Page 62 - 20 July 2012

Bob Woodard memorial Classic
aiR BoRn leaDeR
by John Moorehouse
air Born Leader is threatening to make
a habit of winning stakes races with six-figure purses. That’s a habit the gelding’s connections are sure to encourage as the 2012 campaign progresses.
Randy Thompson’s talented homebred 4-year-old notched his fourth consecutive vic- tory on June 30 at Indiana Downs, taking first place in the $110,400 Bob Woodard Memorial Classic. Air Born Leader’s
current win streak includes a
victory in the $109,000 Born
Runner Classic held at this
same track back in May, and
a :17.788-second run in the
Woodard trials that put the
Thomas Mosley Jr. trainee
atop the qualifying sheet
heading into the stakes final.
It took a big run for Air Born Leader to keep his win streak intact. He made a smooth break from the
outside post and was running with Fillemup Phil before overtaking his rival to gain the lead. Fillemup Phil (Brookstone Bay-Miss Reminice) made one last bid for the win,
but Air Born Leader’s Gerardo Garrido urged another gear out of the gelding as he zoomed to the wire leading by one length.
Air Born Leader covered the 350 yards in :17.672, registering his best time at that dis-
tance. His 98 speed index is his best of the year. This latest victory reaped a $60,720 payday that pushed Air Born Leader’s earings to $238,579.
Air Born Leader now holds three stakes wins. He also won the 2011 Born Runner, appropriate consider- ing that Air Born Leader’s dam, Air Born Jazz, was sired by the namesake of that race. A stakes winner herself, all six of Air Born Jazz’s foals have
made starts. Air Born Leader is currently her only stakes winner.
Fillemup Phil’s connections, owner Brian Gunder and trainer Danny Lang, settled
for second place after the gelding’s late rally proved just short. Aron Hunt was aboard.
Donna Gerard bred and owns Gypsy Effort (Call Me Together-Cajun Style TB), the third- place finisher, who is trained by Paul Martin and had Carter Riley in the irons.
CT Leader (Leader Of The Class-Air Born Magic), Shawne Bay (Brookstone Bay- Lucks Got It), Bright Eyed Vision (Ausual Suspect-Hope For Me), Brimmerton Lane (Brimmerton-Snookys Bug), TS Dasher (Chicks Dash Easy-CYG Brownie Points) and Bugs Dash Of Honey (Twaynas Dash-Honey Bunny Bug) completed the field. Bitter Sweet Song was scratched.
Indiana Downs $110,400 • 350 yards :17.672 • si 98
Special Leader
Leader of the Class
Zevis Classy Lady TB
AIR BORN LEADER, ’08-g.
Born Runner
Air Born Jazz
Prissy Marshal
Racing news
heartland Futurity
TelleR sWeeT noThins
by John Moorehouse
after getting crowded by Habits Secret just before the two horses reached the finish line in the Heartland Futurity, Teller Sweet Nothins was named the winner of the $118,920 stakes on June 30 at Indiana Downs after Habits Secret was disqualified from first to second for interference.
Habits Secret and Teller Sweet Nothins were running first and second when Habits Secret drifted out and bothered his
foe before reaching the wire
first by a neck. After the
race, Teller Sweet Nothin’s jockey, Tony Crissup, lodged an objection for interference and claimed a foul against Habits Secret’s rider, Yordanis Amaro. The objection was upheld, and Habits Secret was disqualified from the win.
John Wolpert, the owner of Teller Sweet Nothins, benefited greatly from the
60 SPEEDHORSE, July 20, 2012
ruling. He banked a $65,406 payday for his filly’s victory, improving the career earnings of Teller Sweet Nothins to $72,744. The filly now holds two wins in four outs.
Prior to that, Teller Sweet Nothins had established herself as one of the top contend-
ers in the field. After logging the second-fastest qualifying time in the futurity trials, Teller Sweet Nothins broke sharply from the No. 9 gate and
was running within striking distance before she and Habits Secret—who drew the two out- side starting positions—made a surge for the front.
Prepped by trainer Ricardo Martinez, Teller Sweet Nothins completed the 300-yard futurity in :15.503. She becomes the first stakes winner out of her dam, Bits Of Bliss, a 2004 mare who ran in four graded stakes during her own competitive
career. Bits Of Bliss has eight foals, with four of those starters. Three of those four are win- ners. Thomas Bradbury and Lisa Beauprez bred Teller Sweet Nothins.
Habits Secret (No Secrets Here-Habitual Dreamer) is owned and trained by Ricardo Martinez. Huntin Ivory (Ivory James-Baja Rosa) hit the board in third for Starlet Hunt and David Tolle. Trainer Charlton Hunt prepped the geld- ing, and Victor Olivo was aboard.
Completing the field were Salado Secret (No Secrets Here-Very Dashing Chick), WRS Kool Blaze (Kool Quick Kid-Blazin Memory), Princess Lil Bit (Coronas Leaving You-Princess Toast), Seis Got Zoom (Shazoom-Sweet
As Seis), WRS Kool Corona (Kool Quick Kid-WRS Sweet Date) and Casey Corona (Corona For Me-Precious Debutante). Heybabynosecretshere was scratched.
Indiana Downs $118,920 • 300 yards :15.503 • si 99
Corona Cartel
Teller Cartel
Jet Along Jamie
TELLER SWEET NOTHINS, ’10-f.
Streakin La Jolla
Bits Of Bliss
A Watchful Eye
lori Ritz: Coady Photo lori Ritz: Coady Photo