Page 145 - Speedhorse, October 2021

couple of times he’s been disqualified because of that.”
That wasn’t a problem this time. Danjer broke in midpack and made up some ground to finish second. But Valiant Tiberias had too much momentum and trounced the Champion by 1 1/4 lengths, stopping the timer in :20.953.
“This time as soon as he broke out straight, we knew he had a good chance of getting there,” said Holguin.
Valiant Tiberias was out of the 2-gate in second and had a length lead at first call. At the top of the stretch, he was ahead by 1 1/2-lengths and cruised to the wire with a 1 1/4-length margin of victory.
Though Rodriguez, Holguin’s cousin, wasn’t able to attend the race, Holguin and Nielsen represented the ownership.
Valiant Tiberias has now won nine stakes, including the 2019 Championship at Sunland Park-G1, 2020 Refrigerator Stakes-G1, and 2021 Sooner State Stakes-RG1. He ran second in the 2019 Zia Park Championship Stakes-G1 and third in the 2020 All American Gold Cup-G1. In 2019, Valiant Tiberias was named the New Mexico Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Gelding. With the Fall Championship, he was winning his 12th race in 25 starts for total earnings of $852,832.
Reliance Ranches LLC bred Valiant Tiberias in Oklahoma, and he made his first three starts for owner Preston Cloud and trainer Clinton Crawford.
“We’d had other horses together before, and this one came up for sale,” explained Holguin. “We decided to buy him together. We bought him from Clint Crawford. He’s been a good investment.”
Holguin said that Valiant Tiberias is “kind of ornery and gets stubborn.” The gelding wants to do things his way, but once he settles down, he gets the job done.
The co-owner is hoping that Valiant Tiberias receives an invitation to the Champion of Champions-G1 so that they could try that important California event in December.
“I hope he keeps going forever, but I know that’s not going to happen,” Holguin said. “He’s really sound. When he’s done racing, he’ll be a nice pony horse. We’re not going to sell him. I don’t think we’ll ever get another one like him.”
Valiant Tiberias is out of the mare American Feature, a half-sister to Champion American Runaway. Valiant Tiberas’ third dam is Champion Dashing Phoebe, who also pro- duced Champions Heartswideopen and Special Phoebe. American Feature has produced three starters, all winners, including Pirate Coves Hero. A full brother to Valiant Tiberias, both being by Valiant Hero, Pirate Coves Hero
won the 2019 Turf Paradise Championship Challenge and Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes.
Danjer (FDD Dynasty-Shez Jess Toxic)
finished second for Dean Frey, who co-owns the gelding with Billy G. Smith and Downtime Enterprises LLC. Frey also bred and trains Danjer. Cody Smith rode the 5-year-old geld- ing, who was voted the Aged Champion and Champion Aged Gelding of 2020 and most recently won the All American Gold Cup-G1. Danjer has now earned $1,244,827.
Jose Enrique Ortiz piloted Don Chuy C (First Moonflash-Jess Say Bye Bye) to third for trainer Jaime Aldavaz Sr. and owner Jesus Carrasco. Don Chuy C won the 2019 By By JJ Stakes and ran second in the 2020 New Mexico State Fair Derby.
Rounding out the field were Bella Faccia (One Famous Eagle-Special Queen SA), Marcus Medallion (Jesse James Jr-Houstons Medallion), Jess A Satin Flash (First Moonflash-Jess Satin), Dr Tool (Kiss My Hocks-Where Eagles Soar), and Chicks Baby Suds (Jess A Chicks-Hot Babe Indy Suds)
RACING NEWS
Winning connections for Valiant Taberias include owners Sergio Holguin, Clifton Nielsen, & Felix Rodriguez, trainer Hector Jacquez and jockey Juan Pulido.
Juan Pulido waves to the crowd as they cross the wire 1 1/4-lengths to the good.
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Coady Photography Coady Photography