Page 177 - Speedhorse, December 2018

LQHBA Breeders’ Derby
DASHNUNDER AFULLMOON
By Michael Compton
Dashnunder Afullmoon added to her already impressive resume in the LQHBA Breeders’ Derby at Evangeline Downs Dec. 15, scoring
her fourth stakes victory in the $266,560 event at 400 yards. Ridden by Raul Ramirez
Jr., Dashnunder Afullmoon
raced in second position early
after breaking from the far
outside in post position 10
and chased Shesa Diamond
Diva away from the gate.
Dashnunder Afullmoon col-
lared that one close to home
and forged to a neck victory
at the finish, stopping the
timer in a lively :19.438, just
ticks off Separatist Firstdown’s
track record of :19.292, and earning a speed index of 105. The winner was vanned off fol- lowing the race, but her connections reported she was okay and might be bred in 2019.
Owned by Rogelio Marquez Jr. and trained by Josue Ponce, Dashnunder Afullmoon who
was sent off as the odds-on favorite, improved her record to 11-8(4)-0-2(1) and increased her bankroll to $712,551. Dashnunder Afullmoon
enjoyed a banner season last year at 2, winning the Lee Berwick Memorial-RG1, the Louisiana Bred Lassie Futurity-RG2, and the Louisiana Day Juvenile Stakes-RG2.
“We are blessed to have her,” Marquez shared with the press after the victory. “She’s been great for us as we took the risk in purchasing her (she was bought for $44,500) at the LQHBA Yearling Sale, and we got a pretty good deal.”
Bred in Louisiana by D & S Racing LLC, Dashnunder Afullmoon is produced from the stakes-winning Dash Ta Fame mare Full Moon Dasher and is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Jen And Vodka, who was third in the 2016 Firecracker Futurity-G2.
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Runner-up Shesa Diamond Diva (Struttin to Beduino-Sheza Fortune) and jockey Eddie Sanchez held second after leading throughout for owner Crown Horse Racing and trainer Jose Sanchez III.
Eye Am Sizzlin (Sizzlin Cartel-Eye Opening Jess) and Ricardo Hernandez Jr. finished third for owner M&D Racing Stables and trainer Levi Mays.
Cant Catchacorona (Coronas Leaving You-In the Open), Gunna Be Alright (Heza Fast Dash-JJ Streakin Illusion), Featuring
Fast Jess (Heza Fast Dash-Featuringmissjess), Fabulously Black (Game Patriot-Fabulously Fast), JRS Taylors Runnaway (Sir Runaway Dash-No Matches Tonight), Sting Lika B (Hez Fast As Cash-Eyesa B Doll) and Ima Gone Reba (Game Patriot-Rebas in the House) completed the order of finish.
Evangeline Downs $266,560 • 400 yards :19.438 • si 105
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
DASHUNDER AFULLMOON, f.
Dash Ta Fame
Full Moon Dasher
Nagano Moon
Above: Dashnunder Afullmoon’s winning connections include owner Rogelio Marquez Jr., trainer Josue Ponce and jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. Right: Rogelio Marquez, Sr., Jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. and owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr.
Coady Photography