Page 154 - December 2017

Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1
CHAZAQ
by Tracy Gantz
Owner James Streelman and trainer Jaime Gomez have had much success together, and they scored in both ends of the Exacta of
the Nov. 12 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1. Streelman’s Dutch Masters III is the sole owner of winner Chazaq, and Dutch Masters co-owns second-place Katella Deli with Paul Blanchard. Gomez trains them both.
“I flew in from Palm Desert this evening for this race,” said Streelman.
Chazaq zipped to the front under jockey Cody Jensen, while Katella Deli raced in third as Jess Mas separated the two. Chazaq never relin- quished his lead and defeated his stablemate wire- to-wire by 1/2-length in :19.762 for 400 yards.
Rodrigo Aceves had piloted Chazaq in his Oct. 21 Super Derby trial, and finished second to qualify third. Aceves also rode fastest-quali- fier LD Is Back, also trained by Gomez. When Aceves elected to stay with that runner for the final, Jensen picked up the mount on Chazaq.
“Cody said that he always liked the horse. I’m glad that it worked out.” said Gomez.
“Some of the horses crowded him a little bit, but what can you do?” Gomez continued. “It’s a horse race.”
Chazaq won the 2016 Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1, finished second in the 2016 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G3 and
2017 Old Habits Handicap. The $387,030 winner’s share of this race pushed the geld- ing’s earnings to $948,664.
“He had some problems
in subsequent trials,” said
Streelman. “We did a little
surgery after his 2-year-old
year. Speaking from personal
experience, original equip-
ment is best, but I’m stand-
ing here because I got a heart
transplant. He didn’t have
real big problems, but he needed that surgery. This horse came back great.”
The Super Derby gives Chazaq a berth in the Dec. 16 Champion of Champions-G1. He will be Dutch Masters’ second starter in the big event.
“Our first horse in the Champion of Champions was the Bob Baffert-trained Zure Hope Again in 1988,” said Streelman.
Baffert, of course, has gone on to train Thoroughbreds, including Triple Crown hero American Pharoah. He and Gomez remain good friends and can often be found in each other’s winner’s circle photos.
“I’m very blessed,” said Gomez. “I have a great crew in the barn, and Dr. Ricky Overly does a wonderful job looking after my horses.”
Gomez added that Chazaq is very well behaved. “This horse goes into the starting gate like a pony,” said the trainer. “When it’s time to go, he’ll jump 10 yards out of there. He’s as nice as a horse can be.”
Bobby Cox bred Chazaq in Texas out of 2004 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 winner All About Ease. She has pro- duced 22 winners from 25 starters, including graded
stakes winners Zoomin With Ease, All About Torque, multiple stakes winner Katharsis, and stakes-placers Mount Ararat, All N The Jeans, Algorithmic, and All American Ease.
Katella Deli (Foose-Katie Katella) finished second under jockey Jose Nicasio. Mark and Peggy Brown’s homebred Kissed By An Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Dreaming Of Kisses) ran third under Cesar DeAlba for trainer Roman Figueroa.
Completing the field were Jess Mas (One Sweet Jess-Corona Mas Fina), Tarzanito (Favorite Cartel-Ancient Empress), Renewed (Walk Thru Fire-Make Over), LD Is Back (Walk Thru Fire-Prima LD) & That Rico (Carters Cartel-Jess Like That). Billionaire Boy and Look At Her were scratched.
Los Alamitos $921,500 • 400 yards :19.762 • si 92
Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
CHAZAQ, ’14-g.
First Down Dash
All About Ease
Effortless Again
152 SPEEDHORSE, December 2017
Chazaq & Cody Jensen receive every call in the $921,500 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1
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