controlled. In his workouts and in his races, he really gets going late. I think he will like more distance. We haven’t seen the best of him yet.”
Being a son of Separatist, the colt has every
right to be a top runner.
From 10 crops of racing age, Separatist has sired two cham- pions and 21 graded stakes winners. Separatist’s top run- ner to date is multiple AQHA Champion DM Shicago, an earner of more than $1.8 million. The stallion stands at Burns Ranch in California for a 2013 stud fee of $3,600.
Second-placed A Noble Jess Elie (Jess Elie-Legendary
Seis) was piloted by Jesse Chavis for trainer Kenneth Roberts. The filly, a homebred for Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, finished second in her trial behind fastest qualifier Bux for Bricks.
Third-placed Imkeepingscore (First Down Dash-My Special Phoebe) closed late under Alfonso Lujan. The colt races for Amaro Brothers Racing and is conditioned by Javier Contreras.
The remaining order was BBS First Flame (Game Patriot-BBS Magic Quarter), Bux for Bricks (Zoomin for Bux-Brick House Blonde), Secrets Fly (No Secrets Here-Once Upon a Fly), BB Risk (Azoom-Taking Risks), Will Flash Me (First Moonflash-Willie Call Me), Oldsmobile Hill (Separatist-Tahma Hawk), and Chucha Pia (Glimpse of Greatness-She So Smart).
Louisiana Downs $191,560 • 300 yards :15.527 • si 96
Chicks Beduino
Separatist
Separate Ways
SEPARATIST FIRSTDOWN, -11-c.
First Down Dash
Shesa Firstdown Jess
Kerrys Little Jess
Separatist Firstdown crosses the finish line with a 3/4-length victory in the $191,560 Grade 3 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity
SPEEDHORSE, April 12, 2013 139
racing news
natalie Glyshaw: Lou hodges Photo