Page 187 - October 2023

EYE WILL DECIDE
by John Moorehouse
Running at 870 yards continued to pay off for Eye Will Decide. The gelding tallied his third win in four starts thus far in 2023, taking the $43,250 San
Marcos Stakes on Sept. 2 at Retama Park. Eye Will Decide had never run at 870 before this year.
Breaking from the No. 4 hole, Eye Will Decide was running third going into the stretch as part
of a four-wide turn, then came flying for the wire, sporting a 1-length separation as he hit the finish line. Adan Guzman trains Eye Will Decide, who had Ali Rivera aboard for the 870-yard trip, completed in :46.111 for a 94 speed index.
A 17-1 longshot, Eye Will Decide produced a $25,950 payday that improved his total earnings
to $129,326. Bryon Gardner owns the gelding and his dam, Valiant Lil Lady, a 2010 mare with a total bankroll of more than $517,000. She holds two stakes victories, including the 2012 version of the Texas Classic Futurity-G1.
Gardner home-bred Eye Will Decide, who collected his fifth victory in 19 lifetime starts and his second triumph in stakes company. Eye Will Decide scored his first stakes win in June in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes at Sam Houston.
The Grand Legend (FDD Going Grand-Legendary Seis), the heavy post-time favorite at 1-5 odds, finished second by 3/4-length. Another Guzman trainee, The Grand Legend, is owned by James C. Whitener, LLC and had Noe Villatoro aboard. Rock Solid Stones (Rock Solid Jess-Precious Serendipity) finished third by a commanding five lengths. The gelding is owned by Sarah Huskey, trained by Esteban Rubio, and had Isaac Chapa in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was The Kings Horse (Class King-Fleeta Dif TB), Bl Ms Bodaciousquick (Bodacious Dash-Bad Affair), and Flyin Rusty (Flyin Color-Bling Bling Bok). Superfragilistic was scratched.
FRENCHY
by Michael Compton
Frenchy ran his win streak to three with a determined victory in the $57,568 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Retama Park on Aug. 19.
With regular rider Luciano Duenez in the irons, Frenchy chased the early pace of SW Ares in the early going of the 350-yard dash. While SW Ares opened a clear 1/2-length advantage on the field in the lane, Frenchy offered game chase and never gave up. In a thrilling finish, Frenchy collared SW Ares close to home and prevailed by a neck on the line as the race favorite. He stopped the timer in :18.233, earning a speed index of 85.
A homebred for Scott and Lindsey Pruett, Frenchy is now a winner in three of six starts and the $21,876 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings
total to $49,251. Trained by Arnold Lewis, Frenchy captured the Gillespie County Fair Paint & Appaloosa Futurity and finished second in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2. Bred in Texas, Frenchy is out of the This Snow Is Royal mare CRP Coco.
SW Ares APHA (Awesome Chrome-Snowbound Lady Bug), with Francisco Giles aboard, showed the way early and just missed for owner Francisco Rene Villarreal and trainer Alex Villarreal.
OP Lil Becca APHA (Lil Kool Wagon QH-OP Rebecca) broke out at the start under jockey Ali Rivera and rallied late to finish third for owner Guerras Racing Stables and trainer Gilberto Gonzalez.
Angel In The Wagon APHA (Little PYC-Partys Dolls Angel TB), Fancy A Miracle APHA (Rock Solid Jess QH-Tres Miracles), VP Rocket Ryon APHA (Dos Poruno-Call Her Awesome), Kas Pecosa APHA (Kas Tempting QH-La Pecosa), The OSC Jefa APHA (Capo De Capi QH-Eysa Savvy Queen), Bishop Gunn APHA (Tempting Dash QH-Brief Encounter), and Whenangelsfly APHA (Texas Magnum Seven-Miss Special Treasure) completed the order of finish.
SECRET LIVEWIRE
by Elle Summers
Securing his first win of the year, Secret Livewire crossed the finish line first on Aug. 19 at Retama Park in the $23,750 Colors of the Wind Paint &
Appaloosa Maturity. The $11,519 winner’s share for owner 2LD Farm, LLC swelled the gelding’s total bankroll to $83,142.
Secret Livewire APHA broke third and quickly gained ground in the stretch, winning by a nose over second place finisher WL Van Halen APHA.
Trained by conditioner Gary Jacobs and with Claudio Aguilar at the reins, Secret Livewire APHA crossed the 350 yard distance in :17.756 for a speed index of 99.
The gelding’s previous stakes wins include the 2022 Colors of Houston Paint & Appaloosa Derby and the 2021 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity, both at Sam Houston.
Lisa Lucido bred Secret Livewire, who was foaled in Texas out of Moonlight Who, a 2013 Thoroughbred mare.
WL Van Halen APHA (MHM Hotwire-CL Trap Queen) broke on top and stayed on through the stretch, but was bested at the finish. The gelding is owned by Guerras Racing Stables, trained by Gilberto Gonzales, and ridden by Ali Rivera.
WL Van Halen won the Colors of Houston Paint & Appaloosa Derby at Sam Houston in May. Just Wishn APHA (Boknaai QH-Just Splashin) finished third, 1-length behind WL Van Halen, under the hand of jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. The gelding pocketed $2,612 for owner Sarah Huskey and is trained by Esteban Rubio.
The remaining order of finish: Cowgirl Cartel APHA (Dash Master Jess QH-Camo Cowgirl),
A El Regalo APHA (Judys Kiss-Vital Rose QH), WB Stevie Nix APHA (CRM Livewire-Zoomin Moon), and VP Country Smoke APHA (VP Smokey Wire-Country Danger). WL You Aint No Cowboy was scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE October 2023 185
San Marcos Stakes
Colors of the Alamo P&A F.
Colors of the Wind P&A Mat.
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Retama Park • $57,568
350 yards • :18.233 • SI 85
CRM Livewire
FRENCHY APHA, ‘21-g. CRP Coco QH
Cartel Success QH Elaina Go Go
This Snow Is Royal Chickazita
Retama Park • $23,750
350 yards • :17.756 • SI 99
Cartel Success QH
CRM Livewire
Elaina Go Go
SECRET LIVEWIRE APHA, ‘19-g.
The Way Home
Moonlight Who TB
Spring Catch
Retama Park • $43,250
870 yards • :46.111 • SI 94
Corona Cartel
Majestic Cartel
Five Bar Molly Valiant Hero
EYE WILL DECIDE, ‘18-g. Valiant Lil Lady
Rustys Lil Lady