Page 71 - 28 December 2012

evangeline downs derby-division 1
FASt PrIZe MIke
by John Moorehouse
Fast Prize Mike proved to be the fastest in the field for the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Derby-Division 1 stakes and owner Evelio
Salazar reaped the prize – a $30,000 payday for the Nov. 17 victory. It marked the first win in stakes company and third overall triumph in 12 outs for Fast Prize Mike, who placed second in the Dash For Cash Derby-G2 on Sept. 29 at Lone Star.
Second just wasn’t good enough this time. The Javier Contreras trainee made
a smooth break from the seventh gate underneath rider Jarrod Deschamp, and charged into the lead by the first call. Fast Prize Mike opened up a 1/2-length
lead by the time he entered the stretch. Though the horse began to drift out, Deschamp kept the gelding on course and urged Fast
Prize Mike across the finish line first by a 1/2-length margin.
The 400-yard trip took :19.713, register- ing a 101 speed index that stands as a new career high and the first in triple digits for Fast Prize Mike. The payday from this derby vic- tory pushed the gelding’s lifetime earnings into six figures, at $102,231.
All three of Fast Prize Mike’s wins have come this year, and he holds a 3-4-0 record in eight outs made during the 2012 campaign. This was his third stakes of the year; he ran a sixth run in the Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs.
Weetona Stanley bred Fast Prize Mike out of Fast Mans Prize, a 2004 mare whom Stanley also bred. Fast Mans Prize made only one out as a competitor. As a broodmare,
she’s foaled 10 offspring, seven of whom have made starts. Four of those seven have been
to the winner’s circle, but Fast Prize Mike becomes the first with black type.
There was a photo finish for second place, and Jumpn Beau Chick prevailed by a head. Francisco Garza owns the filly, who is trained by Bobby Martinez and had jockey David Alvarez in the irons. Lil Jess Oak took third place for Gerald Libersat, who home-bred the gelding. Kevin Broussard is the trainer of Lil Jess Oak, and Donald Watson was in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was Jessalittlecourage, Disonecandash, Sizzlin Cartel (Corona For Me-In His Dreams), Jess Quick Love, Senorita Perry (Mr Jess Perry- Love A Rascal), Sweets Dashin Bye (Dashin Bye-Ms Sweet Goodby) and Heza Fast First Dash (Heza Fast Dash-First Taste).
Evangeline Downs $50,000 • 400 yards :19.713 • si 101
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
FAST PRIZE MIKE, ‘09-c.
Heza Fast Man
Fast Mans Prize
First Prize Dash
racing news
evangeline downs derby-division 2
tHe LIZZArd kInG
by John Moorehouse
the Lizzard King was crowned the unlikely victor in the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Derby-Division 2 event. An underdog fac- ing greater than 11-1 odds at post time, The Lizzard King came on strong late to score the upset on Nov. 17 at Evangeline Downs.
Home-bred by Brett Mennen, The Lizzard King collected his fifth victory in 11 lifetime starts. The three-year-old gelding previously was stakes-placed, finish-
ing second in April’s Sam Houston Derby-G3. He also has qualified for another graded stakes, last year’s Firecracker Futurity-G2 at Delta Downs.
Drawing the No. 5 gate, The Lizzard King made a clean break and chugged to the front of the 10-horse field by the first call. Jockey John Hamilton helped the gelding gain a 1/2-length separation
by the time he entered the stretch, and The Lizzard King held off a late rally by Coors Select, getting to the finish line first by a neck to secure his first stakes win.
Trained by Heath Taylor, The Lizzard King completed the 400-yard competition in :19.687, posting a 101 speed index. He brought home a $30,000 payday for Mennen, which pushed the lifetime bankroll of The Lizzard
King past the $100,000 mile- stone to $108,224.
Mennen also owns The Lizzard King’s dam, Jess A
Lil Bit, who won two of seven outs and competed in the
2005 Firecracket Futurity-G2 at Delta Downs. The Lizzard King becomes the second stakes winner out of his dam, joining Ronnie James, who won this year’s Firecracker Futurity.
Coors Select (Oak Tree Special-Miss Coors Cartel), a
former graded stakes winner, finished a length clear in second place for owner Polly Coleman. The Alvin Brossette trainee had Gilbert Ortiz in the irons. Painted Desires (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Fast Flyin Prize), another longshot, hit the board in third place. The filly is owned
by Rudy Ivan Sierra and trained by Fructuoso Huitron. Jockey Martin Rubalcava drew the riding assignment.
The remaining order of finish saw Grade 1 winner Sure Shot B (Stoli-She A Miracle) reach the wire fourth, followed by Tee Cos (Corona Cartel-Do It To It Reb), Rapid Transit (Dashin Bye-WW Shuboom Shuboom), Jess Fly With Me (Fly Jess Fly-The Meteorite), AJS Fast
Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Snows Refrigerator), Bipty Dash (Heza Fast Dash-Bipity Jazz TB) and High Rate Of Return (Mr Jess Perry- Dividends Declared).
Evangeline Downs $50,000 • 400 yards :19.687 • si 101
First Down Dash
Valiant Hero
Corona Chick
THE LIZZARD KING, ‘09-g.
Feature Mr Jess
Jess A Lil Bit
Sheza Lilbituino
SPEEDHORSE, December 28, 2012 69
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