Page 171 - September 2015

Mile High Derby
SPENDER
By Danny Camp
It was the richest weekend in the history of racing at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado. For Quarter Horses, the 400-yard Mile
High Derby boasted a purse of $144,215. It was Spender taking home the lion’s share of $57,686 on Aug. 15.
Spender qualified to the event during the July 30 trials, winning his heat in wire-to-wire style by 1 3/4-lengths. He clocked in at :19.864 for the third fastest time behind Tac My Chances :19.758 fastest qualifying time.
For the finals, Spender left the eight-post on the lead, steadily and evenly putting more and more distance between himself and his competitors. The three-year-old sorrel gelding received every call and crossed under the wire in a time of :19.652, which gave him a career- high speed index of 96.
This victory marks four wins in a row for Spender, and eight of 13 total races. His bank now sits at $124,408. Last July, the gelding won the Arapahoe Park Rocky Mountain Derby after also winning his trial heat, and he finished second in this year’s Separatist Handicap at Los Alamitos as well.
Spender is owned by Aislinn Vences, trained by Miguel Pena, and Russell Vicchrilli was in the irons for the gelding’s second stakes winning trip.
Spender was bred by Edward C. Allred in California, out of Aquisitive. The mare won two races and earned over $16,000 before moving to the broodmare band where she has become an excellent procuder.
Aquisitive is the dam of four winners/ROM and 100% money earners from five starters. Spender is her top earner and third stakes win- ner. Her others are Buying Snow ($62,651) and Buy Buy ($43,838).
“This is a one of a kind horse,” stated con- ditioner Miguel Pena.
“He is a really good doer. He loves his job and tends to business. He has never had any kind of soundness issues and has always pulled up good, including this time.
“This kind of horse only comes along once in a lifetime.
“He was purchased private treaty in California last winter by Aislinn Vences,” the trainer continued. “He had won four races before I got him. Now he’s won four in a row since he’s been in my shedrow.”
Pena went on to say that Spender is, “all business when you throw a saddle on him. The horse might jump around a little, but he gives
you his best every time out, and I’m tickled to have the chance to train him.”
When asked about the future, the trainer wasn’t exactly sure what was next
in line for Spender. He said they are looking at possibly running him in a derby in California or one at Zia Park.
Russell Vicchrilli also
shared his thoughts. “This is
a really nice ride,” the jockey
said. “Miguel has him firing on all cylinders and does a good job keeping him on top of his game.”
When asked about the Mile High Derby, Vicchrilli said, “Spender is a great gate horse. He loads good and stands great. We were loaded and a horse flipped, so we had to unload. That unnerves a lot of horses.
“When we walked back in (to the gates), Spender was all business,” he continued. “When the gates cracked open, I knew we were winners within the first three jumps. I tapped him once and that was it. We could have won by a lot more, but I didn’t see any need to use him any harder than I had to. My job is to just stay out of his way. He knows he is fast. When
we pulled up, he seemed to have a swagger on that said, ‘Oh yeah, I’m bad.’”
Vicchrilli gave much credit to Pena and to Spender, “He’s a great one.”
Toshi Yoshi (Pool-Mairis Money Maker) made a great run and was the solid second place finisher. He is owned by Dana Yoshida-Orozco and trained by Manuel Orozco. Ramiro Garcia was handling
the reins.
There were three horses in the photo for
third place and it showed Perrys First Flash (First Moonflash-Ms Perry Mason) was the one to have his nose ahead of the other two at the wire. Perrys First Flash is owned by Manuel Garibay and trained by Alejandro Chaves. Bonificio Perez was in the saddle.
Sweet Solid Rock (Rock Solid Jess-Tf Lil Sweet N Easy) was fourth, followed by U C Me Streakin (Tac It Like A Man-As Blazin Goes), El Damazo (Desirio-Invisible Streaker), Clear Win (Jess Zoomin-Winga), Tac My Chances (Tac It Like A Man-Salty And Steady) and Surfin Star (Foose-Little Surfer). Sea Cobra was scratched.
Arapahoe Park $144,215 • 400 yards :19.652 • si 96
Corona Cartel
Stel Corona
Our Lips Are Sealed
SPENDER, ’12-g
Separatist
Aquisitive
A Classic Diamond
Spender & Russell Vicchrilli lead at every call winning the $144,215 Mile High Derby
SPEEDHORSE, September 2015 169
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography