Page 169 - Speedhorse April 2021

BOA RP Champ. Chal.-G2
VALIANT TIBERIAS
by Michael Cusortelli
Making the first start of his 5-year-old season, Valiant Tiberias scored a head victory in the $66,292 Bank of America Remington Park
Championship Challenge-G2 on March 27. Valiant Tiberias covered 440 yards in :21.260 and
recorded a 102 speed index while aided by a reported 12-mph tail wind. James Flores rode the Valiant Hero gelding for owners Sergio Holguin, Cliften Nielsen, and Felix Rodriguez, and trainer Marco Chavez-Gutierrez.
“He broke sharp this time, and there was one point where he seemed to think the race was over and I had to get busy on him,” said Flores. “Tiberias turned it up when (runner-up Mi Amor Secreto) came up to him.”
Valiant Tiberias was making his first start since Oct. 25, when he overcame a slow start to win the 440-yard $200,000 Refrigerator Stakes-G1 at Lone Star Park. The gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches LLC, and he sold for $13,000 at the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Valiant Tiberias has won nine of 20 races, including six stakes, and he has earned $603,993. With this win, the gelding earned a berth in the Oct. 23 Bank of America Challenge Championship-G1 at Albuquerque Downs.
The 9-5 favorite in the eight-horse field, Mi Amor Secreto (The Louisiana Cartel-Streakin In Secret) was second for owner Carol Ann Mays. Juan Pulido rode the gelding for trainer Kelly Heltzel. Uncle Eds Idea (Dominyun-Mystical Eye) ran third for owners Robert and Stacey Martin. Sergio Dominguez rode the gelding for trainer Tammy Johnson.
Charlies Fury (Furyofthewind-Jess Charlena), CERs Final Try (One Dashing Eagle-Bp Shes All Corona), Oatman Creek Senator (Louisiana Senator- Eyesa Lil Cuervo), Shockinglyfamous (One Famous Eagle-Shocktime) and Singin In The Choir (First Moonflash-A Medley Of Chicks) completed the order of finish.
Mighty Deck Three Stakes-RG2
APOLLITICAL PENCE
by Tracy Gantz
Apollitical Pence began his 2020 season with a victory in the Mighty Deck Three Stakes-RG2 at Remington Park and ended it by winning the Champion of Champions-G1 at Los Alamitos. He has begun the 2021 season the same way, taking his second consecutive Mighty Deck Three Stakes-RG2.
Despite several stakes winners in the field, Apollitical Pence went off as the 3-5 favorite in the March 9 Mighty Deck Three. The race is only 250 yards, as opposed to the Champion of Champions’ 440 yards. In the longer race, Apollitical Pence came from fourth. In the Mighty Deck Three he exploded on top when the gate opened and led through-
out under jockey Francisco Calderon to win by 1 1/2-lengths in :13.187, while posting a 92 speed index.
Monty Arrossa trains Apollitical Pence for Dunn Ranch, which bred the gelding in Oklahoma in part- nership with Womack Cavender Farms. Apollitical Pence is the first foal out of the mare Send City, who has produced one other starter, winner Send Success.
Tom and Kathleen McNally’s homebred Charlies Fury (Furyofthewind-Jess Charlena) finished second. Agustin Silva rode the 5-year-old gelding for trainer Michelle Hurdle. Charlies Fury was coming off a victory in the 2020 OQHRA Fall Classic.
Mario Delgado rode Eagles Fly Higher (One Famous Eagle-Lone Bet) to third for owners Darling Farms and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC and trainer Casey Black. A multiple graded winner, Eagles Fly Higher was the Champion Aged Stallion of 2020.
Completing the field were Mr Dillard (Hes Relentless-Quions), Industrious (Favorite Cartel- Duck Mea Running), Catchin Train B (Freighttrain B-Catchin Fire), Fly N Tell (Coronado Cartel- Strawfly Sister), JK Wildcat Red (One Dashing Eagle-Shaky Girl), Corona Cobra (Corona Cartel- Klassy Chick) and JK Pistol Petey (Jodys Money Pop-First Down Bunny).
Decketta Stakes-G2
HH GAILFORCE
by Michael Cusortelli
HH Gailforce made her 4-year-old season debut with a victory in the 350-yard $50,720 Decketta Stakes-G2 at Remington Park on Mar. 20.
Racing for the Egoizzta Partnership against a reported 11-mph head wind, HH Gailforce led from start to finish and defeated Macs Lady M by a nose in :17.785 while posting an 83 speed index. James Flores rode the mare for trainer Joel Cantu.
HH Gailforce was making her first start since Dec. 12, when she ran second in the 400-yard $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Derby-RG2 at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans. The filly has won five of 15 races, and the $29,784 winner’s share of the $50,720 purse from this race bumped her earnings to $276,531.
HH Gailforce has won three stakes, including the 2019 Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2 at Louisiana Downs.
HH Gailforce was bred by Harvey Hayes in Louisiana, and she was purchased by her owners for $12,000 at the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale. The filly traces back to her fourth dam In The Curl TB, a mul- tiple stakes winner and the dam of Runaway Wave, a graded stakes placed Runaway Winner mare and the producer of ’06 World Champion Wave Carver and Champion Ocean Runaway.
Macs Lady M (Favorite Cartel-Annas Babe) placed second for owner Jorge Magallanes. Juan Pulido rode the filly for trainer Edelmiro Carrizales.
Diamond And A Half (First Moonflash-Cuz Shez Famous) ran third for owner Antonio Gomez. Tanner Thedford rode mare for trainer Jorge Luis Hernandez.
Kieva (Apollitical Jess-Amg Six Point Three) finished fourth and was followed by Relentless Jessie (Hes Relentless-Jess A Queen), Dark Moon (First Moonflash-Special Dark Ivory), Flyweight Carver (Wave Carver-Flaming Chivas), Amandas Flashy (First Moonflash-Holland Fire) and Sinsational Tacha (Tempting Dash-Miss Sin Tacha).
RACING NEWS
Remington Park • $66,292
440 yards • :21.260 • si 102
Valiant Hero VALIANT TIBERIAS, ‘16-g.
First Down Dash Corona Chick
Feature Mr Jess
American Feature
Allamericandreamgirl
Remington Park • $50,720
350 yards • :17.785 • si 83
Freighttrain B HH GAILFORCE, ‘17-f.
Open My Prize
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dianetogetcha
First Prize Perry
In The Open
Remington Park • $68,000
250 yards • :13.187 • si 92
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
APOLLITICAL PENCE, ‘16-g.
Tres Seis
Send City
Send Me The Candy
SPEEDHORSE April 2021 167
Dustin Orona Photography
Dustin Orona Photography
Dustin Orona Photography