Page 177 - August 2021

Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass
FIVE BARS BLAZIN
by John Moorehouse
Five Bars Blazin was the 10th and final qualifier for the Firecracker Futurity during the June 15 trials. But, when it came time to
run the stakes final, the two-year-old chestnut gelding was the fastest in the field—going wire-to-wire to win the $90,000 Firecracker Futurity held July 4 at Grants Pass Downs.
Jockey Luis Flores Gonzalez was aboard in the trials and in the finals, as Five Bars Blazin broke on top emerg-
ing from the 5-gate. The
gelding made an all-out run
for the finish line. Ahead
by a full length at the first
call, he widened the gap to 1
1/2-lengths as they entered
the stretch, then held off L
Bar D Mistr Cartel to win
by a neck.
Trained by Benito Curiel, Five Bars Blazin made the futurity field on the bump spot as the final
NDQHRA Futurity
qualifier, finishing his 350-yard trial in :17.975. In the trials, the gelding was just a slim nose behind the winner.
However, he was much faster in the finals, covering the same distance in :17.381 for a 101 speed index.
Malon Cowgill home-bred Fire Bars Blazin, a 17-1 underdog who broke his maiden and earned black type in what marked his
second career out.
Cowgill banked a $36,000
payday for the victory, push- ing the gelding’s total bank account to $37,000. Cowgill bred Five Bars Blazin out of Afterglow, a 2006 mare who won five of 25 starts during her own racing career.
L Bar D Mistr Cartel (Majestic Cartel-Fly Misty Fly) finished second by a nose. The gelding is owned by Linda and F. Darrell
Sanders. The Hector Magallanes trainee
had Joree Scriver in the irons. L Bar D Mistr Cartel was second in his trial for the 4th qualifying spot.
Apolinaria Prize (Fast Prize Cartel-SS Calendar Girl), the fastest qualifier, hit the board in third for owner Juan Marquez and trainer Jose Rosales Gomez. Cesar Moreno drew the riding assignment.
BV Mary Rose (Hez Our Secret-Striking Presence) was fourth, and Like Da Boss (Capo de Capi-Real Queen Like It), Five
Car Cali (Five Bar Cartel-Queen of Cali), Hell On Horseshoes (Fly Chisholm Fly-Just Began), JM Who Knew (One Dashing Eagle- Good As I Was), Playin The Game (Game Patriot-Valiant Freda) and El Alazan Gunner (Fastnfierce-Back Street Gal) completed the order of finish.
continued. “He broke with the leaders and quickly took command. He is a people loving horse and a pleasure to be around. On the track he is all business and nothing bothers him. We sent him to Prairie Meadows and we are looking forward to the futurity there or maybe the futurity at Canterbury Park.”
Fastest qualifier Runaway Separtely (Separate Interest-Runaway In Style) and jockey Eric Snodgrass were second for owner Randal Schwartz and trainer Mallory Norton.
Tres Red Roses (Tres Seis-Oh Honey Rose) was in tight, but made a late effort to pocket the third place check under Evan Herman for owners Eva Marie and Jeff Hepper and trainer Junior Dolphus.
Favorite Rambler (Ima Ramblin On-Favorite Dip Chick), Gold Medal Soldier (BV Travelin Soldier-Gold Medal Jano), Corona For An Eagle (Corona B-Such An Easy Eagle), Times Best Card (Docs Best Card-Dynasty Time) and Shesa Royal Jess (Dashing Jess Perry-Tempered Reb) completed the order finish.
Grants Pass
$90,000 • 350 yards :17.381 • si 101
Corona Cartel
Five Bar Cartel
Five Bar Molly
FIVE BARS BLAZIN, ‘19-g.
Shazoom
Afterglow
Too Hot To Snow
RACING NEWS
IMA FREIGHTTRAIN B
by Danny Camp
Ima Freighttrain B ran third in his first race ever and qualified for the finals with the fourth fastest time on July 8. It was in the
running of the $23,770 NDQHRA Futurity at North Dakota Horse Park. Ima Freighttrain B stepped away from the 4-post in fourth position. Ridden by jockey David Pinon, Ima Freighttrain B was in third at the first call
and secured a 1/2-length lead at the halfway point. They maintained that margin and were 1/2-length in front at the
wire. Trained by condi-
tioner Robert Johnson, the
brown gelding stopped the
clock in a quick :18.158
to earn a 91 speed index.
Ima Freighttrain B also
earned the first place check
worth $11,885, boosting his
total earnings to $12,125
for owner/breeder Kari
Buchholz. The gelding
scored a stakes victory in just
his second career start.
Buchholz bred Ima Freighttrain B out of lightly raced Marmalades Cartel, full sister to stakes placed Marcar, who ran second in the 2014 Speedhorse Derby. She has pro- duced 100% winners from two starters, including top earner Marmolly, who won the 2017 NDQHRA Futurity. His second dam is Marmalade Lady, who finished third in the Bitterroot Futurity-RG2, Silver Dollar Futurity-RG3 and Elko County Fair Derby.
“Kari Buchholz raised this horse, and she was unbelievably excited when he won,” said trainer Robert Johnson. “He is a natural race horse and he loves his job. His first out was in
the trials and it was a good solid race. He didn’t get knocked around and wasn’t overly stressed.
“In the finals he knew what was gonna happen and he was ready,” Johnson
North Dakota Horse Park
$23,770 • 350 yards :18.158 • si 91
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Freighttrain B
Dianetogetcha
IMA FREIGHTTRAIN B, ‘19-g. Carters Cartel
Marmalades Cartel
Marmalade Lady
SPEEDHORSE August 2021 175
Vince Williams