Page 250 - September 2022

RACING NEWS
Benny Pennington Memorial
MIGHTY VALENTINO
by Danny Camp
Mighty Valentino scored his first stakes victory in the $53,750 Benny Pennington Memorial at Retama Park on July 29.
Ridden by Francisco Calderon, they took command out of the gate and were a 1/2-length
to the good around the turn. A couple of words of encouragement from Francisco coming out of the turn was all it took. The farther they went the bigger lead they had, finally crossing the line wire-to-wire 1 1/2-lengths in front.
Brittany Tellez saddled the winner, who ran the 870 yards in :46.449 while posting a 90 speed index for owner Thomas Tiller. The $32,250 winner’s share boosted Mighty Valentino’s bankroll to $71,923.
Leonard Lyne bred Mighty Valentino out of multiple winner Ottyes Valentine Gal, who finished third in the 2013 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby-RG3. She has produced 100% winners from three starters. Mighty Valentino is her first stakes winner.
Jax Louisiana Game (The Louisiana Cartel- Thunder Got Game) fought the good fight to bank the second place money for owner Thomas D. Tiller. The Brittany Tellez trainee had Froylan Ramirez in the saddle. The gelding has won the 2019 TQHA 550 Stakes-G3 and the 2021 GCFA All Breed 870 Stakes.
Shockinglyfamous (One Famous Eagle- Shocktime TB) was able to hold on for third place under Benito Baca for owner Stone Chase Stable LLC and Kasey Willis, who also trained the horse. Shockinglyfamous was coming off a 5 1/4-length victory in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.
The Kings Horse (Class King-Fleeta Dif TB), Flyin Charlie (Flyin Color-Bokaroni), Princess Classic (Wonder Boy Perry-Killistos Classis TB) and One Mighty Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Kates Dynasty) completed the order of finish. Love Ta Zoom was scratched.
Miss Retama Stakes
SS CLASSYJESS
by Danny Camp
SS Classyjess showed class as she glided to victory in the $54,000 Miss Retama Stakes at Retama Park on July 29.
The filly broke on top from the 4-post under jockey Juan Garcia and was never headed. She made
a strong drive as she crossed the wire a 1/2-length in front. They completed the 400 yards in :20.280 while posting a 91 speed index for trainer Jose Carrizales. Owned by Edgar Rosales, SS Classyjess brought home the $32,400 winner’s share of the purse which boosted her already impressive bankroll to $495,524. Raced in three states, including Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, SS Classyjess has won an impressive 23 races with 11 of those being stakes events. Among those stakes wins are the Sam’s Town Stakes, Swift Stakes and Gillespie County Fair Sprint Classic. She also placed in another nine stakes races. Ronnie Stewart/Double S Farm bred SS Classyjess out of lightly raced High Class Broad. The mare has produced four winners from six starters. SS Classyjess is her first stakes winner.
Best Moonflash (First Moonflash-Thebest Isyet Tocome) was clearly second best on this day for owner Gaylyn Shelton. The John Stinebaugh trainee had Francisco Calderon in the irons. The filly was coming off a fourth place finish in the Miss Sam Houston Stakes. Lethal White Veil (Lethal Corona- Lil Famous Dash) overcame a poor start with a late rush under Victory Urieta Jr. She banked third place money for owner Carlos Ponce and trainer Juan Diaz Jr. The filly won the Sam Houston Starter Stakes at Sam Houston in June.
A Fleeting Kiss (Kiss My Hocks-Fleeta Dif TB), Angelas Queen (Tres Seis-Mi Angela), Leading Senorita (The Louisiana Cartel-Leading Princess), La Inseparable (Inseperable-Cindys First CD) and Zsuzannah (Hez Fast As Cash-Jess Go) completed the order of finish.
BOA Retama Champ. Chal.
HIS TIME TO DEAL
by Danny Camp
His Time To Deal was dealt a winning hand when he won the $56,848 Bank of America Retama Park Championship Challenge on Aug. 19.
Ridden by Ali Rivera, His Time To Deal broke in second from the 2-post and quickly secured
the lead. Midway through the sprint, the gelding had a 2 1/2-length lead and crossed the wire 1 3/4-length in front.
Trained by John Stinebaugh, the gelding completed the 440 yards in :22.076, while posting a 99 speed index. The $27,856 winner’s share of the purse boosted His Time To Deal’s total bankroll to $221,418 for owner/breeder Pete Scarmardo.
Raced in Oklahoma and Texas, His Time To Deal has also won the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge-G3, Willie Hickman Memorial and TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby.
Scarmardo bred His Time To Deal out of winner Lady Lilia. She has produced eight winners from 15 starters, including top earner This Is A Deal Too, who won the Lovington Stakes-G2 twice. His Time To Deal is her third stakes winner.
Gias Fred (Paint Me Perry-Miss Game Tee) overcame a slow break by digging in down the stretch. That effort earned him a second place finish under Francisco Ramirez Jr. for owner
GIA Equine Center LLC. Trained by Richard Lane, the gelding also finished second in last
year’s Old South Derby. Gael Force (Im A Fancy PYC-Country Club Chick) and jockey Jose Vega finished third for owner Circle T Ranch and trainer Ricardo Vallejo. The colt finished second in the 2020 FL Lady Bug Stakes-G3. Railroad Jimmy (Freighttrain B-Ha Chi Mama), Sir Thorn Dash (Sir Runaway Dash-Thorn Chicks), Thank U Next B
(Big Lew-Dashaway Eagle) and Sweet Anne (Mr Jess Perry-Bringitonsister) completed the order of finish. Big Eagle Gone was scratched.
Retama Park • $53,750
870 yards • :46.449 • si 90
Valiant Hero
Mighty B Valiant
Mighty B Doll
Mr Ottyes
Ottyes Valentine Gal
MIGHTY VALENTINO, ‘15-g.
Lovely Legs
Retama Park • $54,000
400 yards • :20.280 • si 91
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
SS CLASSYJESS, ‘16-m.
Royal Shake Em
High Class Broad
Rockin The Tetons
Streakin Out
Retama Park • $56,848
440 yards • :22.076 • si 99
Game Patriot
Dealafly
First Down Dash Lady Tenaya
Dealagame
HIS TIME TO DEAL, ‘18-g. Lady Lilia
248 SPEEDHORSE September 2022
Leslie Simmons, Speedhorse
Coady Photography
Coady Photography