Page 171 - May 2022

West Texas Juvenile
APOLLITICAL JET
by Michael Cusortelli
The Quarter Company LLC’s Apollitical Jet broke his maiden in the $50,000 West Texas Juvenile on for 2 year olds at Sunland Park on April 3.
Ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. and aided by a reported 9-mph tail wind, Apollitical Jet covered 300 yards in :15.338, and his margin of victory was a nose over Lake Havasu. Eric Valenzuela saddled the homebred sorrel son of World Champion Apollitical Jess, who recorded his first win in two starts.
Apollitical Jet was bred in California. The colt is out of Tres Magicals, an 11-year-old daughter of Champion Tres Seis who won the 2015 Cash For Kas Handicap at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The colt traces back to his third dam Oh La Proud, a stakes- winning daughter of the Noholme II TB stallion Shirley’s Champion and the dam of Champions Hawkish, Hawkinson, and Flame N Flash.
Apollitical Jet made his debut with a second- place finish, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner and eventual West Texas Futurity-G2 winner Bye Corona Bye, in a West Texas Futurity trial on March 11. The $23,500 winner’s share of the West Texas Juvenile stakes purse increased his earnings to $25,280.
Runner-up Lake Havasu (Seperate Interest-No Arizona) pocketed $9,000 to bring his bankroll to $14,340 from two outs for his owner/trainer, Osman Iturralde. Jockey Omar Iturralde was aboard the brown gelding.
Go Diego (Foose-Dahlia) ran third under Sergio Dominguez for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and trainer Ricardo Armendariz.
Babes (Foose-Babe On The Fly), Tokyo Moon (Apollitical Jess-Nagano Moon), Tempting Royalty (Tempting Dash-Tres Of Royalty), Restrictions (Seperate Interest-Little Talks), Tempting Quatro (Tempting Dash-Gorjus), KVN Empress (KVN Corona-Jesst A Dream), and VGC Dashing Lily (One Dashing Eagle- Tiny Tiger Lily) completed the order of finish.
New Mexican Spring Fling
CARTEL RACER
by Danny Camp
Cartel Racer scored his first victory from just two starts in the $50,000 New Mexican Spring Fling at Sunland Park on April 3.
Ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr., Cartel Racer broke on top from the 1-post and was never headed. They crossed the wire a head in front, completing the 300 yards in :15.414 while posting a 91 speed index.
Trained by Eric Valenzuela, Cartel Racer secured the $23,500 winner’s share of the purse for owners Empire Racing and Pavon Racing LLC, boosting his total earnings to $24,390. His only other start was a third place finish in the March 12 trials to the New Mexican Spring Futurity-RG2, where he was the fourth fastest qualifier to the Spring Fling.
Mike and Yealonda Logan bred Cartel Racer out of winner Miss Ravens Wood, who was a finalist in the 2016 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes-RG2. She has produced two winners from three starters. Cartel Racer is her first stakes winner.
JM Vidi (JM Specialwynn-Jm First Madam Moon) and jockey Federico Martinez were second for owner Ventura M Ranch LLC and trainer Salvador Soto. The filly finished fourth in her trial and was the eighth fastest qualifier.
KJ Daddys Money (Big Daddy Cartel-KJ Kiss Me Goodbye) was third for owners John & Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares. The Wesley Giles trainee had Adrian Ramos in the saddle. The filly finished second in her trial heat and was the seventh fastest qualifier to the Spring Fling.
JP D Bandida Regard (Chicks Regard-D Bandida), Flecha Gris (Osbaldo-VN Dos Por Tres),
J Y Jaaziel (Big Daddy Cartel-Thats Jess Hot), BV Taggin The Moon (First Moonflash-Hashtaggin), Flashy Babe (Chicks Regard-Riverside Babe), Jess Emotions (Jess A Chicks-The Blues Girl) and Im The Cartel Queen (Big Daddy Cartel-Queenofreigndeers) completed the order of finish.
Mark Villa Memorial
VALENTIN JQM
by Danny Camp
Since Amy Nelson has taken over the training duties, Valentin JQM has won his last three of five starts including his last two in a row. His latest victory was the $32,000 Mark Villa Memorial at Rillito Park on April 2, marking his third stakes win. Ridden by Mark Jasso, the gelding broke from the 1-post and the race was over as soon as it was started. The pair quickly secured the lead and coasted to a 1-length victory.
They completed the 350 yards in :17.775, which was good for a 99 speed index. Owned by Juan Cesar Torres-Casas, Valentin JQM earned the $17,600 winner’s share of the purse, boosting his total lifetime earnings to $88,566.
Valentin JQM’s other stakes victories include the 2021 Wayne Brasher Memorial at both Turf Paradise and Arizona Downs. The gelding was also a runner-up in this year’s Allred Brothers Stakes and was third in the 2021 Mike Hastings Memorial.
Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite bred Valentin JQM out of multiple winner Corona Perfection, who was third in the 2002 Blushing By Handicap and a finalist in the La Primera Del Ano Derby-G2 that same year. She has produced 17 winners from 20 starters, including multiple stakes winner and top earner Louisiana Senator. Valentin JQM is her second stakes winner.
Chocolate Wagon (Wagon Runnin Loose- Dashing Righter) ran a gritty race to bank second place money for owner Adalberto Hernandez. The Omar Cruz trainee was ridden by Emilio Tapia. CC Revv Her (Corona Cartel-Revv It Up) finished third under Martin Osuna for owner Jose Aguilar Mendoza and trainer Eloy Navarro.
Golden Boy Gonza (Fast Prize Cartel-Dashways), Our Secret Legacy (Hez Our Secret-Legacys A Streakin) and Private Jet Black (Jet Black Patriot-Shes A Holme Fox) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
Sunland Park • $50,000
300 yards • :15.338 • si 93
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
APOLLITICAL JET, ‘20-g. Tres Magicals
Apollitical Time Tres Seis
Fishers Proud
Sunland Park • $50,000
300 yards • :15.414 • si 91
Corona Cartel
Big Daddy Cartel
CARTEL RACER, ‘20-c.
Miss Racy Eyes
Woodbridge
Miss Ravens Wood
Three Dee Dreams
Rillito Park • $32,000
350 yards • :17.775 • si 99
Separatist VALENTIN JQM, ‘17-g.
Chicks Beduino
Separate Ways
Corona Cartel
Corona Perfection
Superior Perfection
SPEEDHORSE May 2022 169
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography