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RACING NEWS
John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge-G3
DE LAURENTIS
by John Moorehouse
After posting the top qualifying time for the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge, De Laurentis came back and proved to be the fastest in the field in the stakes final, scoring victory in the $103,598 event held June 10 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Reynoldo Munoz and Heavy Hitters Racing Stables own the two-year-old gray colt, who is undefeated through the first three outs of his career and now has $72,091
in lifetime earnings with the addition of the $47,655 payday from this event.
“My partners and I liked him on paper and even more when we looked at him,” said Marcus Galvan, who spoke on behalf of the owners in a press release issued by the track.
De Laurentis made
his debut in trials for the Oklahoma Futurity, but did not make the final. He came
AQHA Energy Downs Distance Challenge
Sam Houston
$103,598 • 350 yards :18.166 • si 82
Ocean Runaway
American Runaway
Allamericandreamgirl
DE LAURENTIS, ‘19-c.
Invisible Injun
Babe On The Beach
Six On The Beach
FASTER THAN HASTA
by Danny Camp
Faster Than Hasta didn’t run any faster than he had to, just fast enough to win. It was the running of the 870-yard $27,676 AQHA
Energy Downs Distance Challenge.
Faster Than Hasta broke from the 4-post
in third position and stayed out of trouble going around the turn. At the top of the stretch, jockey Brett Birzer and Faster Than Hasta were a neck off the leader. At the line, they were a head in front.
Trained by Robert Johnson, they completed
the 870 yards in :45.127
to earn a 105 speed index. Owned by John Johnson, the gelding also earned
the first place check worth $13,285. That ups his total bankroll to $238,377, and his race record stands at 11 wins out of 34 starts. He has now won his last three out of four.
Wardell Quarter Horses bred
Faster Than Hasta out of stakes placed Leadmetoyourladder. She has produced three winners from six starters, including stakes winner Hastabealeader, who won the Markel Stakes and Northern Plains Futurity. Faster Than Hasta is her second stakes winner and top earner.
“This horse is more your best friend than a racehorse,” said trainer Robert Johnson.
“He is resilient, and he likes his job, but he is a 16 hand play toy. He will take your hat off your head then give it back to you then take it off again. He is the nicest horse I’ve ever touched,” Johnson continues.
“Don’t get me wrong, he is a beast to saddle in the paddock and he is a beast to gallop. And he is all business on race day
back in these trials in Houston on May 20, covering the 350 yards in :17.881 to top the qualifying ladder.
De Laurentis broke well from the inside starting gate and held a head lead by the first call. The gap widened to 1/2-length as he reached the stretch, and he held off stablemate Kas Shes EC to hit the wire first by a neck.
“We pulled the trigger and haven’t looked back. He’s three-for-three and
we knew he could do,” Diaz, the meet’s leading trainer, said in the release.
Bobby D. Cox bred De Laurentis out of stakes winner Babe On The Beach.
Diaz also trains Kas Shes EC (EC Jet One- Beaukas), who is owned by Francisco Javier Garza and had Jorge Garcia aboard. Hot Dynasty Z (FDD Dynasty-Kinda Spicey) surprised in third place for owner Mario Rodriguez Jr. and trainer Martin Rodriguez. Claudio Aguilar did the riding. Followed by DM Moonpie (Moonin The Eagle-DM Bella Mia), Sign and Shine (Second Painted Sign-Party Girl Prospect), Wicked Eagle One (One Famous Eagle-Wicked Felina CL), Grandfreighttrain(Freighttrain B-Grande Annee), Hes Jess Dealin (Dealagame- Jess Marcy), Miss Never To Late (Dash Master Jess-Poison Ivey) and CJ Classy Sassy Chic (Desirio-Historics Corona).
and he knows how to win. We will go to the distance challenge at Canterbury from here and then maybe the Covered Bridges at Prarie Meadows.”
Grey Handsome (Hez Our Secret-Miss Free House) broke on top and had the lead for most of the race. He saved ground along the rail and was able to hold on for second place. Gray Handsom raced under jockey Jarred Journet for owner AJ Renner and trainer David W. Greene.
SW Bullet Proof (Second Painted Sign- Jazzin Shabby Chic) and jockey Josh Romero were third for owner Jason Udy and trainer Travis Lusk.
The Dust Off (Coronas Blackdiamond- Magic Yard TB), Mahoney N Tacklebery (Favorite Cartel-Fountain Bleu), JB Gray Dawn (Heza Fast Dash-Skyline Dawn Too TB), Bds Kadences Wagon (Wagons West- Fast Hampton TB) and Go Roller Coaster (Brindis Por Cayenne-Dashetta Go) com- pleted the order of finish.
has been professional since day one,” Galvan said in the release. “We felt we had a superior horse going into this final and he showed it.”
Juan Diaz Jr. trains De Laurentis, who had Victor Urieta Jr. aboard for the stakes-winning run. The 350-yard trip took :18.11, generating an 82 speed index.
“We had high expectations of this colt and he did what
Energy Downs
$27,676 • 870 yards :45.127 • si 105
Pritzi Dash
Hasta Be Fast
Hasta Be Special
FASTER THAN HASTA, ‘14-g.
Special Leader
Leadmetoyourladder
124 SPEEDHORSE July 2021
Pretty Polly Cash
Coady Photography