Page 169 - Speedhorse, October 2021

Gillespie County Fair Derby
BLAME THE FED
by Michael Compton
There was no criticizing of the Fed on Aug. 29, only cheering when Blame The Fed became a stakes winner with a game victory in the $88,200 Gillespie County Fair Derby.
Ridden by Jose Herbert for trainer Juan Diaz Jr., Blame The Fed dueled for command through- out the 350-yard test. The sorrel gelding broke third from the eight-gate and had a slim lead by the first call.
Blame The Fed kept to his task from start to finish, putting away a stubborn rival in OJD Chavela J to score by a neck at the finish.
In securing the initial stakes win of his career, Blame The Fed, the fastest qualifier from the Aug. 15 trials, stopped the timer in :17.484 and earned a 102 speed index. In his trial event, Blame The Fed broke his maiden by making a steady drive to the wire, winning by 1/2-length.
Owned by Sergio Holguin, Clifton Nielsen, and Felix Rodriguez, Blame The Fed improved his record to 7-2-1-0 with this victory, and the $30,870 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $57,020.
Blame The Fed previously finished fifth in the $332,900 Sam Houston Derby-G3. The gelding has raced at Ruidoso Downs, Sam Houston Race Park, Delta Downs, and now at the Gillespie County Fair.
Bred in California by Steve Burns DVM, Blame The Fed is produced from the One Famous Eagle mare Eagle On The Fly. Blame The Fed was a finalist in the Sam Houston Derby-G3 in May where he finished fifth in his first stakes appearance.
OJD Chavela J (Valiant Hero-One Prompt JJ) dueled throughout and just missed under Nestor Duran. The filly is owned by Karla Diaz Gomez and is trained by Alvin Francis. OJD Chavela J won last year’s Gillespie County Fair Futurity.
Allure Me Softy (Specially Alluring-Va Bebe) and jockey Mauro Salcedo finished third for owner Jose Montes and trainer Salvador Flores.
Special Mariposa (The Louisiana Cartel- Pampered Silk), Card One Starter (Docs Best Card-Stable Dancer), Urbanisto (American Runaway-Shenoshercorona), DF Fabulous Maiden (One Famous Eagle-Coronas Ice Maiden), Just Call Me Sis (Carters Cartel-Justified), JB Chapter Eleven (Ivory James-Spectacular Sara), and Paint Me a Legacy (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Legacys A Streakin) completed the order of finish.
Gillespie Cnty. Fair Sprint Cl.
SS CLASSYJESS
by Michael Compton
Multiple stakes winner SS Classyjess is appropri- ately named. The 5-year-old gray mare added to her already impressive resume with a clear victory
in New Track Record time in the $15,000 Gillespie County Fair Sprint Classic on Aug. 28.
Ridden by Juan Garcia, SS Classyjess broke alertly on top and immediately distanced herself from her eight rivals. She led by 3/4-length early in the 250-yard dash and stretched her advantage to 1-length in the lane. She went on to a clear wire-to- wire victory as the race favorite, getting the distance in a lively :13.092, which earned a 109 speed index. The final time eclipsed the previous track record of :13.178 set by SR Esmeralda in 2017.
Owned by Edgar Rosales, SS Classyjess is trained by Jose Carrizales. The $9,000 winner’s share of the purse elevated the classy mare’s lifetime earnings to $355,441.
Bred in Texas by Ronnie Steward and Double S Farm, SS Classyjess is produced from the Royal Shake Em mare High Class Broad.
Runner-up Fixin Too (Azoom Me-Deadly Jezabel) offered game chase at odds of 21-1 and held second under jockey Rolando Cabrera. The 6-year- old mare is owned by Geral Dewitt and trained by Anthony Arey.
Marmalade Candy (Cartels Candy Man- Marmalade Lady), another long shot at 24-1 with Froylan Ramirez up, rallied late with a steady drive to nab third by a neck for owner Manuel Olguin- Romero and trainer Oscar Nunez.
Polar Xpress (Freighttrain B-Zoomshakalaka), Magic Black Jack (Jet Black Patriot-Stoli Alikat), Recognize (Coronas Leaving You-Fovee), Onemoreandiamgone V (Jess Lips-Velvette), AJS Streakin Fast (AJS Fast Dash-Streakin Amber), and Magnifico Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Cassies Mag) com- pleted the order of finish. JJ Chris S Angel scratched.
Bob Woodard Memorial
VALIANTINECANDYROCKS
by John Moorehouse
As the post-time favorite for the Bob Woodard Memorial Classic, Valiantinecandyrocks lived up to those expectations, winning the $83,358 stakes on Sept. 4 at Indiana Grand.
Valiantinecandyrocks broke on top from the No. 5 gate and never looked back. With Samuel Mendez aboard, the mare opened a 1-length lead as she reached the first call, widened the gap to 1 1/2-lengths going into the stretch, then cruised to the line still sporting a separation of 3/4-length.
Lance and Tammy Finlinson home-bred Valiantinecandyrocks, who got to the winner’s circle for the third time this year and logged her ninth victory in 18 career starts. The $46,310 payday from this event pushed the mare’s total earnings to $214,964.
Valiantinecandyrocks now holds three stakes wins, all at Indiana Grand. Two of those victories have come back-to-back: she finished first in the Aug. 14 Indiana Grand Classic in her most recent prior start. Randy Smith trains Valiantinecandyrocks, who finished the 400-yard Bob Woodard trip in :19.929 and posted a 94 speed index.
The Finlinsons also own Jesses Candy, the dam of Valiantinecandyrocks. The 2007 mare has pro- duced multiple stakes winners.
Smith also trains Beach Mercedes (Escondido Beach-Jess Alive Bully), who finished second for owner Sheri Miller. German Rodriguez did the rid- ing. Anthony Cunningham owns and trains Jess A Flyin Beach (Escondido Beach-Jess Alive Bully), who placed third with Luz Martinez in the irons.
The remaining order of finish was Beach Benny (Escondido Beach-Streaking Stitches), Hooked On Jordan (Fast Prize Jordan-Hooked On Laveaux), Jess Z Bob (Jess Zoomin-Billie Bob TB), Beach Bum Eddie (Escondido Beach-Carman Copy), Beach Cartel (Escondido Beach-Flashin Dee Dee) and El Aviador (Jazz Be First-Southern Honeymoon).
RACING NEWS
Gillespie County Fair • $15,000
250 yards • :13.092 • si 109 • Ntr
Mr Jess Perry
Rock Solid Jess
SS CLASSYJESS, ‘16-m.
Royal Shake Em
High Class Broad
Rockin The Tetons
Streaking Out
Indiana Grand • $83,358
400 yards • :19.929 • si 94
First Down Dash
Corona Chick
VALIANTINECANDYROCKS, ‘16-m.
Mr Jess Perry
Jesses Candy
Valiant Hero
Send Me The Candy
Gillespie County Fair • $88,200
350 yards • :17.484 • si 102
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
BLAME THE FED, ‘18-g. Eagle On The Fly
Shenoshercorona One Famous Eagle
Ladys Heart Of Gold
SPEEDHORSE October 2021 167
Dustin Orona Photography
Coady Photography