Page 85 - 2 March 2012

most powerful drug trafficking organization, the Sinaloa cartel. The Gonzalez’s run a large horse racing operation in New Mexico. Investigators say the drug organization moved $15 million or more in drugs and provided cash for guns, using race- horses and real estate to hide the illegal money. The nine-month investigation, which culminated in the arrests of 13 of 15 defendants, began last November when Ramon Gonzalez, Sr. was stopped with 26 kilos of cocaine and 550 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1 million being hauled in a horse trailer.
Former Jockey Efrain Garza Passes Away
Former Quarter Horse jockey Efrain Garza, 84, passed away Feb. 5. Garza was one of the first Hispanic jockeys to ride at Los Alamitos, winning four riding titles at the California track in the 1950s. Garza trained horses for several years after retiring from riding when he sustained a broken leg in 1963.
Jockey Trevino Clark Suspended
Louisiana-based jockey Trevino Clark was suspended for six months for refusing to submit to a urine test. This is the third time Clark
has received the same penalty for this offense. His case has been referred to the Louisiana State Racing Commission for further action if deemed necessary.
North Dakota Tracks Get Days
The North Dakota Racing Commission on Feb. 16 approved live race dates for Chippewa Downs in Belcourt (eight days from June 9-30) and North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo. This will be the first time since September 2009
live racing will be conducted in Fargo, which received two guaranteed days (July 14-15) and two conditional days (July 21-22).
Screening of T-Gallop: A Louisiana Horse Story
The new documentary “T-Gallop: a Louisiana Horse Story” will be screened at
7 p.m. on March 16 at the Central School
Arts and Humanities Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as part of the Louisiana Folklore Society’s Annual Meeting hosted by McNeese State University. T-Gallop visits the history and blend between Cajun and Creole cowboy tradi- tions from colonial times to present day, and looks at bush tracks, zydeco cowboys, mounted Mardi Gras revelers, ranches and jockeys.
ADW Partnership Established in Iowa
An agreement for TVG to operate a co-branded Advanced Deposit Wagering (ADW) system on behalf of Prairie Meadows (PRM) and the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA) has been reached. TVG
and Prairie Meadows will market each other’s products and services, including TVG’s state-of-the-art technology featuring premium video streaming tailored to promote Prairie Meadows’ racing and casino business. The agreement follows the enactment of legislation in 2011 authorizing ADW in the state. Prairie Meadows will run a Thoroughbred meet from April 20-Aug. 11, and a Quarter Horse meet beginning Aug. 17 that will feature AQHA’s Bank of America Challenge Championship races on closing day, Oct. 27.
Las Palmas Downs
Sassmaster Wins Royal Shake Em Futurity
Las Palmas Downs in McAllen, Texas, is not an AQHA sanctioned track. However, horse- men have shown an interest in the facility since its opening in 2004, and especially in the Royal Shake Em Futurity—one of the premier events at Las Palmas Downs and the first unofficial futurity of the year. The 1994 gray stallion Royal Shake Em Futurity is the namesake of the race. A leading sire of nearly $10 million, Royal Shake Em is owned by the RMV Family Partnership and Rodrigo Alberto Vallejo. Royal Shake Em stands at Ronnie Stewart’s Double S Farm in Holland, Texas.
The top six horses from the Jan. 28 trials
to the 250-yard Royal Shake Em Futurity at Las Palmas Downs qualified to the finals, with the next six moving on to the consolation. The finals were originally scheduled for Feb. 12,
but were cancelled due to weather conditions. Fastest qualifier One Fast Wagon, as well as JMF Zoomin Pancho, Dis Music and PC all scratched, many to rest up for the March 3 trials to the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity, leaving a two horse field for the Feb. 18 Royal Shake Em Futurity finals.
Only Sassmaster and Captain Strawfly entered the gates. It was a close race, but the $22,122 winner’s share of the $49,160 purse for the 2012 Royal Shake Em Futurity went to the gelding Sassmaster winning by a neck in :13.42. Sired by TR Dasher and out of the Separatist mare Catch You Now, Sassmaster was bred by Ed Allred and is owned and trained by Homar Garza. Jockey Santana Mendez did the riding.
Finishing a close second was Captain Strawfly (Captain Courage-Strawfly Lady) for owner Joe M. Flores, trainer Jorge Barrera and jockey Sabino Reyes.
In the $6,570 consolation, Sheza Terminator, Daisies Paint, Cougar Hill and Fance Oak Tree all scratched, leaving another two-horse race for the finals. Laneview La Jolla (Azoom-Runaway Jess, Feature Mr Jess) pulled off the win under jockey Sabino Reyes with a time of :13.54.
The gelding was bred by Rigo Flores, is owned by Hector Cedillo and was trained by Jorge Barrera. Following the winner was Palabra De Boracho (First Down Natova-Whata Smooth Dash) for owner Rene Trujillo and jockey/ trainer Mario Trujillo.
#Submit your Grade 1 recipes to Speedhorse! Be sure to include your name and the name of your dish. You can email your recipes to info@speedhorse.com or send them via regular mail to Speedhorse, P.O. Box 1000, Norman, OK 73071.
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced 1 stick butter
1 pound crawfish tails 1/4 to 1/2 C. Parmesan
cheese
1/8 C. chopped parsley Whipping cream (enough
to create a heavy
cream sauce)
1 (7-ounce) box tortellini
filled with cheese Salt and red pepper to
taste
Crawfish Tortellini Loupé
Grade 1 Recipe:
We’ve found that Parmesan cheese and crawfish compliment one another very well. For this recipe we used the dried tortellini, but fresh tortellini is fine.
Sauté onion and garlic in butter. Add crawfish. Continue to cook for approximately 5 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese, parsley, and whipping cream. Prepare tortellini as directed and fold into crawfish mixture. Season with plain salt and red pepper. (Spinach tortellini may be used). Delicious!
From The Kitchen of:
Bunny Jumonville and
Joy Mounger, from The Louisiana Crawfish Cookbook
SPEEDHORSE, March 2, 2012 83
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