Page 210 - April_2023

RACING NEWS
Decketta Stakes-G2
SASSALITICAL
by Michael Compton
Sassalitical made her seasonal debut a winning one for Texans Tyler and Naia Graham and trainer Clinton Crawford. Ridden by jockey Jorge Torres, the
4-year-old daughter of Apollitical Jess raced in fifth position early in the 350-yard Decketta Stakes-G2. She got on even terms with the leaders in the lane and prevailed by a neck over Fabulous Rachel at the finish. In a determined effort, she stopped the clock in a fast :17.322, earning a speed index of 99.
With the win, Sassalitical earned the $29,730 winner’s share of the purse which increased her career bankroll to $208,583, and improved her overall record to 14-4-5-1. Runner-up in last year’s Miss Ellen Stakes at Will Rogers Downs, Sassalitical finished second
in the 2021 Valley Junction Futurity-G3 at Prairie Meadows, and she also qualified for the Rainbow Oaks-G3 and the All American Oaks-G1 a year ago.
Bred in Utah by Speed LLC, Sassalitical is produced from the Mr Jess Perry mare 4-time winner Jess Sass Me, who was 2nd in the 2007 La Primera Del Ano Derby-G1.
Stakes winner Fabulous Rachel (One Fabulous Eagle-Teller Baja), ridden by Juan Pulido, just missed for owner Darling Farms and trainer Waylan Melton. The 4-year-old filly was bred in Oklahoma by
Juan Medina. Multiple graded stakes winner Sheza Freighttrain T (Freighttrain B-Cloning Around) and jockey Ricky Ramirez finished just a nose behind the runner-up in third for owner R and R Racing LLC and trainer Robi Meche. The 5-year-old mare was bred in Louisiana by Rusty Trahan. Pops First Lady (Apollitical Jess-Shazooms Pop Pop), Prized Dimon (Prized Wagon-DQS Chew Chew), Jess Give Mea Reason (Good Reasons SA-Send Me This Wagon), Hally (Apollitical Jess-Itea), JND Wagon (Lil Kool Wagon- Lady Hiclass), Fox News (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song), and Sweet Dasha Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Dasha Freda) completed the order of finish.
Eastex Stakes-G2
HEAD PATRON
by John Moorehouse
Head Patron opened his four-year-old campaign the same way he concluded his three-year-old season–by reaching the winner’s circle in a stakes
race. Brant Barley’s home-bred gelding ran away with a victory in the 350-yard $51,840 Eastex Stakes-G2, held March 25 at Remington Park. Head Patron collected his seventh victory in 14 lifetime starts,
and the $29,946 first-place share of the purse pushed the gelding’s overall earnings past the $200,000 milestone to $227,851.
Waylan Melton trains Head Patron, who finished the race in :17.418 for a 96 speed index. A 2-1 betting choice at post time, Head Patron broke on top from the 6-hole and never looked back, opening a 1/2-length lead by the first call and getting stronger with every stride. He sported a separation of 1 1/2-lengths as he reached the wire under jockey Juan Pulido. With this result, Melton has saddled winners in 8 of 12 races at Remington–a .667 win percentage, with his starters finishing in the money in 91% of those events.
Head Patron collected his 4th consecutive victory, a streak that included triumphs last fall at Horseshoe Indianapolis in the Overnight Stakes and QHRAI Derby. The gelding also holds a win in the 2021 Governors Stakes at Horseshoe.
Brant and Jon Barley bred Head Patron, who was foaled in Missouri out of Dash Leader, a 2006 mare.
Apollitical Payoff (Apollitical Jess-Seis The Royal Cash) was 2nd for owner Brenda Reiswig, trainer Jason Olmstead, & jockey Edwin Escobedo. Hesa Party Wagon (Hes Relentless-Lil Miss Party Doll) & Watch Out (Fly Thru The Fire-Look Her Over) finished
in a dead heat for third. Juan Manuel Baeza owns & trains Hesa Party Wagon, who had Justine Klaiber up. Valeriano Racing Stables LLC owns Watch Out, who is trained Santos Carrizales Jr & had Francisco Ramirez Jr up. Apollitical Gold (Apollitical Jess-SRC Gold) & Tres Coronas (Corona Cartel-Baja Jazz) followed.
SLM Big Daddy Stakes-G3
SHOCKINGLYFAMOUS
by Michael Cusortelli
Shockinglyfamous, a 7-year-old son of Champion One Famous Eagle owned by Stone Chase Stables LLC and trainer Kasey Willis, made his
season debut with a clear 1 3/4-length win in the $50,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes-G3 at Remington Park on March 12.
Aided by an 11-mph tail wind, the 2016 bay horse went 550 yards in :26.391, just 133/1000ths of a second off of the track record of :26.258 set by Rock About It in 2018. Alonso Rivera rode Shockinglyfamous, who posted a 113 speed index from his sixth career stakes victory.
Shockinglyfamous was bred in Texas by Clarence Scharbauer III, and he was making his first start since Nov. 26, when he ran fourth in the 870-yard, $50,000 Devil His Due Stakes at Lone Star Park.
“We were really pointing him toward the (870-yard Remington Park) Distance Challenge in April, so I figured we might as well get a work in him,” said Willis.
Shockinglyfamous has won 10 of 35 starts, including three of five at the 550 trip, and the $29,730 winner’s share takes his bankroll to $320,948.
Wascallywittlewabbit (Heza Motor Scooter- Rabbits N Diamonds), the 2021 & 2022 Distance Champion, ran second for owner Rogers Farms. Francisco Calderon rode the 8-year-old gelding for trainer Mike Joiner.
Lunderborg LLC’s Jess Rocket Man (Apollitical Jess-Paint Or More) finished third. Edwin Escobedo rode the homebred 5-year-old gelding for trainer Jason Olmstead.
Big Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Delightfully Tres), Dak (Dominyun-Fleet Elis), Just Call Me Jess (One Sweet Jess-Justiflied), O Donovan Rossa (Apollitical Jess-Shanachee), Jess My Hocks (Kiss My Hocks-Jess Charlena), Cowboy Up Capo (Capo de Capi-Keystone Country), and American Favorite (Favorite Cartel- Allamericandreamgirl) completed the order of finish.
208 SPEEDHORSE April 2023
Linda Earley, Speedhorse
Linda Earley, Speedhorse
Dustin Orona Photography
Remington Park • $51,840
350 yards • :17.418 • si 96
Shazoom
Zoomin For Bux
HEAD PATRON, ‘19-g. Dash Leader
Oh No Its Uh Oh Special Leader
Dash High Return
Remington Park • $51,840
350 yards • :17.322 • si 99
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
SASSALITICAL, ‘19-f. Jess Sass Me
Apollitical Time Mr Jess Perry
Sassy Smith
Remington Park • $50,000
550 yards • :26.391 • si 113
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
SHOCKINGLYFAMOUS, ‘16-h. Langfuhr
Shocktime TB
Red Thread