Page 47 - 27 April 2012

Sam houston Derby-G3
ChARMIn ChIEF COROnA
by Stacy Pigott
the Keeton family had a fabulous weekend on April 14-15, as trainer Toby Keeton won the Grade 1 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park with El Duero, while wife Cindi Keeton won the $180,900 Sam Houston Derby-G3 with Charmin Chief Corona, the Sam Houston Juvenile with Rightamountofwrong, and finished second in the $487,700 Sam Houston Futurity-G2 with Thequeenhasgonenuts.
In the Sam Houston Derby, Charmin Chief Corona went postward as the 5-1 second choice in
the wagering behind heavy favorite Sarah Must. The fastest qualifier to the Sam Houston Debry, Sarah Must had set a track record of :17.238 in the trials, and was the even-money favorite for the finals. Charmin Chief Corona was the second-fastest qualifier, having won her trial by a half-length.
Loading into post position one for the finals, Charmin Chief Corona and jockey Francisco Ramirez Jr. were heads up with Sarah Must, who was on the far side of the track in post position 10, from the get go.
By the midway point of the 350-yard race, Charmin Chief Corona had opened up a one-length lead on the field, and held her advantage to cross the wire a neck in front in a time of :17.683.
“She felt great,” said Ramirez. “She is a real nice mare to ride.”
Charmin Chief Corona earned $72,360 for owners Gary and Pat Kurz, who also bred the filly.
“She’s turned into a beautiful horse,” said Pat Kurz, who accepted the trophy with her husband, Gary. “My husband was the one who wanted to breed to Chief Corona and he came through for us. Cindi is a beautiful person inside and out and we are so happy for her.”
Charmin Chief Corona won back-to-back races at Retama Park last year, but this is her first stakes win. The chestnut filly is the first foal out of Kurz’s homebred mare Charming Illusions, whose only other registered foal
is a yearling full brother to Charmin Chief Corona. Charming Illusions started only one time, but her half-sister, Jakes Charming Jody,
won the Sam Houston Maiden Classic last year in the middle of a four-race winning streak at Sam Houston.
According to Keeton, Charmin Chief Corona is paid into the Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge, which has trials on May 5 and finals on May 19.
Finishing second in the Sam Houston Derby was The Lizzard King (Valiant Hero- Jess A Lil Bit). John Hamilton rode the gelding
for trainer Heath Taylor. Brett Mennen bred and owns The Lizzard King, who was fourth in the Firecracker Futurity-G2 last year at Delta Downs.
Nash Jolla (Adrians Jolla- Joyalty) checked into third with Rodrigo Vallejo in the saddle for trainer Judd Kearl. Bobby Myers bred and owns the colt. Nash Jolla was a finalist in the TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-G2 at Retama Park last year.
From 2009 Future Stakes Winner to 2012 winner of the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby.
“It wasn’t the wind,” said Sarah Must’s jockey Jerry Lee Yoakum of the 20 mile per hour head wind that plagued the Sam Houston Derby field. “The outside of the track was a lot deeper than last time.”
The top four finishers were followed across the finish line by Making Deals (Streakin Sixes-Excellent Deal), Royal D Corona (Corona Caliente-Royal De Elegance), Montecito Ranch (Shazoom-Whirling Strawfly), Find Me A Hero (Valiant Hero- Lavish Me), Jumpn Beau Chick (Jumpn Chic-Beaukas) and Corona Sachse (Finding Nemo-Tiny Corona).
Sam Houston $180,900 • 350 yards :17.683 • si 95
Corona Czech
Chief Corona
Prairie War
CHARMIN CHIEF CORONA, ’09-f.
First Illusions
Charming Illusions
Charming Elan
J.T. Hooten and Jesse Yoakum’s Sarah Must (Jet Must) led early but faded to
Cartel-Go You
finish fourth. The filly was a finalist in last year’s TQHA Sale Futurity-G2.
Charmin Chief Corona (#1) and Francisco Ramirez Jr. and finish strong to win the Sam Houston Derby.
SPEEDHORSE, April 27, 2012 45
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