Page 202 - April_2023

RACING NEWS
Louisiana Downs Futurity-G2
CHENDO
by Michael Compton
After qualifying for the $339,046 Louisiana Downs Futurity-G2 with the fastest time, Chendo remained perfect in the first two starts of his career with an impressive score in the final on March 25 at Louisiana Downs for owner Carlos Gabriel Castro.
With jockey Eleazar Hernandez in the saddle, Chendo fired away from the starting gate at the start of the 300-yard test and immediately shot to the front of the field of 10. He received pressure throughout, but shrugged off all challengers and defeated Dollar Bill by 1/2-length at the finish.
Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Chendo covered the distance in the fast time of :15.460, earning a speed index of 98 in the front- running performance.
His final clocking encroached on the track record of :14.950 set by TF Eyes R Struttin in 2015 in an allowance race over a sloppy track.
Trained by Santiago Villaseca, Chendo is now perfect in two starts, and the $152,571 winner’s share of the lucrative purse raised his bankroll to $154,371. In his March 2 trial heat, Chendo registered a wire-to-wire victory to score by a length, stopping the timer in :15.715 for 300 yards.
Bred in Texas by RC Running Horses, Chendo was acquired by Castro for $5,500 at last year’s TQHA Yearling Sale.
He is produced from unraced the Stoli mare Ms Otoole, whose dam is a half-sister to two- time Champion and All American Futurity-G1 winner Eyesa Special. This is also the family of two-time Champion Dashin Is Easy and the stallion Jody O Toole.
“I’m speechless right now,” said Castro following the win. “We liked him in the sale and felt that Chendo would be a good horse. Whenever you buy a horse, this is what you dream of.”
As for the winning rider, Hernandez said through Castro, “Even though it took some time to get the field loaded, he broke well and finished strong.”
Like the winner, runner-up Dollar Bill (Kiss My Hocks-Jakes Painted Wagon) fired a big
shot for owner Navil Tovar and trainer Juan
Diaz Jr., but had to settle for second. Ridden by Jose Herbert, Dollar Bill won his trial heat by 1 1/4-lengths in :15.92 for the tenth-fastest qualifying time. The sorrel gelding was bred in Texas by
Tyler and Naia Graham who sold their charge for $39,000 at the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale.
Whirlaway Party, who is double registered as a Quarter Horse and Paint horse, and jockey Juan Garcia Jr. surged from the back of the pack late
to finish third for owner Ann Albin and trainer Justin Powell. Bred in Oklahoma by Buckskin EC Inc., Whirlaway Party (Whirlaway Red-Lil Miss Party Doll) captured her trial heat by 1 3/4-lengths after getting the distance in :15.84 for the fourth-fastest qualifying time. The bay filly
is a sister to three stakes winners—Hesa Party Wagon, Whirlaway Wagon, and Relentless Doll.
Followed by San Lorenzita (Ivan James- Dashnunder). Woopaa123 (Flying Cowboy 123-Chalinashake), Kas Delivers GI (Kas Tempting-Glorys Deliverance), Hardtotempt (Tempting Dash-Hardtoget), Cartejess PYW (Favorite Cartel-Jess Paint UR Wagon), Hock Tree Special (Kiss My Hocks-Lamont Lady) & Stabby Joe (One Valiant Hero-Thereaintnobugsonme).
200 SPEEDHORSE April 2023
Chendo remains unbeaten after going wire-to-wire in the Louisiana Downs Futurity-G2.
Louisiana Downs
$339,046 • 300 yards :15.460 • si 98
Coronas Leaving You
RC Me Leaving You
Sixy Bottom
CHENDO, ‘21-g.
Stoli
Ms Otoole
Cee Cee Otoole
Ann Switalksi Photography