Page 191 - December2022

Black Gold Championship Futurity
SIR JAMES
by Michael Cusortelli
Sir James earned his first career stakes
victory in the $283,257 Black Gold Futurity Championship for 2-year-old colts and geldings sired by participating stallions at Will Rogers Downs on Nov. 15.
Trained by Luis Villafranco, Sir James covered 400 yards in :19.786 for a 97 speed index, and
his winning margin was a neck from fifth-fastest qualifier Excommunicato. Roman Cruz rode the sorrel Oklahoma-bred colt, and the $113,303 winner’s share of the purse
pushed his earnings to $161,319.
Sir James was the third-
fastest qualifier, as the colt
was coming off of a clear 2
1/4-length victory in one of six
trials on Oct. 31. Sir James broke
his maiden in his second lifetime
out, a 330-yard maiden-special-
weight dash for state-bred two
year olds at Remington Park
on May 1.
Campaigned exclusively in
Oklahoma, the colt has won
four of nine races, of which
$139,191 has been pocketed
from his four starts during the
Miss Roxie Little Futurity
WINNER SPIRIT
by Michael Cusortelli
Breaking sharply on top from the 3-post, Winner Spirit led at every call enroute to a 1/2-length victory in the $201,500 Miss
Roxie Little Futurity for state-bred juveniles at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 29.
Winner Spirit led at every call, he had gained a 1/2-length lead by mid-stretch and maintained that margin to the finish line. He covered 350 yards in :17.682 while recording a 97 speed index under jockey James Flores. The $110,825 winner’s share
of the purse from his second
stakes victory increased his
bankroll to $215,203.
Winner Spirit was the second-fastest qualifier following his neck victory in one of five Miss Roxie Little Futurity trials on Oct. 8. His trial marked the first time Flores had ridden the gelding in a race. Campaigned exclusively at Horseshoe Indianapolis,
Will Rogers Downs autumn meet. Sir James’ season resume includes a third-place finish as the co-third fastest qualifier, a 1/2-length behind winner Illegal Moonflash in the $180,000 Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Futurity-RG2 at Will Rogers Downs on Sept. 26.
Sir James is a homebred by Ellen Kennedy Racing LLC. He is out of Simply An Angel, a winning homebred daughter who was a finalist in the 2000 Remington Park Futurity-G1 and 2001
Heritage Place Derby-G1. She earned $53,614 during her race career and has produced 10 winners from 14 starters with earnings of $410,226.
His second dam is a lightly raced and placed mare, Hempens Angel. She has produced 10 winners from 12 starters, with earnings of $585,067.
Runner-up Excommunicato (Tres Seis-Lethal Perry) was coming off of a second-place finish in his Mystery Futurity trial. The Oklahoma-bred gelding banked $48,154 to bring his earnings to $53,641 from six
starts for his owner, James Sills. Trainer Eddie D. Willis had jockey Alonso Rivera in the irons. He was a $47,000 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Good Knight Country (Rock Solid Jess- Country Mans Chick) ran third under jockey Agustin Silva. He earned $31,158 for his owners, Sarah Huskey and Tammy Johnson, who also trains the homebred Texas-bred gelding. He was coming off of two consecutive wins, including his trial and the $57,035 Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge Stakes on Oct. 2.
NCC Longmire (Tres Seis-Queens Hero) finished fourth, 1 1/4-lengths behind Sir James, and was followed by El Relentless Speed (Hes Relentless-Speed Squad), A Legacy Of Tales (Wagon Tales-Legacys A Streakin), CK Dunnwell (Im A Fancy PYC-Marys Southernpolicy), Mistakin Idenity (Coronado Cartel-Easy Downhill), fastest qualifier Nunothat (Hes Relentless-Fast Prize Zoom), and BP Hes Dauntless (Moonin The Eagle-CC Policy).
the gelding has won five of seven races. Including breaking his maiden, he has won his last five consecutive races including the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity on Sept. 3.
Randy Smith trains the homebred gelding for owner Walter R. “Dick” Harrison. Winner Spirit is out of Ms Victorita,
a 10-year-old winning homebred. She has produced 100% winners from her three starters.
His second dam, the homebred mare Senorita Tres, won 11 stakes for Harrison from 2007-
09, including the 2007
All American Congress Futurity-G3 at Beulah Park near Columbus, Ohio, and the 2008 Bradford Stakes-G3 at Hoosier Park near Indianapolis. Winner Spirit traces back to his third dam, Precious Libby, a homebred multiple stakes winner.
Runner-up Dashtraxx (Valiant Hero- Famous Dash To Me) earned $40,300 for his owner Steve Mullins. Trainer Tim Eggleston had Rolando Del Rio Pina in the irons.
The Dirty Wagon (On The Wagon-Chics Dirty Secret) ran third under jockey German Rodriguez, 1 1/4-lengths behind Winner Spirit. The gelding has banked $20,150 for his owners Keith Bode and Deborah A. Smith and trainer Randy Smith.
CV Apollitical Chick (Apollitical Blood- Jumpn Chick), Secret Horn (Habits Secret- Scandalia), It Is On (On The Wagon-Yess It Is), Streakindownthebeach (Habits Secret-Beach Runner), Runaway Beach Chic (Escondido Beach-Silly Chix), DQ’d from 8th to 9th Piloted By An Angel (Paint My Pilot-La Blue Angel), & Our Louisiana Girl (Duponte-My Louisiana Rod) followed.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE December 2022 189
Coady Photography Coady Photography
Will Rogers Downs
$283,257 • 400 yards :19.786 • si 97
Corona Cartel
Coronado Cartel
First Carolina
SIR JAMES, ‘20-c.
Takin On The Cash
Simply An angel
Hempens Angel
Horseshoe Indianapolis
$201,500 • 350 yards :17.682 • si 97
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Spirit
Apollitical Time
WINNER SPIRIT, ‘20-g.
Mighty Invictus
Ms Victorita
Senorita Tres