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Adequan HOU Derby Chal.
SHEZASECRETKNOCKOUT
by John Moorehouse
Shezasecretknockout went off as the heavy favorite in the Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge and proved why. She led at every call of the 400 yards to win the $60,401 event, which was held June 10 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Even though she didn’t break her maiden until a May 21 maiden at Sam Houston, she went into this race at 7-10 odds. She showed out when the gates opened, breaking on top from the 2-post, leading by a head at the first call and separating to lead by daylight going into the stretch.
Juan Diaz Jr. prepped Shezasecretknockout. Victor Urieta Jr, did the riding for a 400-yard trip that took :20.293, producing a 96 speed index. Five Puig Racing cashed a $28,993 payday, improving the filly’s lifetime earnings to $47,198.
Five Puig Racing LLC owns and bred Shezasecretknockout, a three-year-old filly who now holds two wins in seven lifetime starts. This marked her first win in stakes company and also qualified her for the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship, set as part of the card on Oct. 23 in Albuquerque.
Puig also owns Adolph Tres Knockout, the filly’s dam and graded stakes winning mare.
River Rat (Ivory James-Oh My Tatum TB) surprised in second place despite nearly 40-1 odds. LA Racing Stables LLC owns the gelding, a Hector Alcala trainee who had Ali Rivera in the irons. Hot Lady Returns (High Rate of Return- Hottesticketintown) finished third for Vanessa Bartoo. John Stinebaugh is the trainer and Jose Martinez drew the riding assignment.
Completing the order of finish was Docs Favorite Wave (Favorite Cartel-Tsunami 09) in fourth, followed by A Sweet Capo (Capo De Capi-Jess A Sweet Chic), Favorito (Favorite Cartel-First Down Sixes), Viva La Merica (Wave Carver-Viva Arriba) and Flying Kisser (Kiss My Hocks-Flyer Power).
La Villita Stakes
GREYSLAND
by Michael Compton
Greysland registered the second stakes win
of her career and her fourth overall with an impressive score in the $50,000 La Villita Stakes for
Texas-breds at Sam Houston Race Park on June 23. With her regular rider Victor Urieta Jr. aloft, Greysland broke alertly and grabbed the early lead in
the 330-yard event. The brown filly led by as much as a length in the lane and crossed the wire 3/4-length in front of runner-up VP Cold Strong Heart and jockey Francisco Giles to get the win. Greysland covered the distance in :17.123, earning an 89 speed index.
Owned by Juan Manuel Pastrana and trained by Juan Diaz Jr., Greysland added the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse to her coffers, increasing her lifetime bankroll to $161,272. The win, her second in a stakes race following last year’s victory in the Dash For Cash Juvenile at Lone Star, improved her record to 10-4-2-2. Greysland finished third in her previous start in the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston. She was bred by Bobby Cox and is produced from the Captain Courage mare Grey Daze.
“She needed her last race,” said Urieta of his mount’s first win of the year. “Tonight, she broke much better and finished much better.”
VP Cold Strong Heart (This Cartel Is Cold- Double Dashing Girl) finished a game second
for owner Victor Villarreal and trainer Martin Rodriguez. Tempting Knockout (Tempting Dash- Passem Up Perry), winner of the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes last time out, rallied late to finish third for owner P & J Racing Ltd. and trainer Leon Bard. Jockey Pedro Espinosa had the mount.
My Rockin Memories (Rock Solid Jess-Good Ole Memories), Newarcos Legacy (Inseperable-Newarcos Bambina), Lone Star (Coronas Leaving You-Lonestar Shaker), Viva Le Merica (Wave Carver-Viva Arriba), and Lethal Women (Lethal Corona-Sustainable) completed the order of finish.
Friendship Stakes
BEDUINO LA JOLLA
by Michael Compton
Beduino La Jolla kept his record for the year unblemished in three tries and joined the ranks of stakes winners with a victory in the $50,000
Friendship Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on June 23.
With Victor Urieta Jr. riding for trainer Alonso Neri, Beduino La Jolla raced in third position early in the 330-yard dash. He collared Dash N Leader
in the lane and ran clear of that rival to score by 3/4-length at the finish, recording the initial stakes win of his career. Beduino La Jolla stopped the timer in :16.931 and earned a 94 speed index for the win.
Owned by Carlos Ponce, Beduino La Jolla improved his record to 7-3-0-0 and the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $51,990.
Beduino La Jolla was bred by Maria Guadalupe Araiza out of stakes placed Southern La Jolla, who has produced four winners from five starters including Ocean La Jolla, who placed third in the West Texas Derby-G3. Beduino La Jolla is her first stakes winner.
“He showed speed in both of his starts at Sam Houston, so we had our eyes on a stakes for him,” said Alonso Neri. “We couldn’t have asked for a better effort; he ran a really awesome race tonight.”
Runner-up Dash N Leader (Down N Dash- Cartel Leader) flashed speed away from the gate
and comfortably held second under Pedro Espinosa. The bay gelding is owned by Pete Scarmardo and trained by Leon Bard. Odds-on race favorite Eye Will Decide (Majestic Cartel-Valiant Lil Lady), fresh off an allowance win, finished third for jockey Noe Villatoro. Bryon Gardner owns the bay gelding and Adan Guzman conditions the 2-time winner.
Blue Capo (Capo De Capi-SS Missy Blue), First Lady Tic (The Louisiana Cartel-Time For The Senator), and Air To Em Jess (Dash Master Jess- Processing Speed) followed. Dash N To The Cartel was scratched.
RACING NEWS
Sam Houston • $60,401
400 yards • :20.293 • si 96
First Down Dash
Hez Our Secret
SHEZASECRETKNOCKOUT, ‘18-f. Tres Seis
Adolph Tres Knockout
Secret Separation
Oh Whatta Knockout
Sam Houston • $50,000
330 yards • :16.931 • si 94
Separatist BEDUINO LA JOLLA, ‘18-g.
Chicks Beduino
Separate Ways
Streakin La Jolla
Southern La Jolla
Southern Silk Coat
Sam Houston • $50,000
330 yards • :17.123 • si 89
Tempting Dash
Romancing Mary Captain Courage Grey Lakes Girl
Kiss My Hocks
GREYSLAND, ‘18-f. Grey Daze
SPEEDHORSE July 2021 131
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography