Page 168 - Speedhorse April 2021

RACING NEWS
Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1
SMITHWORKS
by Danny Camp
Ten qualifiers lined up for the finals of the $198,100 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1 at Remington Park on Mar. 20. When the dust settled, it was the stud horse Smithworks in the winner’s circle. He won his March 7 trial heat handily and posted the fastest qualifying time. In the finals he broke from the 5-post and overcame a hard bump at the start. With steady encourage- ment from jockey Francisco
Calderon, they crossed the finish line a 1/2-length in front. The son of Painted Turnpike stopped the clock in :15.594 to earn an 83 speed index. He also earned the first place check worth $74,518. That ups his total earnings to $77,848, and his race record stands at two wins from two starts. His team includes owner Bryan Hawk and breeder/trainer
Mardi Gras Derby
Matt Whitekiller. Bred in Oklahoma, Smithworks is out of lightly raced Shesa Mighty Chick, dam of 100% stakes winners from two starters.
“I owned this colt’s mama,” said Whitekiller. “When he was ready to be born, we had to cut him out of his mama and we put her down. Former jockey Debbie Freeman took the colt home and took care of him. She
worked hard and put the word out that we needed a wet mare and were lucky to find one. Last year, owner Bryan Hawk called me and wanted
a horse. He bought this colt sight unseen. This colt is
chill everywhere he goes. You would never know he’s a stud. Down the road we are look- ing at the next two futurities right here at Remington. It takes a team effort and we have a great team.”
DE Quick Capo APHA (Capo De Capi QH-Ritas Quick Flash) overcame a generic start to pocket second place money. She is owned and trained by Eddie D. Willis. Justine Klaiber had the riding assignment. Turnpikes Judy APHA (Barracuda-Wagon On Turnpike) crossed the line in third place under Daniel Torres for owners Shari Burger and Vickie McBee and trainer Carlos Ruiz.
Followed by Wired To Win APHA (CRM Livewire-Mt De Boss), RF Livies Livewire APHA (CRM Livewire-RF Livies Special QH), Shez Wired Up APHA (CRM Livewire- Sheza Pretty Jesse QH), I Ama Travelin Apple APHA (BV Travelin Soldier QH-Rosy Dial), DTL Hot Wired APHA (MHM Hotwire-Shez Showin Off), Livewires Wagon APHA (CRM Livewire-Wagonette) & Grant Dacious APHA (Bodacious Dash QH-A Rare Zoom).
winner home as the race’s 9th-fastest qualifier. Bred in Louisiana by Gerard Hebert, the filly finished second in her March 7 trial.
Tee Zo (Tee Cos-Sayin The Blues) and Leonardo Rodriguez rallied late to finish third for owner Joseph Landreneau and trainer Lanny Keith. Bred by Bayou Stirling Equine LLC, the filly was a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-G1 last year and finished second in her Mardi Gras Derby trial.
La Savanne (Jet Black Patriot-Miss Phoebes O Toole), Dashing Jess Cuervo (Jess Cuervo- Dashing Well), RF Debs Blues Man (Jess Louisiana Blue-Fast Dash N Deb), Mr Game Kue (Mr Jess Kue-Forever Game), One Sweet Filly (One Sweet Jess-Filly Er Up) and JRS Shiney Tee (Tee Cos-Arrangel to Shine) com- pleted the order of finish. Bad Girl Corona was scratched.
Remington Park
$198,100 • 300 yards :15.594 • si 83
PYCPaintYourWagonQH
Painted Turnpike
High Class Turnpike
SMITHWORKS APHA, ‘19-c.
Mighty Invictus QH
Shesa Mighty Chick
Twenty Triple-+
APOLLITICAL HIGH
by Michael Compton
Owner Rosendo Valdez and trainer Rosendo Valdez Jr., a father-son duo, sent out three horses in the Mardi Gras Derby
on March 27, including morning-line favorite Dashing Jess Cuervo. After the dust settled, it was their Apollitical High who came away with the top prize in the $121,158 event.
With David Alvarez in the irons, Apollitical High broke sharply in the 400-yard test and grabbed the lead soon after the start. He opened a 1-length advan-
tage in the lane and drew
clear late to win comfortably
by 1 1/4-lengths. The sorrel
gelding by Apollitical Blood
stopped the timer in :19.771,
earning a 97 speed index in
notching the first stakes vic-
tory of his career.
“He didn’t break well in the trials, but was flying at the end,” said Alvarez.
Valdez cited his charge’s reputation for not leaving
the starting gate cleanly as the reason that it took until now for the talented three year old to win a stakes event.
“Even in his trial, he didn’t get away well, but came from behind and still managed to win,” Valdez said. “He’s a sound horse and we look forward to running at Delta Downs.”
The $54,521 winner’s share of the purse increased Apollitical High’s bankroll to $67,731 and improved his overall record to 9-3(1)-2-0.
Bred in Louisiana by Leroy Fontenot Jr., Apollitical High is out of unraced Toastem Honi. She has produced 100% winners from four starters. Apollitical High is her first stakes winner.
Get It Done Babe (Heza Fast Dash-Mi Babe) with jockey Ubaldo Luna riding for owner and trainer Joel Huitron, proved best of the rest, finishing a game second. The 24-1 longshot chased the
Louisiana Downs
$121,158 • 400 yards :19.771 • si 97
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Blood
Brazilian Dasher
APOLLITICAL HIGH, ‘18-g. Toast To Dash
Toastem Honi
Ma Hemp
166 SPEEDHORSE April 2021
Hodges Photography Linda Earley, Speedhorse