Page 58 - 20 July 2012

Firecracker Futurity-G2
Ronnie James
by John Moorehouse
There’s no telling how a young horse will adjust to competition the first time he or she loads into the gates for a race. A horse might try to break through the gate, or start slow. Or, in the case of Ronnie James, he could get spooked by the surroundings.
“There’s stands, grandstands, lights, just
a lot for a young horse to look at,” explained Heath Taylor, Ronnie James’ trainer. “A lot
of people don’t understand, this horse has got blinkers on, and there’s 5,000 people hooting, hollering and screaming. If they’re in front, they don’t see anything but the dirt in front of them. Especially young green horses. And this horse has been in front almost every race.”
As a result, Ronnie James had yet to have the type of consistent run that Taylor knew the 2-year-old gelding was capable of putting together. He’d run strong, then back off, then run strong again.
That trend changed in a big way on July 7 at Delta Downs, when Ronnie James exploded to victory in the $327,715 Firecracker Futurity-G2. It marked the third win in four lifetime outs for Ronnie James, and his first in stakes company.
Brett Mennen owns and bred Ronnie James, but since he’s based in Indiana and Taylor operates in Texas, the trainer had a heavy hand in the breeding and development of this horse.
He’s a great owner, good person, great team player,” Taylor said of Mennen. “He let me pick out the stallion to breed the mare
to. The horse was born and raised here at our place in Texas. I’m not sure until he (Mennen) came the day before the race if he’d ever even seen the horse.”
Taylor purchased Jess A Lil Bit, the dam of Ronnie James, for Mennen for $31,000 at the 2004 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. She qualified for the 2005 running of this same Firecracker Futurity, finishing eighth.
Ronnie James fared much better. The second-fastest qualifier, he made a smooth break from the eight hole underneath jockey John Hamilton, who had the gelding make his move for the lead about 100 yards into the 350-yard futurity. From there, Ronnie James charged right for the finish line, making it there first by a half-length margin.
The 350-yard trip took :17.354, resulting in a 99 speed index that stands as a new career high for the young gelding.
“This seems like a really nice horse. It’s great to get it accomplished for Brett,” Taylor
said. “This is the seventh Firecracker I’ve won in 11 years. That’s a little bit of an accomplish- ment in itself. I was certainly was glad to get this one won.”
Ronnie James becomes the first of Jess A Lil Bit’s three starters to win a stakes race.
The Lizzard King, a full-brother to Ronnie James, finished fourth in last year’s Firecracker Futurity and also was part of
the field for the Firecracker
Derby on this same Delta
Downs card.
Braggin Bout My Zoom (Shazoom-Jess Braggin),
the biggest underdog in the futurity at 62-1 odds, took second place by a nose over Interesting Man. Curtis Crenwelge owns Braggin Bout My Zoom, a Michael Zingelmann trainee who had Jeff Jerman aboard.
Interesting Man (Heza
Fast Dash-Fit To Celebrate) failed to reach the winner’s circle for the first time in four career starts. The winner of the Harrah’s
Entertainment Futurity earlier this year, Interesting Man is owned by Javier Ramirez and trained by Javier Contreras. Jarrod Deschamp did the riding.
Rounding out the order of finish, pre-race favorite and top qualifier Shakem Little Corona (Tinys First Corona-Shakin Lil Oro) was fourth, followed by Jet Black Legend (Game
Patriot-First Down Hemp), Jess Blue Boy Lena (Jess Louisiana Blue-Call Me Lenas Girl), Sassmaster (TR Dasher-Catch You Now), Axcess Denied (Ocean Runaway-Jess Ought To Go Now), Wave Cover (Wave Carver-Ronas Cover Girl) and Mr Einstein (Dashin Bye-Fast N Smooth 880).
Meanwhile, what’s next for Ronnie James? Later this fall he’ll likely head to Lone Star Park, as he’s paid into
the Texas Classic Futurity. Taylor also didn’t rule out making the gelding eligible for the Dash For Cash Futurity in late September.
Delta Downs $327,715 • 350 yards :17.354 • si 99
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
RONNIE JAMES, ’10-g.
Feature Mr Jess
Jess A Lil Bit
Sheza Lilbituino
56 SPEEDHORSE, July 20, 2012
Ronnie James rallies for a half-length victory in the $327,715 Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity at Delta Downs.
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Coady Photography