Page 198 - December2022

RACING NEWS
Z Wayne Griffin Dir. Stakes Div. 1
APOLLITICAL PENCE
by Tracy Gantz
Apollitical Pence had the easiest of preps for his attempt at a third consecutive Champion of Champions-G1 when he demolished his field in the first division of the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap at Los Alamitos on Nov. 13.
The race was essentially over as soon as Apollitical Pence broke out of the gate. He and jockey Armando Cervantes immediately took command, and from there the only question was the margin of victory. For the record, Apollitical Pence won by 2 1/2-lengths, completing 400 yards in :19.391 and earning a 91 speed index. The $11,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his lifetime earnings to $1,709,235.
Monty Arrossa trains Apollitical Pence for Matt and Bendi Dunn’s Dunn Ranch. In addition to his two Champion of Champions victories, Apollitical Pence has seven other stakes victories, including when he defeated Champion Empressum in the Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship Stakes-G1 at Los Alamitos on Oct. 8.
The Dunns and the late Mike Womack’s Womack Cavender Farms bred Apollitical Pence in Oklahoma from unraced Send City. The mare has produced two winners from four starters. His second dam is 1996 Remington Futurity-G1 winner Send Me The Candy.
Jessapolliticalgirl (Apollitical Jess-Kirklyns Dynasty), ridden by Ruben Lozano, owned by Sergio Castillo, and trained by Valentin Zamudio, finished second. The 5-year-old mare won the 2021 Pitre GMC Distaff Stakes and has placed in four other stakes.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Circle City (Favorite Cartel-Moonlight Corona) ran third under jockey Jesus Ayala. Scott Willoughby trains the 5-year-old gelding. Circle City has won four graded stakes, including this year’s Kaweah Bar Handicap-G3.
Katella Avenue (Foose-Katie Katella) and La Estrella Corona (Corona Czech-Shadow Lake TB) finished fourth and fifth.
Z Wayne Griffin Dir. Stakes Div. 2
POWERFUL FAVORITE
by Tracy Gantz
Powerful Favorite captured the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap Div. 2 on Nov. 13.
With regular rider Eduardo Nicasio aboard,
Powerful Favorite lived up to his name as the 3-5 favorite. Golden Boi reared at the start and got away last, while Powerful Favorite on the outside broke
on top. He vied with rivals through the early part of the 400 yards and then pulled away for a 3/4-length victory, stopping the timer in :19.614 to earn a 95 speed index. The $11,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his total earnings of $1,210,000.
Christopher O’Dell trains Powerful Favorite, a winner of 19 races including nine previous stakes victories. Earlier this year he captured the All American Gold Cup Stakes-G1 and the Mr Jet Moore Handicap-G2.
Connie Rosenthal purchased Powerful Favorite for $90,000 at the 2017 Los Alamitos Equine Sale for her husband, Bob, who died before ever getting to see the gelding race. James Markum and Dr. Steve Burns bred Powerful Favorite in California from stakes winner Remember Me Rose. The mare has produced 21 winners from 29 starters, including eight stakes winners and five stakes-placed runners.
Sweet Dasha Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Dasha Freda), placed second under jockey Cruz Mendez. Owned by Valeriano Racing Stables and trained by Jose Flores. She won this year’s PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G2.
Cattail Cove (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella), as he did last year in the Griffin trials, finished third again for owner Ralph Link Newcomb. Trainer Juan Aleman had jockey Ramon Sanchez pilot the 5-year-old gelding. Cattail Cove won this year’s Independence Day Handicap-G3 and Azure Three Handicap.
Whizkey Glasses (FDD Dynasty-Marys Southernpolicy) and Golden Boi (Favorite Cartel- Logans Dash) finished fourth and fifth. Apollitical Famous V was scratched.
BF Phillips Jr Stakes-RG3
JET BLACK GRACE
by Michael Cusortelli
Making the first official start of his sophomore campaign, Zitro Racing Corp.’s Jet Black Grace won the $58,500 B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes-RG3
for Texas-breds at Lone Star Park on Nov. 19. Jet Black Grace overcame a less-than-perfect
break and reached the wire in :19.667 while defeating Shott Gun by a 1/2-length and earning a 96 speed index. Juan Pulido piloted the gelding for trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. The $36,270 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $674,127.
Jet Black Grace ended his 2-year-old season with a fourth-place finish, 1 3/4-lengths behind winner KJ Desparado in the $1.115-million Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star Park on Nov. 21. All told, the gelding has won six of seven races, including last year’s Heritage Place Futurity-G1.
Jet Black Grace was bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches, and he was a $55,000 purchase at the 2020 TQHA Yearling Sale. The gelding is out of Thrill And Grace, a homebred daughter who won the 2007 Harrah’s Entertainment Derby-G2 at Louisiana Downs. She has produced 12 winners from 18 starters with earnings of $1,227,916.
Shott Gun (Valiant Hero-Eye Popping) pocketed the $9,360 second place earnings to bring his bankroll to $580,619 from 18 starts for his owner, Bobby D. Cox. Trainer Heath Taylor had jockey Rodrigo Vallejo ride the homebred 4-year-old gelding.
His Time To Deal (Dealagame-Lady Lilia) finished third and earned $5,265 for his owner, Pete Scarmardo. Trainer Jose Guadalupe Cruz had jockey Francisco Calderon pilot the homebred 4-year-old gelding.
Won Famous Dash (Giorgino-Lil Famous Dash), Blazin The Moon (Moonin The Eagle-Cindys First CD), Ima Catboy (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Jess Goldiggers), Dealarunner (Dealagame-Elle Of A Girl), and El Tartanero Jess (Apollitical Jess-Darling Corona) completed the order of finish.
196 SPEEDHORSE December 2022
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Dustin Orona Photography
Lone Star Park • $58,500
400 yards • :19.667 • si 96
Game Patriot
Jet Black Patriot
JET BLACK GRACE, ‘19-g. Thrill And Grace
First Down Hemp Mr Jess Perry
Dela Creme Smash
Los Alamitos • $20,000
400 yards • :19.614 • si 95
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
POWERFUL FAVORITE, ‘16-g.
Corona Cartel
Remember Me Rose
Shenoshercorona
Im Moonlighting
Los Alamitos • $20,000
400 yards • :19.391 • si 102
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
APOLLITICAL PENCE, ‘16-g.
Tres Seis
Send City
Send Me The Candy