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RACING NEWS
Bill Reed QH & TB Memorial
HEZA CLASSY NOW
Hby Michael Cusortelli
eza Classy Now, a homebred 4-year-old bay
gelding campaigned by Bob and Sissie McClure, earned his first stakes win in the 870-yard $50,000 Bill Reed Memorial at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 3.
Ridden by Bryan Candanosa and sent to post
as the 5-2 second choice in the six-horse field, Heza Classy Now defeated 8-1 longshot Linda Tee Fire by a nose in :45.132. Toby Keeton prepped the gelding.
Heza Classy Now has won five of 17 starts, including four of seven at Ruidoso Downs and three of seven at the 870 trip, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the Bill Reed Memorial purse pushed his bankroll to $104,101, of which $68,243 has been earned in his 870-yard races.
Heza Classy Now was bred in New Mexico,
and he was coming off of a second-place finish, 2 3/4-lengths behind winner and Reigning Distance Champion Wascallywittlewabbit, in the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship Stakes for state-breds at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 7.
The gelding is out of Shez Classy Now, who won two graded 870-yard stakes in New Mexico in 2006, including the $60,600 New Mexico Horsemen’s Association Handicap-RG2 at SunRay Park.
Runner-up Linda Tee Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Linda Tee) was making his first start since being claimed by owner and trainer Israel Villalobos
for $5,000 on July 3. Sergio Dominguez rode the 13-year-old gelding.
Freedom Flash (First Moonflash-Mi Camila) finished third under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. for owners Pierre Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley. Todd Fincher trains the homebred 6-year-old gelding.
Breaking New Ground (One Dashing Eagle- Heavenly Trip), Hi High Hopes (Favorite Cartel- Brighterthanthesun), and Favorite Agree (Favorite Cartel-Eye Agree) completed the order of finish.
Alberta Bred Futurity-RG3
NORTHFOLK BOSS
Nby John Moorehouse
orthfork Boss notched the first stakes win of his
career on Sept. 10 at Century Mile, taking first place in the $47,670 Alberta Bred Futurity-RG3.
Owned by Glenn Wills, Buckey Stockwell, and Delton Gehring, Northfork Boss now holds two wins in five career starts. The $21,888 winner’s share of the purse improved the gelding’s total bankroll to $34,109.
Northfork Boss broke his maiden in the Aug. 26 Alberta Bred Futurity trials, making his 350-yard trip in :17.881 to tally the third-fastest qualifying time. He was even faster in the stakes final, finishing the race in :17.746 for a 102 speed index, and there was a 20 mph crosswind present.
Buckey Stockwell trains Northfork Boss, who broke on top from the inside starting gate and led at every call of the race. The gelding held a 1/2-length advantage at the first call, doubled that lead going into the stretch, and held his position to win the event by three-quarters.
D.I. Benitez was aboard for the stakes-winning run. Northfork Boss was no stranger to stakes company, also finishing third in both the John Deere Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge and Alberta Stallion Stakes earlier this year.
Glenn Wills bred Northfork Boss and owns his dam, Northfork Babe, a 2007 mare.
FDD Fast Man (Big Lew-Winkin Dynasty), the fastest qualifier and post-time favorite at 5-4 odds, finished second for owner Charles Stojan and trainer William Leech. Ricardo Moreno had the riding assignment. Springeleer (Duponte-First Sassy Timber) hit the board in third for owner/trainer Wesley Oulton. Daniel Garcia was in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was Appreciate (Ivory James-Enjoy The Corona), Heza Majestic Hero (Majestic Cartel-Weeds In My Roses), Tulsa Timber (First Timber-Mars Move), and Western Burner (Western Moonshine-Bita Crystal Rey). Sizzling Wagon and Zillas Dusty both were scratched.
Alberta Bred Derby
BEARCAT BILL
Bby John Moorehouse
earcat Bill scored his first career stakes vic-
tory in his 12th lifetime out, prevailing by a 1/2-length in the $28,821 Alberta Bred Derby at Century Mile on Sept. 10.
Misael Moreno trains Bearcat Bill, who finished the 400-yard run in :20.165 for a 98 speed index. There was a brisk 20 mph crosswind present.
Barry and Janice Sather home-bred Bearcat Bill, a three-year-old bay gelding whose all-time earnings improved to $31,987 with the $13,370 payday from this event.
It was the first trip to the winner’s circle for Bearcat Bill since his maiden out, a trial for last year’s version of the Alberta Stallion Stakes Futurity.
Racing exclusively at Century Mile thus far throughout his entire career, the sophomore gelding had competed in six prior stakes races, finishing no better than fourth. That changed in a big way in
this race. Bearcat Bill broke on top from the 6-post, then yielded the lead to Rocky League. Underneath jockey Armando Andrade, Bearcat Bill made a steady comeback. Still third going into the stretch, Bearcat Bill overtook Rocky League in the final strides to reach the finish line first.
The Sathers bred Bearcat Bill out of Splashy Mamacita, a 2012 Paint mare.
Rocky League (Ivory League-Rocky Mountain Lady), the runner-up, is owned and trained by Kevin Obertholtzer. J.B. Botello was in the irons.
Wave Burner (Wave Carver-First Prize Sass), already a graded stakes winner, finished third in this one for Jeffrey Rath. The Wesley Oulton trainee had Daniel Garcia aboard.
Smokin Ziva (Ivory Grips-Ziva The Diva TB), Destello De Luna (Lethal N First-A Mere Toast), Firecrunch (Volcom-Sables Val), and First Golden Rose (First Timber-Madam Goldilocks) followed. Top Shelf 109 was scratched.
Century Mile • $28,821
400 yards • :20.165 • si 98
First Timber BEARCAT BILL, ‘19-g.
Oak Tree Special
First Prize Dash
Volcom QH
Splashy Mamacita APHA
Splashy Pizazzy
Ruidoso Downs • $50,000
870 yards • :45.132 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
HEZA CLASSY NOW, ‘18-g.
Now I Know
Shez Classy Now
Rockin The Tetons
Aunt Nelly
Century Mile • $47,670
350 yards • :17.746 • si 102
PYC Paint Your Wagon
JD Wagon Boss
Elly Mae
NORTHFORK BOSS, ‘20-g.
Spanish Boot
Northfork Babe
RJ Bitterroot Babe
SPEEDHORSE October 2022 201
Bailey Ivey, Ruidoso Downs
Coady Photography
Coady Photography