Page 87 - 13 April 2012

Red Cell Sunland Distance Challenge-G3
JW A ROYAL FLIRT
by Tracy Gantz
Breeders George and Judy Weldon of Vernal, Utah, lost JW A Royal Flirt via the claim box in 2010, but they claimed the
gelding back early this year. Their confidence in JW A Royal Flirt was rewarded when
he became a stakes winner in the April 1
Red Cell Sunland Distance Challenge-G3
at Sunland Park. The victory earned him a berth in the Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship-G1 at Prairie
Meadows on Oct. 27.
All About Larry and Cat Five Storm broke on top
in the 870-yard event, but Valentino De Lao and JW A Royal Flirt joined them heading into the turn. The four raced abreast, JW A Royal Flirt three wide, and in the stretch, he poked his head in front. JW A Royal Flirt, under jockey Esgar Ramirez, drew off to win by
Pauls Valley Handicap-G3
a length in :44.608.
The Weldons campaigned JW A Royal
Flirt at 2, when he finished second in the 2009 Intermountain Stallion Futurity, and
at 3. When trainer Blake Rust dropped the gelding into an Oct. 31, 2010, claiming race at Albuquerque, he was haltered for $6,250. JW A Royal Flirt climbed up the class ladder, and the Weldons claimed him back on Jan. 28
at Sunland for $10,000. He finished second in his trial
to All About Larry to be the second-fastest qualifier to the Red Cell Sunland Distance Challenge.
The Thoroughbred mare Office Wench produced JW A Royal Flirt when bred to the Weldons’ stallion GW
A Royal Chick. A winner
of $29,075, she has one Thoroughbred starter, who did not win, and no other
Quarter Horse starters.
Tony Carnes’ Valentino De Lao (Apollo-
TB-JJS First Feature), who finished second, won three consecutive allowance races prior to finishing second in his trial. Oscar Ortega rode the 4-year-old gelding for trainer Carlos Sedillo.
Prince Bac (Splash Bac-Queen Creek Queen), who has raced primarily in claiming company the past two years, finished third under Miguel Hernandez. Gerardo Ochoa owns and trains the 8-year-old gelding.
Completing the field were Cat Five Storm (Panther Mountain-She Wants Cash), odds-on favorite All About Larry (Heza Motor Scooter- Come Hell Or Hiwater), Royal Initiative (Royal Quick Dash-Fortuna Babe), Apollos First Down (Apollo-TB-Ms Devine Diva), and Eyesa Special Lady (Eyesa Special-Lady Olaine).
Sunland Park $61,380 • 870 yards :44.608 • si 94
Chicks Beduino
GW A Royal Chick
Rivanne
JW A ROYAL FLIRT, ’07-g.
Memo
Office Wench-TB
Cabin Wench
DE PASSEM OKEY
by John Moorehouse
The wins just keep piling up for De Passem Okey. The two-time AQHA Distance Champion posted his third straight victory and eighth career stakes triumph, making an unchallenged run for the wire in the $52,250 Pauls Valley Handicap-G3 on April 1 at Remington Park.
There was no fooling this veteran geld- ing on April Fool’s Day. De
Passem Okey made a smooth
break out of the one hole
and led at every call of the 870-yard race, riding the rail all the way to the finish line. Jockey G.R. Carter Jr. had the 6-year-old geld- ing in front by daylight for nearly the entire trip, and De Passem Okey enjoyed a strong 2 1/4-length win.
“Whenever he leaves the gate like he did today, he’s
going to be tough,” Carter said after the race. “When you have a horse like this that has speed and he gets to the rail, you just put him into position, let him cruise around and switch his leads and then ask him to go on. When I asked him, he had another gear and just goes on with it. He’s just an utmost professional.”
De Passem Okey now has won half of his 34 career starts, with eight of
those 17 victories coming in stakes company. Owner Steve Holt collected a $32,250 pay- day for this win, which pushed the gelding’s total earnings to $339,013. De Passem Okey, who’s hauled in six figures in prize money in each of the past two seasons while claiming the AQHA distance champion- ship in both years, already has collected $48,192 in winnings thus far in 2012.
Rodney Reed trains De Passem Okey, who was bred by Eddie Moore, DVM, out of Impassable Gal TB.
Skyline Lover (Feature Mr Jess-Loves That Gold), who posted two stakes wins during
the recently concluded meet at Hialeah Park, settled for runner-up honors this time. Dan Frazier is the owner and Matt Frazier the trainer. Alex Baldillez Jr. did the riding.
Paul Jones trains Tango Blue (Favorite Trick TB-Oodles Of Cash), who hit the board third, and co-owns the gelding with Donald Boyle. Jockey Raul Ramirez was up.
Heza Chico (Dashin Chico-Miss Babe Bug), Dr Drip (First To Shine-High Seas Operator), Dirty Boy Friend (Dirty Coup-Go Girl Friend) and Apollo Rocks (Apollo TB-Aamerican Baby) rounded out the order of finish.
Remington Park $52,250 • 870 yards :45.312 • si 94
Streakin La Jolla
Okey Dokey Dale
Scoopie Fein
DE PASSEM OKEY, ’06-g.
Sir Richard Lewis
Impassable Gal TB
Luscious Linfa
SPEEDHORSE, April 13, 2012 85
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography Tommie Morelos/Coady Photography