Page 60 - 20 July 2012

Firecracker Derby
RunaWay WaGon
by John Moorehouse
Runaway Wagon shows no signs of slowing down. After opening his 2012 campaign by posting the top qualifying time in trials for
the Firecracker Derby, the 3-year-old gelding rolled to victory in the $144,065 stakes on July 7 at Delta Downs.
Undefeated in two starts in his sophomore campaign, Runaway Wagon improved to 7-3- 1-1 for his career. The gelding’s prior lifetime earnings stood at a modest
$7,250 but increased almost tenfold with the addition
of the $72,033 payday that owners Tommy Hays and Bobby Barnett collected for this derby victory.
A strong and steady run bore fruit for the Bobby Martinez trainee. Runaway Wagon made a smooth break from the six hole under David Alvarez. Gold Rrrush and RC Straight Runaway
jumped to the early lead but soon faded. Runaway Wagon moved to the front, open- ing a one-length advantage in mid-stretch. That cushion was more than enough, as
he coasted across the finish line still leading runner-up Sizzlin Cartel by three-quarters of a length. The 400-yard trip took :19,439.
Bred by Michelle Meiwes, Runaway Wagon becomes the first stakes winner out of his dam,
Dashin Vike. Meiwes also owns the lightly-raced 2004 Dashin Bye mare, who has two offspring, both of which have made starts.
Sizzlin Cartel (Corona For Me-In His Dreams), who won last year’s version of the Firecracker Futurity at Delta, settled for second place this time. Bred by owner J.E. Jumonville, Jr., Sizzlin Cartel is trained by Kenneth Weeks. Jesse Chavis was in the irons.
Surfin Waves (Ocean Runaway-Lady Dee Vee Em) remains winless thus far in 2012 but did hit the board in third for owners Donald Aymond, David Bates, Jr., and Stephen Williams. Eddie Cox rode the Frank Cavazos trainee, who was a 13-1 longshot.
In fourth was Triple Vodka (Tres Seis- Newport Lily), followed by The Lizzard King (Valiant Hero-Jess A Lil Bit). The Lizzard King’s full-brother, Ronnie James, won the Firecracker Futurity held on this same Delta Downs card. The remaining order of fin-
ish in the Firecracker Derby was Fast Prize Mike (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fast Mans Prize), Gold Rrrush (Corona Cartel-Jess A Lil Bit More), RC Straight Runaway (Winners Award-Diamonds For Toys) and JLS Party Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Dancing Tonight). Sstrickortreat was scratched.
Delta Downs $144,065 • 400 yards :19.439 • si 102
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
RUNAWAY WAGON, ’09-g.
Dashin Bye
Dashin Vike
Runaway Vike
Racing news
miss Polly Classic
ChaRal KiD
by John Moorehouse
last year, a disqualification denied Charal Kid the right to win the Miss Polly Classic for the second straight time. Returning to
Delta Downs for the latest version of that $50,000 stakes event on June 30, Charal Kid charged to victory once again in the Miss Polly, beating Giorgino in a photo finish.
This latest victory adds to an already fantastic body of work for the 6-year-old geld- ing, who was bred by owner
Malinche Cattle Company.
Charal Kid picked up his
15th win in 42 total outs, and
11 of those triumphs have
come in stakes company.
This marked his second
stakes win of the year; Charal
Kid also finished first in
the Streakin La Jolla Stakes,
held in March at Louisiana
Downs. For his career,
Charal Kid has hit the board
22 times in stakes races.
58 SPEEDHORSE, July 20, 2012
It took all 400 yards for Charal Kid to successfully repeat in the Miss Polly. He made a solid break from the No. 7 gate underneath jockey Martin Rubalcava, but yielded the early advantage to A Noble Jess. Giorgino (Apollo TB-Las Alamitos) came
on strong from along the rail and asserted himself as the horse to beat, but Rubalcava urged Charal Kid into a furious rally, and the
two horses hit the line almost simultaneously for the photo. The review indicated Charal
Kid won by a nose, covering the distance in :19.469 for a 101 speed index. The $30,000 payday pushed Charal Kid’s earnings to $391,860.
Fructuoso Huitron trains Charal Kid, the only stakes winner produced by his dam, The Special Feature. Only two of her eight foals have made starts to date.
Giorgino’s connections, owner/trainer Jorge Haddad and jockey Danny Lavergne, settled for runner-up honors. Acorn nosed out Taylors Toastin Papa to finish third. Rose Mary Chandler owns Acorn (Oak Tree Special-Trio Gal TB), a Janet VanBebber trainee ridden
by Alfonso Lujan. Acorn won last year’s Miss Polly Classic following the disqualification of Charal Kid.
Rounding out the order of finish were Taylors Toastin Papa (Toast To Dash-Tacha La Jolla), followed by Awholeseparategame (Game Patriot-Separada), Kool Country Man (Country Chicks Man-First Kool Baby),
Eyesa Flash (First To Shine-Shawnee Eyes), Nowurtalkin (Heza Fast Dash-Illusive Star TB), A Noble Jess (Jess Ellie-Fantastic Janie) and Throwin Fits (Throwin A Fit-Sweeten My Dreams).
Delta Downs $50,000 • 400 yards :19.469 • si 101
Streakin Six
Streakin La Jolla
Bottom’s Up
CHARAL KID, ’06-g.
Strawfly Special
The Special Feature
Good Features
nicole Walker: Coady Photo nicole Walker: Coady Photography