Page 175 - Speedhorse June 2019

Dash For Speed Stakes
RVALIANT CHICK
by John Moorehouse
Rvaliant Chick followed her dam into black type, winning the $25,000 Dash For Speed Stakes for fillies and mares at Ruidoso Downs on June 1.
A six-year-old mare, Rvaliant Chick broke
through for her first stakes victory in her 26th career out. It marked her third overall win, snapping a drought that spanned 16 races and more than three years. She spent most of the last two years competing in claiming and allowance races, although she was part of the field for the 2018 Dash For Speed Stakes, in which she finished fifth.
There was no catching her this time. Rvaliant Chick broke on top from the 5-gate, got out to a 1 1/2-length lead at the first call and stayed in front by daylight the rest of the way, hitting the line with a comfortable 1 3/4-length margin. Trained by Robert Sanderson, she covered the 350 yards in :17.184 for
a blistering 107 speed index with Alan Hernandez aboard. Hernandez was riding her for the first time.
Blanca Villegas-Varela owns Rvaliant Chick, and collected a $15,000 payday that improved the mare’s total earnings to $78,689. Bob and Deanna Williams bred Rvaliant Chick and own her dam, Rdustys Chick, who finished first in the 2001 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 at Remington Park.
Jessica Alexandra (Apollitical Jess-Phoebe Wallingford) finished second under Lucas Constantin for owner Joyce Darlene Erickson and trainer Donna McArthur.
Yashira Vista (One Famous Eagle-Strawberry Cartel) and Francisco Calderon hit the board in third for owner Mauro Eli Zaborowsky & trainer Mike Robbins.
Post-time favorite Sinsational Tacha (Tempting Dash-Miss Sin Tacha) was fourth and was followed by YM Valentine (Valiant Hero-Icy Valentine), Mojo Perry (Mr Jess Perry-Jump Down First) and Tres Copauino (Tres Seis-Special Copauino). Paint Your Moon was scratched.
John Deere RUI Juvenile Chal.-G3
RRLENTLESS
by Danny Camp
Rrelentless soared to his first stakes victory in the $57,690 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge-G3 on June 2.
The colt was coming into the finals after a
second place allowance finish, but found his groove in this stake event. Rrlentless stepped away from the five-post and was in front at the first jump. Mid- stretch, he had increased his lead to 1-length. Under James Flores, the mare completed the 350 yards in :17.700 to earn a 91 speed index.
Rrelentless brought home the $26,538 winner’s share of the purse for owner Rrelentless Partners and trainer Gregg Sanders, boosting his total lifetime earnings to $58,677.
Bill T. Robbins bred Rrelentless out of winner First A Princess. She has produced 100% money earners from 10 starters, including top earner
Mals First Down who won the Evergreen Park Championship Challenge as well as the Old Timers Classic Stakes and was a finalist in the AQHA Challenge Championship-G1. Rrelentless is the second stakes winner in the brood.
BV Last Kiss (Apollitical Blood-BP Down South) was second under Sergio Becerra Jr. for owner Damian Valenzuela and trainer Jorge Valenzuela.
Fastest qualifier Shaw Island Senator (Louisiana Senator-Sea Island Dancer) and Felipe Garcia-Luna were third for owner Wootan Racing and trainer Michael Joiner.
Beggars Bargain (Coronado Cartel-Devoted Love) was fourth and was followed by Will B Valiant (Mighty B Valiant-Curl Girl), Dame Of Thrones (Dominyun-Specials Jamie), Apollitical B Birdie (Apollitical Blood-BP Down South), Pipers Return (High Rate Of Return-Gentle Autumn Rain), One Zoomin Hero (One Valiant Hero-A Crimson Zoom) and Grey Handsome (Hez Our Secret-Miss Free House TB).
Miss Princess Handicap-G3
LA RUSA
by Tracy Gantz
La Rusa posted a 23-1 upset in the $50,000 Miss Princess Handicap-G3 at Los Alamitos on May 12, and it’s one victory Oscar Andrade Jr. will never
forget. The young jockey was winning the first stakes of his career.
“My mother said it was the best Mother’s Day present ever,” said the 17-year-old rider.
Andrade and La Rusa broke in second from the outside post. They immediately flew to the lead and held off all challengers to win the Miss Princess Handicap by a head in :17.676 for 350 yards.
Jose Flores trains La Rusa for owner Howard Nichols, who bought the filly at the 2016 Los Alamitos Equine Sale for $40,000. Previously,
La Rusa finished second in the 2017 California Breeders’ Freshman Fillies Stakes and third in the 2017 Los Alamitos Two Million Juvenile Stakes.
Balgo Racing Team Inc. bred La Rusa in California out of Corona Fria. The mare has six winners in seven starters, including stakes-placers A Walking Secret and Cold Cartel.
C. K. and Laurel Allen’s homebred Strawfinders Jessee (One Sweet Jess-Strawfinder) ran second under jockey Carlos Huerta for trainer John Cooper. The 6-year-old mare won the 2018 Denim N Diamonds Handicap and Mini Rock Handicap.
Flores also trains third-place Madam Of Fire MV (Walk Thru Fire-Solid Connection). Cruz Mendez rode the 4-year-old filly for owner Vince Genco. Madam Of Fire MV had won twice and finished second once in four 2019 starts.
Completing the field were Love To Reason BR (Good Reason SA-Strength In Numbers), Time To Leave (Walk Thru Fire-Departing), Just Walk By (Walk Thru Fire-Babe On The Fly), Newport Coaster (TR Dasher-Wave Babe), Kiss N Air (Dashair-Kiss N Toll), Pick A Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell) and Zendaya (Foose-Red Hawk Chick).
Ruidoso Downs • $25,000 350 yards • :17.184 • si 107
Valiant Hero RVALIANT CHICK, ‘13-m.
First Down Dash
Corona Chick
Chicks Beduino
Rdustys Chick
Dusty Victory Dash
Ruidoso Downs • $57,690 350 yards • :17.700 • si 91
One Famous Eagle
Hes Relentless
RRELENTLESS, ‘17-c.
First A Princess
This Dreams Flying First Down Dash
Honor A Princess
Los Alamitos • $50,000 350 yards • :17.676 • si 92
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Corona Cartel
Walk Thru Fire
LA RUSA, ‘15-f. Corona Fria
Signed To Boogie
SPEEDHORSE, June 2019 173
RACING NEWS
Ruidoso Downs
Jake Rogers/Ruidoso Downs
Los Alamitos