Page 45 - January 6 2012

Sstrickortreat went back to Louisiana where he won an allowance at Fair Grounds and was second in the 330-yard De Saix Stakes. His next engage- ment was the Evangeline Downs Futurity trials.
“I just kind of rolled the dice when I put him in this futurity because I wasn’t sure how far he could run,” VanBebber said.
Sstrickortreat alleviated some of her doubts with a half-length win in his trial. But it was his attitude the next morning that really gave the trainer confidence in her charge.
“The next morning he was still bucking and kicking and playing when we were hand walk- ing him. That showed me that he did indeed handle the 400 yards easily and gave me some confidence for the finals.”
VanBebber wasn’t in the clear yet, though.
“He came out of the trials in great shape, but the week of the finals he grabbed a quarter and I had to doctor a pretty nasty quarter
all week,” VanBebber said. “It had me really sweating if he was going to be able to perform at his best on finals night, and plus it altered my training schedule a little bit because I had to handle him with kid gloves.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Sstrickortreat’s regular rider, Alfonso Lujan, was injured
between the trials and finals of the Evangeline Downs Futurity. VanBebber named her second call rider, Gilbert Ortiz, on the gelding, only
to watch him go down in a spill during the Au Revoir Stakes the night before the futurity. It was David Alvarez, who had galloped for VanBebber in years past but had never been aboard Sstrickortreat, who got the mount for the finals.
Breaking from post position nine, Sstrickortreat went straight to the lead. While the inside horses experienced some trouble
that resulted in the disqualification of Out Of Memory from fourth to ninth, Sstrickortreat had a clear path to victory. He crossed the wire first by a half-length in :19.580 to earn $97,170.
Finishing second was Sam Houston Futurity-G1 winner Jess Tee Off (Tres Seis-Jess Linda Tee). Rodrigo Vallejo rode for owner LB Ranch LLC and trainer Judd Kearl.
In third was Los Primitos’ Country Talker (Straight Talker-Streakin Miranda). Miguel Rodriguez trains and gave the call to jockey Saul Ramirez, Jr.
The remaining order of finish was Hot Tickin (Hotdoggin-Tickin Away), Fancy Panther (Panther Mountain-Bugs Groovy), Oceanica (Ocean Runaway-One Fast Kisser), Sparrow
Contender (Contend-Taint Special), JLS Party Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Dancing Tonight), DQ-Out Of Memory (Check Him Out-Katies Memory), and Runaway Wagon (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Dashin Vike).
Sstrickortreat is now at VanBebber’s ranch in Vinton, Louisiana, for the winter where he will rest and recuperate under the watchful eye of his owner, VanBebber’s father, Gene Newcomb.
“Daddy bends over backwards to help me in the business. He’s helped us since 1995 and does all the hauling,” VanBebber said. “In
10 years, he’s put in over 1,000,000 miles in hauling horses for the stables. The fact that we could do this for him was really, really cool.”
And while Sstrickortreat’s name doesn’t lend itself well to barn name—he is often called Trick or even Trickortreat—after the Evangeline Downs Futurity Newcomb was adamant that there is one thing the horse won’t be called anymore.
“Trick was a less expensive horse in the TQHA sale. And yesterday, Daddy was at the barn and he said, ‘I don’t want anyone calling him ‘that cheap horse’ anymore!’” VanBebber shared with a laugh. “Now, we just call him the champion.”
RACING NEWS
2012 SOUTHWEST DESERT CLASSIC FUTURITY
$3,000.00 Added
$3,000.00 Added
2012 BREEDERS INCENTIVE FUTURITY
Futurities will be run on May 5 & 6, 2012
STALLION AUCTION
January 15, 2012 - February 15, 2012
OPEN TO BID ON AVAILABLE STALLIONS!
TO VIEW THE STALLIONS FOR AUCTION OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON RACES,
GO TO WWW.SOUTHWESTDESERTCLASSIC.COM
Contact Information:
email: vsolmonsen@aol.com • Paul Solmonsen (801) 664-1336 • Vickie Solmonsen (801) 910-3504