Page 188 - COVER_October2022.indd

RACING NEWS
New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2
TALBOTT
by Michael Compton
Talbot required four unplaced outings to
get the hang of what was expected of him on the racetrack. The gray son of Big Daddy Cartel put it all together in his trial heat for
the New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2, breaking his maiden with a wire-to-wire run by 1 1/2-lengths and setting the fastest qualify- ing time for the main event. He followed that impressive effort with a front-running score in the $625,689 finals, turning back nine rivals
in the contentious event on Sept. 25 at The Downs at Albuquerque.
With Carlos Chacon aboard, Talbott veered out at the start from the 10-gate in the 400-yard dash but still received the call out of the gates. He quickly gathered himself and assumed command at once.
Talbott shrugged off an early challenge from White Lightenin and jockey Mario Delgado and defeated that foe by a half-length at the finish. In winning his second consecutive outing and his first stakes race, Talbott stopped the timer in :19.679. The final clocking earned a speed index of 90.
Owned by Manuel Camacho and trained by Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Talbott is now a winner in two of six starts. The $312,845 winner’s share of the lucrative purse elevated his bankroll to $317,905.
“This horse has been one of those late bloomers,” said Gonzalez. “I always like to say, ‘In this game, patience is a virtue.’ And Manny Camacho (owner) has been super patient. I always thought he had talent, but he really wasn’t running. He didn’t seem to have much in the early trials we ran him in. Little by little, though, he has been improving. When he ran in the All American trials, that’s when
I realized this horse has a ton of potential. He was against top-notch horses in there. I think there were three of four graded stakes horses
in there. It was a tough heat, and he ran a very decent fifth. Two more strides, I kid you not, he would have run second. He was driving fast and ran his heart out.
“I was very confident going into the final,” Gonzalez added. “He came back super sound after the trial. His energy was up. He was trying to take the stall down, so we had to walk him constantly just to get rid of those vibes. I told Manny, ‘I think we have a great shot to win this race. Sometimes these horses just need time, and it’s a costly virtue to wait. But sometimes it pays off, and it really did with this horse this time.”
The Downs at Albuquerque
$625,689 • 400 yards :19.679 • si 90
BIG DADDY CARTEL
si 94
Bred by: Sunflower Supply Co Raced to 2 • $121,800 5-3-0-0
696 f., 28 SW • $15,436,866
CORONA CARTEL si 97
Bred by: Robert D Etchandy Raced to 3 • $557,142 14-6(3)-3-0
2,105 f., 187 SW • $67,608,438
Bred by: MJ Farms
Raced to 2 $317,905 6-2(1)-0-0
MISS RACY EYES si 98 Bred by: S K T Farms Inc Raced to 4 • $133,195 15-3(1)-3-1(1)
21 f., 1 SW • $470,265
DIAMONDIA
si 81
Bred by: MJ Farms Raced to 3 • $5,400 7-1-0-0
8 f., 1 SW • $342,107
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,982 f., 160 SW • $60,345,172
WILD VINES si 90
Bred by: Janis Spencer & Mac Murray
Raced to 4 • $27,001
11-2-1-1
27 f., 1 SW • $767,176
186 SPEEDHORSE October 2022
Talbott and jockey Carlos Guillen Chacon on their way to victory in the $625,689 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG2.
Leslie Simmons, Speedhorse
TALBOTT ‘20-g.