Page 171 - Speedhorse April 2021

First Day Of Spring Handicap
MENTAL ERROR
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Paul Jones is a familiar site in the Los Alamitos winner’s circle, and he swept both stakes there on back-to-back nights. Following High Rock Teller’s victory in the Cypress Speed Stakes on March 19, he won the $20,000 First Day of Spring Stakes with Mental Error on March 20.
Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Mental Error came away from the gate on top and led throughout the 350 yards. The second choice in the wagering, he defeated favored Runforyourlife by 1 1/4-lengths in :17.480.
Jones trains Mental Error for owner Bobby Simmons. Mental Error finished second in the 2019 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G2 and 2020 Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 and third in the 2020 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1.
Dr. Steve Burns bred Mental Error in California and consigned him to the 2018 Los Alamitos Equine Sale in the name of Burns Ranch. Simmons bought the colt for $16,000. Burns bred Mental Error from stakes winner IBA Quick Chick, who has produced seven winners in eight starters, including graded stakes winner Rite Quick and stakes-placed My Pillow.
Eduardo Nicasio piloted Runforyourlife (Favorite Cartel-Remember Me Rose) to second for owner Rosenthal Ranch LLC and trainer Christopher O’Dell. Runforyourlife won the 2019 Golden State Million Futurity-G1.
Martha Wells’ homebred Old School Icon (Texas Icon-Cozie Fire) finished third. Armando Cervantes rode the 4-year-old gelding for trainer Matthew Fales. Old School Icon finished the 2020 season with a third in the Southern California Derby-G2 and has placed in four other stakes.
Completing the field were Dr Tool (Kiss My Hocks-Where Eagles Soar), All Prettied Up (Favorite Cartel-Pretty Jet High), Cartel Rocks (Five Bar Cartel-Snow Rock) and Stolen Lives (Seperate Interest-Enjoy The Walk).
Cypress Speed Stakes
HIGH ROCK TELLER
by Tracy Gantz
It’s hard to break fifth in a 110-yard race and win. But that’s exactly what High Rock Teller did in the $20,000 Cypress Speed Stakes at Los Alamitos on
March 19.
High Rock Teller was just inches from the front
when the gate opened, and he and jockey Ramon Sanchez quickly dashed ahead of the others. Most of the margins at the wire were noses, heads, and necks. High Rock Teller got his head on the line first in :07.241.
Paul Jones trains High Rock Teller for owner Haras Portofino. The gelding had placed in three of six starts prior to breaking his maiden on March 5.
Wootan Racing bred High Rock Teller in Oklahoma. Lazy E Ranch consigned High Rock Teller to the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, where Haras Portofino purchased him for $25,000.
High Rock Teller is by Teller Cartel out of Eyes A Shazoom. The second dam, Annie Eye Over, when bred to Teller Cartel produced All American Derby-G1 winner Llano Teller. Eyes A Shazoom has produced five winners from 12 starters, including stakes-placed Miss Eysa Senator.
Jaime Gomez owns and trains second-place Up To Hit (Kiddy Up-Hot To Hit). Erasmo Gasca rode the gelding, a $16,000 claim out of a winning race on Feb. 26.
Edward and Von Zae McNelis’ homebred Reason To Stay In (FDD Dynasty-Bye Sweet Girl) finished third. Jose Nicasio rode the filly for trainer Monty Arrossa. Reason To Stay In won two of eight previous races.
Completing the field were Makalerina (Seperate Interest-Hope To Cope), La Reina Del Sur 1 (Favorite Cartel-Go First N Famous), Tearfully (Favorite Cartel-Forgive Him), Apolitical Glory JQM (Apollitical Blood-Personal Glory) and Nomadess (Favorite Cartel-Moonlight Corona). The Best Feeling was scratched.
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