Page 170 - October 2023

RACING NEWS
RED HEADED BEACH
by Michael Compton
Jockey Rolando Pina had a tough decision
to make ahead of the $224,280 Leader of the Class Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Sept. 14. Pina, the regular rider of both Red Headed Beach and undefeated Trixs Are For Kids, opted for the former. He chose wisely. Pina and Red Headed Beach broke alertly in the 350-yard test and grabbed the lead away from the starting gate. Red Headed Beach maintained her advantage through the lane, clearing her rivals in the late stages. Leading every step of the way, she crossed the finish a comfortable 2-length winner as the odds-on favorite in the field of 10. Tin Knocker and jockey Martin Munoz finished second at odds of 22-1. Trixs Are For Kids bore out at the start
and wound up ninth under Jose Ruiz. Red Headed Beach covered the distance in :17.535 and earned a speed index of 99 in the impressive score.
“It was a really, really tough decision,” said Pina on selecting Red Headed Beach, who was the fastest qualifier from the Aug. 26 trials. “But this filly is something really special. She’s
168 SPEEDHORSE October 2023
Red Headed Beach goes wire-to-wire under Rolando Pina to win the Leader of the Class Futurity.
Leader Of The Class Futurity
Horseshoe Indianapolis
$224,280 • 350 yards :17.535 • SI 99
RED HEADED BEACH, ‘21-f.
Bred by: Sheri Miller
Raced to 2 $244,999 5-4(2)-0-1
ESCONDIDO BEACH
SI 93
Bred by: Bobby D. Cox Raced to 4 • $40,661 16-3-2-3(1)
226 f., 18 SW • $7,010,413
CORONA CARTEL SI 97
Bred by: Robert D. Etchandy Raced to 3 • $557,142 14-6(3)-3-0
2165 f., 194 SW • $69,322,137
SIX ON THE BEACH SI 106
Bred by: B. F. Phillips Jr. Estate Raced to 4 • $30,955 25-4(1)-6(1)-1
19 f., 2 SW • $853,599
RED STORM FLASH
Bred by: Sarah Huskey Raced to 2 • $1,035 5-0-0-0
2 f., 1 SW • $244,999
RED STORM CAT SI 104
Bred by: Julianna Hawn Holt Raced to 4 • $226,439 12-5-1(1)-2(1)
361 f., 8 SW • $3,587,447
FIRST DOWN PAYMENT SI 89 Bred by: Fletcher Huskey Raced to 5 • $14,344 22-3-2-4
8 f., 2 SW • $432,092
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