Page 207 - August_2023

GCFA P&A Juvenile
FRENCHY
Iby Kristen Moore
n a perfect trip, Frenchy and jockey Luciano
Duenez ran wire-to-wire in the $30,000 GCFA Paint & Appaloosa Juvenile on July 15. The
two year old gave it his all, running neck and neck with the horse to finish second and finally crossing the finish line by a head. Frenchy covered the 330 yards in :17.288 for a speed index of 88.
This race marked the first win of Frenchy’s career and brought home the young Paint gelding a winning purse of $11,753 for breeder/owner Scott and Lindsey Pruett trainer Arnold Lewis, raising his career earnings to $23,775.
Frenchy is out of CRP Coco QH, a dam by graded stakes winning sire This Snow is Royal. VP Rocket Ryon APHA (Dos Poruno-Call
Her Awesome), seated by jockey Luis Vivanco, gave an all out drive but just a little too late to take the win. The pair finished just short of first and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the following horse. The gelding is owned by Victor R. Villarreal and trained by Alex Villarreal.
Drifting in, GG Queen Of The South APHA (Hawkeye QH-Kiowas Success) and jockey Froylan Ramirez were the clear 3rd place finishers, 1-length ahead of fourth. GG Queen Of The South is owned by Zackery N. Rios and trained
by Noe Rios. The two year old filly has finished in the money 3 of her 6 career starts this year, and broke her maiden at Remington Park on April 16.
Followed by the Paints horses OP Lil
Becca (Lil Kool Wagon QH-Op Rebbecca), Whenangelsfly (Texas Magnum Seven-Miss Special Treasure), Grippin N Grinnin (The
Marfa Lights-Pistol Grippin Gal), VP Gravel Pit Dancer (VP Smokey Wire-Country Danger), Watchtheangelfly (Texas Magnum Seven-Unchain Too), Global Redemption (Global Affair-A Flaming Express). CRB Beast was scratched.
GCFA P&A Maturity
CAPO TURNPIKE
Wby Kristen Moore
ith no trouble, Capo Turnpike was never
headed in the $23,500 GCFA Paint & Appaloosa Maturity on July 15. Under jockey Jose Herbert, the bay gelding swept the 350 yards on a fast track in :17.793, crossing the wire by a nose. They finished with a speed index of 91.
In the first win of his career, Capo Turnpike bagged a winner’s share of $9,993 for owner Jordan X. Rios and trainer Jose Uriegas Jr, raising his career earnings to $27,418. The gelding has finished in the money six of his eight career starts.
The favorite, WL Van Halen APHA (MHM Hotwire-CL Trap Queen) had a hard stumble
out of the gate. Guided by jockey Raul Ramirez Jr, the gelding quickly made up ground and
gave a strong effort for first, finishing ahead of third by a length. WL Van Halen is owned by Guerras Racing Stables and is trained by Gilberto Gonzales. The gelding has placed in 12 of 14 career outs, winning 8 of those races. His most recent win was in a stakes race at Sam Houston on May 20.
Capo Turnpike was bred in Oklahoma by Marilyn O. Dover out of winner Flashy Turnpike. She has produced 100% winners from five starters.
Little Sonny APHA (Little PYC-Sallye Rand QH) and jockey Francisco Mendez broke sharp from the gate and gave a good run for show. He is owned by Ervey F. Balderas and trained by Frank Mendez. Little Sonny is out of a dam by multiple graded stakes winner Separatist.
The remaining order to finish ran as
follows: Secret Livewire APHA (CRM Livewire- Moonlight Who TB), A El Regalo APHA (Judys Kiss-Vital Rose QH), WL Casanova APHA (MHM Hotwire-Quick Dashin Cowgirl), VP First Down Corona APHA (Awesome Chrome- Corona By The Ocean QH).
Hill Country Classic
KK BLUE WAGON
Kby John Moorehouse
K Blue Wagon entered black type and made
history in one fell swoop. The five-year-old horse collected his first stakes victory on July 2 in the Hill Country Classic at Gillespie County Fairground and, in the process, set the 400-yard track record.
Ali Rivera was aboard for the record-setting run. Alvin Francis Jr. trains KK Blue Wagon, who has made 14 starts and logged five victories. The $11,400 payday from this win improved the horse’s total bankroll to $57,061 for the horse’s owners at Ruse Ranch LLC. KK Blue Wagon posted a 112 speed index in his record-setting run, which was made despite a 7 mph headwind.
Breaking well from the 3-hole, KK Blue Wagon dueled early with Rey Donovan but moved into
the front and led by a 1/2-length as he entered the stretch. KK Blue Wagon widened the gap during those final yards to win the race by 3/4-lengths.
KK Blue Wagon finished the race in :19.620, surpassing the prior record that had stood for more than a decade. Cloned With Class was the previous record holder, covering 400 yards in :19.961 on Aug. 13, 2011.
KK Horse Racing bred KK Blue Wagon out of Sandra Sue Blue, a 2011 mare and former stakes winner herself. She took the 2013 running of the Mardi Gras Futurity-G2, the highlight in a three-win career that reaped almost $230,000 in prize money.
Rey Donovan (Valiant Hero-Da Licious), the post-time favorite, finished 2 1/2 lengths clear in second for Carlos Ponce. The Juan Diaz Jr. trainee had Victor Urieta Jr. aboard. Apalole (Apollitical Jess-Like a Fine Oak) finished third by a neck for owner Victor Sanchez and trainer Manuel Roman. Adrian Morales had the riding assignment.
The remaining order of finish was Kick Out The Jams (Ivory James-Swinging Dash), Gone Grand (FDD Going Grand-Trashy Tres), and Gulf Coast Flyer (Bogart-Bluebonnetbelle).
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE August 2023 205
Cypress Girl Photography
Cypress Girl Photography
Cypress Girl Photography
Gillespie County Fair • $30,000
330 yards • :17.288 • SI 88
Cartel Success
Elaina Go Go
This Snow Is Royal Chickazita
CRM Livewire
FRENCHY APHA, ‘21-g. CRP Coco QH
Gillespie County Fair • $19,000
400 yards • :19.620 • SI 112 • NTR
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
KK BLUE WAGON, ‘18-h. Sandra Sue Blue
Dashin Follies
Jess Louisiana Blue
Madame Mayor
Gillespie County Fair • $23,500 350 yards • :17.793 • SI 91
Corona Cartel
Capo De Capi QH
A Shot At Glory
CAPO TURNPIKE APHA, ‘19-g.
SF Royal Quick Flash
Flashy Turnpike
Turnpikes Texas Hero