Page 241 - September2021

Benny Pennington Memorial
VIVA LE DON
Vby John Moorehouse
iva Le Don continues to rack up stakes
wins. This time winning the $63,750 Benny Pennington Memorial on July 30 at Sam Houston Race Park. It marked his third straight stakes victory.
Once the gates opened, Viva Le Don emerged from the No. 6 hole and found himself in a battle for the front. He was running third at the first call and was 2-wide around the hook, then overtook his rivals to lead by a head going into the stretch. He held on to win by a neck, withstanding the chal- lenge from The Kings Horse.
Tammy Johnson trains Viva Le Don, who made the 870-yard trip in :46.116 for a 94 speed index. Josh Romero had the riding assignment.
Rockin J Running Horses owns the five-year-old gelding, who now holds 10 wins in 29 lifetime starts. The $32,250 payday from the Pennington victory pushed his current total earnings to $474,056.
Viva Le Don’s current win streak includes
the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 and the San Marcos Stakes, both of which also were run here
at Houston. He also won the Remington Park Distance Challenge Championship-G2 earlier this year. Such success made him about as big a favorite as you’ll see.
Johnson and Jack Manning bred Viva Le Don out of Viva Arriba, a 2009 mare.
Bullard Farms home-bred runner-up The Kings Horse (Class King-Fleeta Dif TB), a Lewis “Tooter” Jordan trainee who had Jerry Yoakum aboard. Jack Ketel (Ketel Won-Sheza Moon Bar Baby) placed third 7-lengths back for owners Diamond L Racing and trainer Arnold Lewis. Luis Vivanco was in the irons. Followed by Love Ta Zoom (Azoom-Loves Easter Bunny), KW Cowboy (Mighty Corona-Tres Dia Noche), What Huh (One Famous Eagle-Slide Of Hand), and Show Time (One Famous Eagle- Veva Jean). Tek Ni Color scratched.
Miss Retama Stakes
SILK AND STILETTOS JESSELEVENORSEVEN
Sby John Moorehouse
ilk And Stilettos and Jess Eleven Or Seven finished
in a dead heat for first place in the $54,500 Miss Retama Stakes on July 30 at Sam Houston Race Park. It marks the first stakes victory for each competi-
tor, coming in a race for Texas-bred fillies and mares. Each horse added $21,800 to their bankroll.
Silk And Stilettos, home-bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, is trained by Trey Wood, and ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr. Esmeralda. Chad Peck home-bred Jess Eleven Or Seven, trained by Rolando Almanza. Ricardo Garza-Cruz was in the irons.
Both horses emerged at the front of a blanket fin- ish hitting the wire simultaneously. They completed the 350-yard trip in :17.729, posting a 95 speed index.
Silk and Stilettos’ dam, Tallulah Moon, also is a stakes winner. Jess Eleven Or Seven is out of 2-time winner & stakes finalist Eleven To Seven.
SS Classyjess (Rock Solid Jess-High Class Broad) was 3rd for Edgar Rosales & trainer Jose Carrizales. Juan Garcia was aboard. Followed by Greysland
(Kiss My Hocks-Grey Daze), Leading Senorita (The Louisiana Cartel-Leading Princess), My Rockin Memories (Rock Solid Jess-Good Ole Memories), Mia Favoritta (Favorite Cartel-Las Alamitos), and First Lady TLC (The Louisiana Cartel-Time For The Senator). Fancy Pants Heidi & Pronto Alexa scratched.
BOA Retama Champ. Chal.
VALIANT TIBERIAS
by Michael Compton
T
Championship races in Albuquerque after domi- nating his rivals in the $55,726 Bank of America Retama Park Championship Challenge on Aug. 7 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Ridden by Victor Urieta Jr., the hard-knocking veteran surged to an early lead at the start of the 440-yard test. He maintained a clear advantage through the lane, powering away late to score by 2-lengths at the wire. He completed his impressive victory in :21.697, earning an 104 speed index.
Trained by Juan Diaz Jr. for owners Sergio Holguin, Clifton Nielsen and Felix Rodriguez, Valiant Tiberias has now won 11 of 24 career starts. The $26,749 winner’s share of the purse swelled his bankroll to $688,432.
In addition to his latest win, Valiant Tiberias has also annexed the Refrigerator Stakes-G1 at Lone Star Park and the Sooner State Stakes-G1 at Remington Park. He also captured the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G3 in 2019 after taking the Ruidoso Adequan Derby Challenge. He was bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches LLC and is produced from the Feature Mr Jess mare American Feature.
Runner-up My Fast Prize (Mr Jess Perry-Coronas Fast Prize) chased the winner throughout under Nestor Duran. The gelding is owned by Ruse Ranch LLC and trained by Patrick Clemons. Tempting Violet (Tempting Dash-Sweet Violets) and Eleazar Hernandez finished third for owner SLC Racing LLC and trainer Leonel Hernandez.
DM La Jolla Cartel (Favorite Cartel-Mary La Jolla) was fourth and Krash Course (Krash Cartel- Rare Eye Opener), HB Birdman (Dealagame-Rare Panther), BV Last Kiss (Jess Lips-BV Valentine Wagon), and Winter Brook (Apollitical Jess- Christie Jo Dash) followed.
RACING NEWS
he accomplished 5-year-old gelding Valiant
Tiberias earned a berth in this year’s Challenge
Sam Houston • $54,500
350 yards • :17.729 • si 95
Favorite Trick TB
Shenoshercorona
Corona Cartel
Splendifferous
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
JESS ELEVEN OR SEVEN, ‘16-m.
Fredricksburg
Favorite Cartel SILK AND STILETTOS, ‘17-f.
Tallulah Moon
Eleven To Seven
Shesmine N Shesroyal
Sam Houston • $55,726
440 yards • :21.697 • si 104
Valiant Hero VALIANT TIBERIAS, ‘16-g.
First Down Dash Corona Chick
Feature Mr Jess
American Feature
Allamericandreamgirl
Sam Houston • $53,750
870 yards • :46.116 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
VIVA LE DON, ‘16-g. Viva Arriba
Rockin The Tetons PYC Paint Your Wagon Arriba Reba
SPEEDHORSE September 2021 239
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Coady Photography