Page 55 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Spring 2018

NM Champion TB Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
HUTE
(Western Gambler-Lisa’s Pride, Desert God) Bred by/Owned by: Michael Stinson
Trained by: Joel H. Marr
2017: 7 3-1-0 $191,460
Rocky Gulch NM Classic Championship, Red Hedeman Mile Stakes
The sport of racing, according to Michael Stinson, is a melting pot of people and of experiences. He should know since he’s been a part of the industry for more than 40-years.
Stinson purchased Western Gambler, the 2004 sire of Hute (pronounced as in “cute”) several years ago out of the Ocala Sale. “He’s a good stallion but he ran into some hard luck,” noted Stinson. “I stood him here for a while and then moved him to Joel’s place.”
Western Gambler, a son of Storm Cat, has only 46 foals to his credit. There are 22 starters with $700,000 in earnings. Hute stands at
the top of the list, with a career bankroll of $214,910 from 11 starts.
“He (Hute) doesn’t have tremendous speed,” said Stinson, “but he does like distance. That’s something we hope to capitalize on as he gets older. He’s already had one out this year and he’s never really been turned out. That’s why we’re giving him a little rest right now.
“He’s stayed extremely sound and he’s also one of those honest horses that we all want. He’s steady and he’s consistent.” In other words, he has all the talents and attributes needed for success.
“We haven’t raced him that hard,” observed Stinson. “Our goal now is to find the best spots for him so he can continue succeeding.
“I’ve sold several broodmares during the last 18 months but I’ve also bought several babies
in Kentucky. Just because I’ve been doing this for 40 years doesn’t mean I’m any different from anyone else in the business. We all want to figure out the best direction for our programs. Do we breed? Do we buy? Do we go to Kentucky or do we stay strictly in New Mexico? There are decisions to be made every day.”
Stinson sold Lisa’s Pride, Hute’s dam, to one of Joel’s clients. At the time of the sale, Hute was her only foal to race. And, as for Stinson’s future plans, he intends to split his racing efforts between the East and West coasts.
NM Champion TB Three-Year-Old Filly
SIDEWINDER SALLY
(Mr. Gold Mover-Tef’s Porche, Expressman) Bred by: Ivey Cattle Co. (Ben Lee Ivey, et al) Owned by: Robert Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey Trained by: Dan Dennison
2017: 8 3-1-0 $122,300
NM Classic Cup Oaks Championship
Robert Driggers and wife Del Rae have kicked around the racing business for a very long time. They’re well-known and well- respected. They’re genuine horse people and they’ve proven their talents over and over with both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.
The name Driggers will be forever-coupled with the name Major Rime. The 1992 stallion
was catapulted to racing fame by Driggers.
The $280,000 in his career checking account helped Driggers push him into a campaign that transformed him into a New Mexico sire to be reckoned with. The stallion died recently at age 26.
The Driggers, as already noted, are genuine horse people and, like others of their ilk, they appreciate a beautiful horse regardless of the breed. “I was in Thoroughbreds in the beginning of my career,” recalled Driggers. “Then I moved back and forth between the two breeds. Right now it’s mostly TBs but I still have a strong love for the Quarters. Ben (Ivey) and I still race a few of each.
“Ben and I have been partnering for a very long time and I think this filly, Sidewinder Sally, is one of the best we’ve ever bred and raised.
“For starters, she’s absolutely beautiful in conformation. She looks almost like a Quarter Horse and there’s never been a time when she’s given us the least problem. She was easy to break and we didn’t need to look too far to see her talent.”
Tef ’s Porche, the 1999 dam of Sidewinder Sally, hasn’t been exactly prolific in terms of sending babies to the racetrack. Tricky Porche tried to find her way to the finish line in 2008 and 2009. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out and the filly went home with only $419 which, after expenses were factored in, was less than she had when she arrived.
Tricky Porche’s name was followed by a long list of blanks, until Sidewinder Sally hit the Zia Park surface in 2017 to win the NM Classic Cup Oaks Championship. Driggers couldn’t have been more pleased.
“She looks almost like a Quarter Horse and there’s never been a time when she’s given us the least problem. She was easy to break and we didn’t need to look too far to see her talent.”
“We definitely intend to keep her as a broodmare,” he said. “The Thoroughbred fillies in New Mexico are tough and getting tougher. The quality for both our mares and stallions
is on the up-swing which signals nothing but good for our industry.”
NM Champion TB Older Stallion
SHINING SOURCE
(Source-Shine Miss Comet, Comet Shine) Bred by: Susan K. Vescovo
Owned by: Barton Ranch Stables & Blake Rust Trained by: Blake Rust
2017: 9 3-1-3 $187,648
Jack Cole H., NM State University H., Johnie L. Jamison Stakes
In an effort to respect the integrity of
full disclosure, Blake Rust was told (maybe promised) that his role in this article would
be kept to a minimum. He does not seek the limelight or the headlines. He’s a working man who can live very comfortably without fanfare.
Okay. Fine. His preferences were disclosed but here’s the problem.
Kinda’ like the late Blane Schvaneveldt, Rust is a big man. He’s big physically and his personality is on the same scale. His name
SPRING 2018 53