Page 168 - December 2017
P. 168
AQRA Turf Paradise Open D.
FITZ
by John Moorehouse
Fitz logged his first ever stakes victory in the $44,935 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby held at Turf Paradise on Dec. 10.
Trained by Rigoberto Guillen, Fitz broke mid- pack from the 7-post. Gaining momentum and run- ning a close second entering the stretch, Fitz drifted late, but still got to the wire first by a nose.
Ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr., the three-year-old sorrel gelding finished the 400-yard trip in :19.618, clocking a 102 speed index while benefiting from a 13 mph tailwind.
Owned by Yuriana Ramirez, Fitz placed second in the AQRA President’s Spring Derby back in April. The gelding now has a race record of 15-4(1)-3(1)-0. The $22,468 payday from this victory more than doubled his prior overall earnings to $43,237.
Double Bar S Ranch LLC, bred Fitz and owns his dam, stakes-placed Dividends Declared. The mare has produced 100% money earners from nine starters, including top earner and 2011 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 winner High Rate Of Return and 2014 Eastex Stakes-G2 winner Somethin Like This.
John Allred trains runner-up Mr Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Jess Joyner) and co-owns the geld- ing with Mary Allred. Mark Jasso was aboard.
Apollitical Boogie (Apollitical Jess-Shakin Ana Dashin) finished third by daylight after an awkward break. The gelding is owned by Arnado De La Riva and trained by Eloy Mendoza. Emilio Tapia was in the irons.
C You At The Top (Prospect To The Top-CC Toastin Jody) finished fourth and was followed by Arizona Icon (Texas Icon-Jess Perfect Girl), Cypress Sally (Winners Version-Luscious Legs), Jess Klas (One Sweet Jess-This Snow Shows Klas), Kronos (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin Angelita), Rock On Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Rock N Zoom) and Blueist (Separatist-Shesa Fast Cat).
Desert Classic Derby
SWEET BABIE JAMES
by Dillon Hamilton
After missed chances to win or place in his first two stakes challenges, Sweet Babie James deliv- ered in the $20,900 Desert Derby Classic at Turf Paradise on Nov. 5.
The sorrel gelding settled into the 4-post ready to fight a significant head wind and competitive field. He broke third from the gate and lagged behind at first call, but found a gaining stride to challenge the leaders. By the stretch, Sweet Babie James had made up some ground under Jorge Bourdieu. The pair kept pace with the leaders and capitalized in their moment, outnodding the other horses in the money. The pair ran the 350-yard come-from-behind neck victory in :17.900 and earned a 90 speed index.
Sweet Babie James took home the winner’s share for owners Ralph & Carolyn Fales and trainer Matthew Fales. The $10,450 raised the gelding’s earnings to $27,716.
The Fales’ bred Sweet Babie James out of Already In Love in Arizona. The mare has now produced 100% earners and five blacktype runners from eight starters, including multiple stakes winner Bringin
It On, her top earner, and 3rd place finisher in the World Show Senior Barrel Racing and 3-time flat track winner Fortune N Fame.
La Moneda (The Bounty Man-Bookinlittlescooter) was second under Emilio Tapia, but sadly, was eutha- nized post race. The filly is owned by Juan Estrella Chavero and trained by Eloy Mendoza. Frozen Icon (Texas Icon-Icebreaker) was third under Justine Klaiber for owner Martha Wells and trainer Matthew Fales.
LT Manup (Jesse James Jr-Moving South), What Up Buttercup (Tac It Like a Man-Fifty Party Night), Kronos (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin Angelita), Shenanigans Regard (Chicks Regard-Sin Til Late), Volato (Hawkinson-Butterfly Kisses), Volcano (One Sweet Jess-Miss Lily Rose) & Fastest Texas Icon (Texas Icon-Fast Pearl) completed the field.
Mike Hastings Memorial
MAY BE FANTASTIC SA
by Danny Camp
May Be Fantastic SA scored his third stakes vic- tory in the $18,000 Mike Hastings Memorial at Turf Paradise on Dec. 10.
The colt loaded in the 2-post and stood his ground with other horses being fractious.
Third at the break, he had the lead within a cou- ple of jumps. The sorrel colt drew clear at the first call and continued to widen his lead throughout the 400 yards. With Emilio Tapia aboard, they crossed the finish line 1 3/4-lengths ahead of the competi- tion, stopping the timer in :19.492, earning a New Track Record and a career best 105 speed index.
The $11,160 winner’s share of the purse pushed May Be Fantastic SA’s earnings to $89,096. He now has a race record of 16-7(3)-1(1)-4(2), with additonal stakes wins in the 2016 AQRA Turf Paradise Derby and Turf Paradise Championship. May Be Fantastic SA, who is owned by Orlando Guerrero and trained by Ubaldo Guerrero, was the 2016 West/Southwest Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Colt.
The colt was bred in Oklahoma by Gianni Franco Samaja out of stakes finalist Darlin Treis. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from three starters. May Be Fantastic SA is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Captain On Takeoff (Captain Courage-Takeoff Royally) stepped away from the gate in great shape under jockey Luis Yescas Jr. and held on for second for owner Encarnacion L. Baez and trainer Juan Figueroa. The gelding was coming off a win in the Sonoita Ranchers Bonus Challenge at Santa Cruz County Fair on May 6.
FJ Blackdiamond (The Bounty Man-Sheza Princess Belle) was third under Rodolfo Arvizu for owner Fernando Canales and trainer Eloy Mendoza. The gelding was coming off a victory in the Wayne Brasher Legacy Stakes at Turf Paradise on Nov. 5.
Justified (Foose-Special Wave) & One Fast Jess (One Sweet Jess-Fast For Money) followed. Jo Jo Hot Legs was scratched.
Turf Paradise $44,935 400 yards :19.618 si 102
Streakin La Jolla
Scoopie Fein
Dash For Cash
Dividends Declared
Mr Jess Perry
FITZ, ‘14-g.
Lady Signature
Turf Paradise $20,900 350 yards :17.900 si 90
Mr Jess Perry
One Sweet Dash
One Sweet Jess
SWEET BABIE JAMES, ’14-g.
Corona Cartel
Already In Love
Loves To Rock
Turf Paradise $18,000 400 yards :19.492 si 105 Ntr
Corona Cartel
Fantastic Corona Jr
Special Queen SA
MAY BE FANTASTIC SA, ‘13-c.
Tres Seis
Darlin Tres
Darlin Dash
166 SPEEDHORSE, December 2017
RACING NEWS
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