Page 247 - September 2022

Retama Park Derby
GULF COAST FLYER
by Michael Compton
Gulf Coast Flyer joined the ranks of stakes winners with a stylish front-running victory in the $161,400 Retama Park Derby at
Retama Park on July 30.
Ridden by jockey Eric Reyes, Gulf Coast
Flyer flashed his customary early zip away from the starting gate in the 400-yard fixture and grabbed the lead at the start. He maintained a clear advantage through the lane and crossed the finish unchallenged, defeating
post-time favorite Mr De Capi by 1-length at the wire.
Gulf Coast Flyer stopped the timer in :20.300 and earned a speed index of 91.
Owned by Eberardo Elizondo and Loras Gregory Boge, Gulf Coast Flyer is trained by Miguel Castillo.
In notching the first stakes win of his career, Gulf Coast Flyer, who finished fourth in the Sam Houston
Bitterroot Futurity-RG3
Derby-G2 in May, improved his record to 9-3-2-1 and the $64,560 winner’s share of the purse padded his bankroll to $113,303.
Gulf Coast Flyer broke his maiden on debut last year at two and scored his other victory in his trial for the Sam Houston Derby in his first start of the 2022 season in April.
Bred in Texas by Alan and Tawn Perkins, Gulf Coast Flyer is produced from the Class King mare
Bluebonnetbelle, a two-time winner in her racing career. The Retama Derby
runner-up was Mr De Capi (Capo De Capi-Redheads Run Hotter), the fastest qualifier and even-money favorite. Ridden by Jose Martinez, Mr De Capi is owned by Jesus Olvera and is trained by Angel Sanchez. The Oklahoma-bred gelding was a finalist in the Sam Houston Derby-G3 and is a three-time winner.
Hes Jess Dealin (Dealagame-Jess Marcy) and jockey Francisco Calderon were bumped on both sides after the start but recovered to finish in third place with a strong late rally. Trained by John Stinebaugh, Hes Jess Dealin, who was a winner of $91,163 Sam Houston Derby Challenge by 2-lengths two starts back, races for Pete Scarmardo.
Shes Tough (Apollitical Jess-Peppermint Seis) finished in fourth place and was followed by TF Mr Jess Candy (Jess Good Candy-Fly On Candy Tree) in fifth. Muddys Misfit (Muddy Watters-Zooming Separatist), Here Comes Candy (Jess Good Candy-Candy Cartels Cat), Carters Deadheat (EC Jet One-Carters Sixty Six), Babes FDD (FDD Dynasty-Thebabeisback), and Sunset Train (Muddy Waters-Jess Goldiggers) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
Retama Park
$161,400 • 400 yards :20.300 • si 91
Corona Cartel
Bogart
Jess Genuine
GULF COAST FLYER, ‘19-g.
Class King
Bluebonnetbelle
Ladys Streaker
MONICAS FAVORITE
by Michael Cusortelli
Monicas Favorite, the fourth-fastest qualifier, earned her first stakes victory in the July 29 Bitterroot Futurity-RG3 at Pocatello Downs.
Ridden by Jesus Canales for trainer Sergio Canales, Monicas Favorite went 350 yards in :17.624, and her winning margin was 3/4-length from fastest qualifier Normandy. The sorrel filly earned a 97 speed index while banking the $44,797 winner’s share of the $111,994 purse.
Monicas Favorite is owned by Steve Berry and Jason Berry. She was
homebred in Utah, and
she made her local debut
with a second-place finish, a neck behind third-fastest qualifier I Am Bolt, in one of eight Bitterroot Futurity trials on July 15.
The filly is out of Santa Monica MV, a winning daughter of Corona Cartel and a full sister to 2014 Champion Aged Mare Significant Heart. Monicas Favorite’s second dam, the
Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Significant, won the 2008 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and was a finalist in that season’s All American Futurity-G1. Jess Significant has produced a total of two stakes winners, including Catch Billy The Kid, a half brother to Santa Monica MV. Monicas Favorite traces back to her third dam, Significant Speed, a daughter of the Beduino TB stallion Duel Fuel and the sport’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in 2000 and
Champion Aged Mare in ’02. Monicas Favorite began
her racing career with a neck victory in one of six 300-yard SVLAC/Wyoming Downs Futurity trials at Laurel Brown Racetrack near Salt Lake City on May 15. She recorded the third-fastest qualifying time but the $50,769 final on May 30 was canceled due to inclement weather. All told, the filly has won two of three outs and has banked $50,874.
Normandy (A Revenant-Ms Casholene) was coming off of a neck victory in the last Bitterroot Futurity trial, and the $22,399 runner-up share of the purse bumped bay colt’s earnings to $24,439 from three starts for his owner Ronnie Brooks Keller. Trainer Weston Smith had jockey Jose A. Figueroa in the irons.
Special Gift (Separate Interest-Awesome Gift) ran third under jockey Oscar Villa and banked $11,200 for her owners Edward McNelis and Von Zae McNelis and trainer Ramiro Fregoso.
Tellin Wagon Tales (Wagon Tales-Tellin It All) finished fourth and was followed
by One Famous Rock (One Famous Eagle-First Prize Joy), I Am Bolt (Favorite Cartel-Maddie Ross), Shezabear (Heza Fast Rogue-Subicbear), Whooz Ya Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Shi D Anna), Easy Earl (Jess Got Easier-Special Truth), and Doctor Blake (Docs Best Card-Mi Stoli).
Pocatello Downs
$111,994 • 350 yards :17.624 • si 97
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
MONICAS FAVORITE, ‘20-f.
Corona Cartel
Santa Monica MV
Jess Significant
SPEEDHORSE September 2022 245
Kira Crook Coady Photography