Page 167 - June_2023

Double Down 123’s connections include owners Randy Young and Taos River Ranch LLC, trainer Monty Arrossa and jockey Armando Cervantes.
Drawn on the outside in the 300-yard final, Double Down 123 broke well in second and quickly took the lead. It wasn’t easy, as almost the entire field came to the wire together, but Double Down 123 eked out a head win in :15.436 while posting a 96 speed index.
“I was yelling, yelling, yelling, keeping her busy, and thank God we got the victory,” said Cervantes.
Young became only the second owner
to win three consecutive running’s of the Kindergarten Futurity, named for the late, great jockey Robert Adair. Ivan Ashment first accomplished the feat in 1975-77.
Young is longtime friends with Arden
Sue Floyd and Johnny Trujillo of the Taos River Ranch, now a partner on Valiantli with Young and Jensen. Last year Young, Floyd, and Trujillo decided to buy a yearling. They successfully bid $35,000 for Double Down 123 at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, buying her from Lazy E Ranch as agent for breeders Bob and Jerry Gaston.
Young said that at the sale he also met Justin Hosea, the farm manager of Paragon Farms, which owns millionaire and Champion Flying Cowboy 123. Double Down 123 with her Kindergarten Futurity became the first stakes winner for the stallion and is from his first crop.
“I’m glad we’re the first stakes winner for that stallion,” Young said. “I like the fillies, and Monty has always said that they mature faster. We shoot for that and have had good luck with them.”
Arrossa said that Double Down 123 matured early. “Romero Fregoso, my former assistant in Idaho, broke her and did an excellent job with her,” said Arrossa. “He
told me when he sent her down here that she was our kind of horse—she had a good mind and likes to do things right. He put a great foundation into her.”
Young is also excited about the broodmare capabilities of his Kindergarten winners. “We’ve got a few babies coming out of Fire Fast Honey for next year and Valiantli—that’s in the future,” he said. “And now this one. We’re excited to seeing them have some babies.”
The Gastons bred Double Down 123 in Texas from their homebred winner Double Down Darling, a half-sister to Champion Double Down Special. The mare has produced six starters, all winners, including multiple graded winner Perrys Double Down and stakes-placed One Famous Darling and Tic It To The Dance.
Racy Sweet Corona (Corona Cartel-One Sweet Racy), ridden by Oscar Peinado, trained by Jaime Gomez, and owned by Dutch Masters III, finished second. Second in a maiden race in his debut, the gelding won his Adair trial, qualifying the fastest.
Jose Nicasio piloted Think Again Kev (KVN Corona-Budder Think Twice) to third for trainer Heath Taylor and owner Keith Nellesen. Think Again Kev won his first two races, prior to the Futurity final, qualifying the second fastest in his trial.
Completing the field were Just A Fooler (Favorite Cartel-Deceptive), Brindisi (Tres Seis- Dash Ta Moon), Choosen One (Favorite Cartel- KVN Little Sister), Hez Lonesome (Hez Our Secret-SC Coronada), Kevins Knockout (KVN Corona-Aquafina), and Max Storm (Foose-Ivys Storm). Political Rivalry was scratched.
Double Down 123 and Armando Cervantes return to the winner’s circle.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE June 2023 165
William Zuazo, Los Alamitos William Zuazo, Los Alamitos