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RACING NEWS
Mexico Derby
DIVAS FIRST ANITA
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Speedhorse
There were 56 Mexican bred runners who partici- pated in the trials of the Mexico Derby, held on May 30 over a distance of 300 yards. Organized into six races, the ten best times obtained advanced to the final.
Five finalists emerged from the fourth trial, including Blazzin Fritz with the fastest time (:15.110) and the eventual winner, the sorrel filly Divas First Anita, who was positioned as the fourth fastest qualifier with a time of :15.127. The Santa Cruz Cuadra and Bronco Rider barns placed two runners within the select group.
Although the preferences largely favored Juanito Y Danny, all looked in great physical and mental shape, supported by the connections and fans. The track opened to the public on May 22 with improved the sanitary conditions to follow COVID-19 protocol.
Except for the contact of Loncho Toll DK and Delfín Solo on BR Beduina Policy at the exit, the actions were carried out cleanly. From the begin- ning, Divas First Anita, who started from position #2, assumed command and remained firm, near the inner rail, enduring the challenges of rivals, mainly Juanito Y Danny, whom she managed to lead by a nose and only by a hundredth of a second at the finish line.
As in the trial, it was Yair Daniel Baez who was responsible for riding Divas First Anita to victory, this time with a time of :14.99 for a 96 speed index,
improving his previous time despite the difficult track condi- tion caused by the rain of the previous night.
Bred by Mr. Arturo Olvera Bernal for his Stable Zamarrero, the filly is a daughter of the stal- lion Divas First Down and out of Julies Lil Jess (by Mr Jess Perry). She was purchased at the 2019 Select Yearling Sale, where she reached $110,000 ($5,447 U.S.) as she passed through the ring, being bought back by her breeder.
She debuted in a win on March 15, 2020, with a 97 speed index for 220 yards. Since then, she has had nine outings with four firsts and four second places, running up to 350 yards, but always with speed indexes above 90.
After this win, and due to the suspension of the racing season in 2020, she only raced in the trials of the Garañones and Subasta Selecta futurities and was a qualifier in the latter coming in fourth place in the finals. In 2021 she qualified for the Mexican Breeders Derby Challenge, where she placed second behind Juanito Y Danny; a result that was the prelude to her first place score in the Mexico Derby, as described here, and adding to her account $572,796 pesos ($28,623 U.S. approx.), the main part of the prize allocated to the race with
a purse of $1,363,800 pesos ($68,150 U.S. approx.).
Currently, the racing prepa- ration of the filly is in charge
of José Norberto Bastida Díaz, who expressed his satisfaction with the victory. «It›s something I dreamed of and worked to achieve, although I knew it wouldn›t be easy to beat the rivals we had, but I was very confident in the ability of
the filly,» said José Norberto,
while expressing his gratitude to the owners of
the Cuadra Zamarrero for trusting in his work and that of the whole team. For this important commitment, the winner was saddled by Gregorio Alberto Razo Parra.
Always consistent in their performance, Juanito Y Danny (Danny Cartel–Toles) finished in second place, well led by Paul Osvaldo Rodríguez García. Bred by Cuadra La Presita, the 2020 AQHA Mexican Champion, belongs to Rancho El Suspiro and was saddled by trainer Ismael Ayala Salas. Although he covered the 300 yards in :15.00 (SI 95), it was insufficient to dominate the winner.
Third place went to the sorrel filly BR Beduina Policy (Southern Corona–Our Separate Chic) led by Mario Alberto López Marmolejo. Her breeder is Maximiliano Pérez Castañeda, who runs her on
138 SPEEDHORSE July 2021
Divas First Anita and Daniel Baez win the $68,150 Mexico Derby
Hipodromo de las Americas
$68,150 • 300 yards :14.99 • si 96
First Down Dash
Divas First Down
Really A Diva
DIVAS FIRST ANITA, 18-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Julies Lil Jess
A Lil Known Fact
Miguel Angel Espinoza Espinosa