Page 152 - January 2016 Speedhorse
P. 152
Evangeline Downs Futurity
QUEEN WASHITA
by Michael Compton
Alukewarm 5-2 race favorite in the $257,650 Evangeline Downs Futurity
at Evangeline Downs on Dec. 19, Queen Washita ruled 8 rivals, leading virtually wire- to-wire in the lucrative 400-yard race.
The fastest qualifier in the Nov. 27 trials for the Futurity with a 2 1/4 length win, Queen Washita sprinted clear early under Manuel Gutierrez in the
finals, opening a 1/2-length advantage away from the gate. Despite a steady drift in the lane, the 2-year-old filly hit the finish line 1-length
in front.
Queen Washita stopped
the clock in :19.930, earn- ing a speed index of 90 for trainer Adrian Huitron.
Queen Washita has amassed total earnings of $142,780 that includes the $128,825 first place check
for owner Jorge Aguilera.
This was the first stakes tally for
Queen Washita, who owned a stakes- placing prior to her win in the Evangeline Downs Futurity, as she was third in
the 400-yard Dash for Cash Juvenile Invitational Stakes at Lone Star Park on Oct. 10 worth $49,835.
Queen Washita now has three wins from eight outs, including this stakes win.
Bred in Oklahoma by Andrew Smith, Queen Washita is out of the winning mare Queens Magnolia. Queens Washita is her only winner and first stakes winner from just one other foal to race.
Catching Fire Corona (Fire and Corona-Oh Special Bay) and jockey John Hamilton offered
game chase but were no match for the winner. The gelding races in the colors of Hector Salinas and is conditioned by Robert Touchet.
Dash Don’t Cheat (Down N Dash- Special Cheat) raced in tight quarters early, but rallied to finish third under jockey Francisco Calderon. Sent off as the 2nd choice in the wagering at odds of 3-1, Pete Scarmardo’s Texas homebred is trained by Larry Kopycinski.
Barefoot Beach (Ivory James-Babe on the Beach), The Valiant Prince (Valiant Hero- Sassy Smith), Windschke (Jess Zoomin- Livorno), Tac It Sassy (Tac It Like a Man-Jess Sass Me), WRS Quick Eagle (One Famous Eagle-WRS Quick Sister) & Setyoursiteshigh (Inseperable-Jess Say Win) completed the order of finish. Heza Lucky Chic was scratched.
Evangeline Downs $257,650 400 yards :19.930 si 90
Separatist
Inseperable
A Deligthful Legacy
QUEEN WASHITA, ’13-f.
Jess Louisiana Blue
Queens Magnolia
Meet the Queen
RACING NEWS
Evangeline Downs Derby
EXQUISITE STRIDE
by Michael Cusortelli
Afinalist in the 2014 Grade 1 All American Futurity, Exquisite Stride earned his first career stakes win in the 400-yard Evangeline Downs Derby on Dec. 19.
Exquisite Stride stopped the timer in :19.700 while recording a lifetime-best 96 speed index and defeating Zoomin Baby by a neck. Joe Badilla Jr. rode Exquisite Stride for owner D & S Racing LLC of Richton, Mississippi. The bay colt is
trained by Michael Taylor.
The fifth-fastest qualifier and 2-1 favorite in the field of nine sophomores, Exquisite Stride was coming off of a 3/4-length victory in the third of five Evangeline Downs Derby trials on Nov. 28.
The colt was bred by John Andreini of San Mateo, California, and his sire, Champion Carters Cartel, is an 11-year-old son of Corona
150 SPEEDHORSE, January 2016
Cartel and 1993 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Jumping Tac Flash.
Exquisite Stride’s dam, the winning mare Tinys Lil Jess, has produced two winners from three starters. His second dam, Tiny First Down, won the 2000 Grade 1 Southern California Derby and placed second in the 1999 Rainbow Futurity-G1.
Exquisite Stride has won four of seven races, and the $72,550 win-
ner’s share of the $142,198 Evangeline Downs Derby purse increased his earn- ings to $187,630, of which $109,400 was banked during his 2-year-old freshman campaign.
A $20,000 purchase at
the 2013 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Exquisite Stride won his trials and then ran sixth, 1 3/4-lengths behind winner JM Miracle, in the
$2.6-million All American Futurity-G1. Taylor also prepped runner-up Zoomin
Baby (Jess Zoomin-Royal Baby Sister), a gray gelding racing for Francisco Vega. Francisco Ramirez Jr. rode Zoomin Baby.
Cobalt Creek (Walk Thru Fire-Checknbac) ran third. John Stinebaugh trained and Gilbert Ortiz rode the sorrel gelding for owner VWP Jr. Inc.
Happie Happie Happie (Jumpn-Goddess Athena) finished fourth and was followed
by Iconic Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Corona Mon Amie), MCM Storm Catcher (Heza Fast Dash- Caughtinthestorm), NCC Game On (Game Patriot-First Place Affair), Executive Successor (Executive Menace-Miss Ryon Dash) & WW Showtime (First Prize Perry-WW Family Tradition). Fastest qualifier Bay Eagle Glory was scratched.
Evangeline Downs $142,198 400 yards :19.700 si 96
Corona Cartel
Carters Cartel
Jumping Tac Flash
EXQUISITE STRIDE, ’12-c.
Mr Jess Perry
Tinys Lil Jess
Tiny First Down
Coady Photography Coady Photography
