Page 214 - August_2023

RACING NEWS
Adequan POD Derby Challenge
AB RIP WHEELER
Iby Kristen Moore
n a mild upset, AB Rip Wheeler took home the
money in the $43,665 Adequan Pocatello Downs Derby Challenge on July 7. Under jockey Jose Figueroa, the sorrel gelding ran wire-to-wire just ahead of the pack, finishing in first by a neck.
The gelding covered the 400 yards in :19.643 for a speed index of 102.
The home bred Idaho gelding brought home a winnings of $20,959 for owner Bryon Goody. Raising his total earnings to $29,625. AB Rip Wheeler is out of multiple graded stakes winning dam AB What A Runner.
AB Rip Wheeler has won 3 of his 4 outs
this season for trainer Mark Hanson, a nice turnaround for the gelding after a few rough runs during his two year old season in 2022. The gelding’s first win was in a dead heat in the Maiden Frolic trial at Weber Downs on April 16 with Fly To The Beach, a bay gelding by Fly Thru The Fire.
Surging late, Ms Flaming Finish (Mr Jess Perry-Flaming Chula) and jockey Jesus Canales battled for the lead and finished ahead of third by 1 3/4-lengths for owner LG Racing LLC and trainer Abelardo Gonzalez. This is the second stakes placing for the filly this season.
One Famous Rock (One Famous Eagle-First Prize Joy) and jockey Julio Do La Torre ran a solid race and crossed the wire for third for owner RTM Stables, Kevin & Robin Dunn and Bryon Goody and trainer Mark Hanson.
Completing the field were Lokomotion (Freighttrain B-Jess Louisian Zoom), Jess Roll Me Over (Mr Jess Perry-Corona Over Ice), RLH Fouronthefloor (Jess Got Easier-Sp Saint Perry), Kc Mahomes (Lil Kool Wagon-Day Of Fame), Hawks Interest (Seperate Interest-Hawk Three). Ladd E Boy was scratched.
Jack Clifford Stakes
APPROVAL GIVEN
Rby Kristen Moore
idden by jockey Epifanio Garcia, Approval Given
took command of the field and drove for the win in the $20,000 Jack Clifford Stakes at Sacramento on July 22. The 6-year-old gelding covered the 300 yards in :15.510 for a speed index of 102 and a New Track Record.
Approval Given snagged winnings of $11,110
for owner and trainer Emilio Guerrero and owner Boardshorts Stables LLC. The gelding has finished in the money 5 of his 6 starts this season and now holds a total career earnings of $63,484. Approval Given placed third in the Mail Tribune Handicap on June 25 at Grants Pass. He also was third in the 2020 Grants Pass Derby Challenge and a finalist in the 2021
Bank of America Grants Pass Downs Championship Challenge and Mail Tribune Handicap.
The California bred gelding showcases Edward C. Allred’s Rolling A brand and is out of Just Checking, by multiple graded stakes winning sire Check Him Out.
Ima Sixy Man (Corona Cartel-Jess So Sixy) and jockey Pedro Flores closed but just missed the win by a neck. The 3-year-old gelding is multiple stakes placed and recently won an allowance at Los Alamitos on May 13.
Stepping off slowly, Mid Knight Flash (First Moonflash-Weownthenite) made steady gain and rallied in the stretch under jockey Alberto Zepeda. They were short of second but got the nod for third. The filly won the Jack Robinson Stakes on July 4 at Pleasanton.
The remaining order of finish was Dollys Talent (Prime Talent-Dollys Cole Curl) in fourth place,
in a dead-heat for 5th were One Fast Game (Heza Fast Dash-One Game Chick) and Three Times A Lady (Tres Seis-Turf Contender), followed by Barbas (Corona Fly-Perfect Evening). Walk To The Top was scratched.
Jack Robinson Stakes
MID KNIGHT FLASH
Aby John Moorehouse
lready stakes-placed in a Grade 1 event, Mid
Knight Flash came through for her first career win in stakes company on July 4, taking the $20,000 Jack Robinson Stakes at Pleasanton.
Mid Knight Flash entered this event as a heavy favorite, going off at less than even-money odds at post time.
The filly broke on top from the inside starting gate and never looked back. She led by a head going into the stretch, then pulled away during the final yards to win by three quarters.
Trained by Lindolfo Diaz, Mid Knight Flash finished her 300-yard trip in :15.540, logging a 98 speed index aided by an 8 mph tailwind. Jesus Ayala was aboard for the stakes-winning run.
Home-bred by Legacy Ranch Inc., Mid Knight Flash now holds three victories in 12 lifetime starts. Foaled in California, the three-year-old filly has raced exclusively in her home state to date; this marked her first start in Pleasanton after previously running at Los Alamitos. After unsuccessful bids to qualify two lucrative futurities as a two-year-old – the Golden State Million and the Los Alamitos Two Million – she finished third in last year’s running of the Los Alamitos Oaks-G3. Legacy Ranch also home-bred Mid Knight Flash’s dam, 3-time winner Weownthenite, a 2012 Grade 1 finalist.
Walk To The Top (Walk Thru Fire-Azoom
to the Top) placed a steady second for Ramon Esquivez. Adan Farias is the trainer and Rodrigo Aceves had the riding assignment. Dollys Talent (Prime Talent-Dollys Cole Curl) hit the board in third. The mare is owned by Laura Elvira Guillen, trained by Isauro Guillen, and was ridden by Hugo Herrera.
The remaining order of finish was Two Timin Taylor (Jet Black Patriot-Mystical Blue) and Three Times A Lady (Tres Seis-Turf Contender).
212 SPEEDHORSE August 2023
Sam Wilson
Vassar Photography
Vassar Photography
Pocatello Downs • $43,665
400 yards • :19.643 • SI 102
Good Reason SA
Jess Good Candy
AB RIP WHEELER, ‘20-g.
Jess Send Candy
Royal Quick Dash
AB What A Runner
Be So Merry
Pleasanton • $20,000
300 yards • :15.540 • SI 98
First To Flash
First Moonflash
Nagano Moon
MID KNIGHT FLASH, ‘20-f.
Walk Thru Fire
Weownthenite
Flying Fig
Sacramento • $20,000
300 yards • :15.510 • SI 102 • Ntr
Kiddy Up APPROVAL GIVEN, ‘17-g.
Just Checking
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Vike
Check Him Out
Just Think