Page 107 - July 2020

Mtn. Top NM Bred Juvenile
VINE MASTER
by John Moorehouse
Vine Master recorded his second win in as many starts, and his first in stakes company, with his 1/2-length victory in the $50,000 Mountain Top Juvenile on June 13 at Ruidoso Downs.
Vine Master just missed out on qualifying for the Mountain Top Futurity. With his :17.993 time in the 350-yard trial, Vine Master won that race, which also marked his maiden out, but ended up 11th in the battle for 10 spots in the futurity. Vine Master instead went wire-to-wire in the juvenile. The James Gonzales II trainee broke on top from the 9-post, opened a 1/2-length lead by the first call, and main- tained that separation at every remaining juncture. Sergio Becerra, Jr., was in the irons for a 350- yard trip that took :17.991 and registered an 81 speed index, while running against a 12 mph crosswind.
Cody Cobb owns the gelding, who brought home a $30,000 for his breakthrough stakes victory. That improved his lifetime earnings to $32,400.
MJ Farms bred Vine Master out of winner Tangled Vines. She has produced 16 winners from 22 starters, including top earner and 2-time stakes winner Rex Hill. Vine Master is her third stakes winner.
Fly On Down (One Handsome Man-Never The Same) finished second for owner Dalia Aranda and trainer Tony Sedillo. Manuel Gutierrez drew the rid- ing assignment. Kellys First Moon (First Moonflash- Corona Kelly) hit the board in third under Juan Rivas for owner Gonzalez Racing, LLC and trainer Juan Gonzalez.
Tres Of Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Tres Of Alice), post-time favorite Bigg Dee (Big Daddy Cartel-Miss Woody Dee), Winner Takes It All (Winners Version-A Scootin Princess), Star Bridge (Woodbridge-Starsmith), Riverside Moonbeam (Moonifisant-Riverside Babe), Affinity Eagle (Reagal Eagle-Viva La Moon) and Roxxie (Corona Surfer- Mooneon) completed the order of finish.
Rita Danley Distaff
CLOSE TO CRAZY
by Danny Camp
Some names are just synonymous with New Mexico racing; Rita Danley is one of those names. And on June 14, Close To Crazy won the $40,000 race named in her honor. A classy horse to honor a classy lady.
The filly stepped away from the 10-post and
got the first call. The farther she went, the more distance she put between her and the field. Jockey Adrian Ramos had the good sense to sit quiet as they demolished the field, finishing 1 1/2-length in front at the wire. They completed the 350 yards in :17.688, earning a 90 speed index.
Close To Crazy earned the first place check worth $24,000 for owner Bella Valenzuela and trainer Juan Gonzalez, boosting her total lifetime earnings to $73,901. She now has a race record of 11-4(1)-2(0)-0.
M J Farms bred Close To Crazy out of Lubbock Stakes-G2 winner Da Edge. She has produced 100% money earners from seven starters, including Da Licious, dam of Harrah’s Futurity-G3 runner-up Baby Licious. Close To Crazy is her first stakes win- ner and top money earner.
Fabulous Stylin (Big Daddy Cartel-Fabulous Form) finished second under Alan Hernandez for owners Linda & Rancy Schalla, who also trains the filly. Fabulous Stylin has won two races from six starts. Jess To Reel (Jesse James Jr-Hot For Reel) and Paul Nieto came
in third for Benjamin Calderon and trainer Umberto Belloc. The filly has won five races from nine starts.
Followed by Wahene Version (Winners Version- Wahene Kai), Hopey Chick (Chicks Regard-Take
Off Babe), Fireball Flash (First Moonflash-Runaway Dashing), Dolly Cartel (Big Daddy Cartel-Dolly Little Bug), Jess Girl Blue (Jess A Chicks-The Blues Girl), Honky Tonk Daddy (Big Daddy Cartel-Jenna James) and DQ’d from 4th to last DJS Winner (Winners Version-Salt N Sea).
American Flyer Stakes
GANSTER AMERICANO
by Tracy Gantz
Ganster Americano has won races in California, New Mexico, and Colorado. He doubled in Colorado and became a stakes winner by capturing
the $15,000 American Flyer Stakes at Arapahoe Park on June 10.
With Alejandro Luna in the saddle, Ganster Americano broke in second and vied for the lead. Once he got to the front, he increased his advantage to three-quarters of a length at the wire, stopping the clock in :17.318, posting a 104 speed index.
Cynthia Gonzalez trains Ganster Americano for Rivera Quarter Horse Racing Inc., which purchased the gelding for $42,000 at the 2017 Ruidoso Downs Select Yearling Sale.
Jose Maria Gonzalez, in the name of his
Balgo Racing Team Inc., bred Ganster Americano in California in partnership with with Marlyn Gonzalez. The breeders raced Ganster Americano’s dam, Matabari. Champion 3-Year-Old Filly of 2013, Matabari won three grade 1 races, including the 2012 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1. Ganster Americano is Matabari’s first winner in three starters.
Arturo Chavez owns and trains Only Business (Dominyun-Teller Sheza Doll), who finished second under jockey Daniel Amaya. Roberto Valero piloted Could Be Hotter (Walk Thru Fire-Look Her Over) to third for owner Juniors Quarter Horses Inc. and trainer Hipolito Michel-Valverde.
Completing the field were Toshi Yoshi (Pool- Mairis Money Maker), El Oh El (Apollitical Jess-Cute Ivory Girl), Wonce In A Blue Moon (First Moonflash-Wonwabbitwon), Faster Than Hasta (Hasta Be Fast-Leadmetoyourladder), L Bar D Classic Trip (Mr. Nightlinger-TB-Be First Rose), Long Wagon Ho (PYC Paint Your Wagon-The Long Straw) and Sweet Twisted Tea (Sweet First Down- Dashing On The Moon).
RACING NEWS
Ruidoso Downs • $50,000 350 yards • :17.991 • si 81
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
VINE MASTER, ‘18-g. Tangled Vines
Loose Lips Dash Ta Fame
Dashing Sandy
Ruidoso Downs • $40,000 350 yards • :17.688 • si 90
Mr Jess Perry
Jesse James Jr
CLOSE TO CRAZY, ‘17-f. Da Edge
Loose Lips Separatist
Deelish
Arapahoe Park • $15,000 350 yards • :17.318 • si 104
Holland Ease
Corona Chick
GANSTER AMERICANO, ‘16-g.
Corona Cartel
Matabari
Mr Jess Perry Hold Me Now
SPEEDHORSE July 2020 105
Jake Rogers/Ruidoso Downs
Ruidoso Downs
Coady Photography