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Dec 15, 2017

Keeneland Presents American Graded Stakes Standings: Juvenile Winners Add To Baffert’s Bountiful Year

Of the three graded stakes races on the schedule last weekend, two were Grade 1 races for juveniles – and both were won by horses trained by Bob Baffert.

The promising colt McKinzie had a little help from the stewards when he was promoted from second to first in the G1 Los Alamitos Futurity. Ironically, the colt that was disqualified from the win, Solomini, was also a Baffert trainee. A short time later, another Baffert youngster, Dream Tree, remained undefeated in three starts with her victory in the G1 Starlet.

McKinzie and Dream Tree became the 17th and 18th individual graded stakes winners of the year for Baffert, moving him back into third on the American Graded Stakes Standings trainer list. Baffert’s 18 graded stakes winners have captured a total of 30 graded stakes races this season.

Baffert finds himself just ahead of Mark Casse, who saddled winner Leavem In Malibu in the G3 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine. Casse also has 18 individual graded stakes winners this year; those runners have won a total of 26 graded stakes.

Of Baffert’s graded stakes wins, 14 have come in G1 races; Casse runners have notched seven G1 wins.

By Mary Schweitzer

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 S-Quarter K LLC’s Heza Dasha Fire, the 2015 AQHA world champion, will look to score his second victory in the Grade 1, $750,000 Champion of Champions when he leads a 10-horse field that will also feature the red-hot BH Lisas Boy, who is undefeated in 2017, plus last year’s Champion of Champions winner Zoomin For Spuds and major  Grade 1 winners like Chazaq, He Looks Hot, The Fiscal Cliff, Time For Jess, and Jess Good Reason in the 45^th running of the prestigious 440-yard race.

 Trained by Jose Flores for S-Quarter K LLC, Heza Dasha Fire won the 2015 running of the Champion of Champions and was second in this race last year. Tailor Fit is the only horse to win two Champion of Champions running in non-consecutive years, winning his first in 1999 and then again in 2001. Bred in Washington by his owners, Heza Dasha Fire should be considered one of all-time greats in Quarter Horse racing.  He’s a winner of eight Grade 1 races in his career and one of the few to have earned over $2 million in his racing career. With a victory in the Champion of Champions on Saturday, Heza Dasha Fire could have a chance to become the breed’s all-time leading earner in 2018. His career earnings currently stand at $2,047,987. The winner of the Champion of Champions will earn $375,000. Ochoa is AQHA racing’s all-time leading earner with $2,781,365.

 Heza Dasha Fire is also one of only six horses to win back-to-back runnings of the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship and one of only two since 1969 to win consecutive runnings of the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap. As usual, Cruz Mendez will ride Heza Dasha Fire. The superstar gelding will start from post number four. As for Flores, having Heza Dasha Fire and winning the Champion of Champions has been a dream.

“I remember when I was a kid I used to come out here to...

Dec 15, 2017

Esprit De Kayjay A isn’t getting older, he’s getting better.

The 13-year-old gelding won his second straight Meadowlands start after taking four in a row at Freehold, winning the first of two divisions of the second leg of the Dash For The “G” Notes series Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Andy Miller has been in the sulky for all half-dozen victories.

Esprit De Kayjay A worked out a pocket trip and won easily splitting rivals in deep stretch to win in a season’s-best 1:53.4 by 2¾-lengths over Pan Grad. Salevster Stallion was third.

As the 1-2 public choice, ‘Kayjay’ returned $3.00 to win for trainer Nick Surick, who also owns the horse along with his mom Debbie. The veteran campaigner has now won 71 races in 300 lifetime starts and has banked $533,121.

“He’s a horse with a lot of problems,” said Surick, who is far in front of the field in the trainer standings at Freehold Raceway. “But he has a huge heart. He seems to do his best work in the winter when they don’t go as fast.”

Miller completed a driving sweep of the Dash For The “G” Notes events, guiding Walks Of Life to a powerhouse score in 1:52.4.

The 7-year-old son of Western Ideal burst away from the gate and was never threatened while racing on the lead, scoring by 2¼-lengths over May I Cruise West. Every Intention was third.

DARK VADER POSTS $22.20 SURPRISE IN RETURN TO MAIN TRACK;

SAN LUIS REY BASED SCATHING RALLIES FOR THURSDAY VICTORY

A return to dirt and the maiden ranks helped Dark Vader spring a 10-1 upset Thursday at Los Alamitos.

This victory came about 90 minutes before Scathing, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Grazen, became the first San Luis Rey based horse to win a race since the tragic Lilac fire swept through the Bonsall, Ca. training facility Dec. 7.

An $8,000 claim by trainer Adam Kitchingman for owner Cody Polansky Oct. 6, Scathing rallied to win the $17,535 starter allowance by 1 ½ lengths in her second start for her current connections.

Scathing, who has won five of 22 and earned $70,341, had to pass a respiratory exam before being cleared to race.  Fortunately, Kitchingman’s San Luis Rey stable wasn’t badly affected by the fire, which destroyed eight barns and killed a reported 46 horses.

The final time for the five furlongs was 58.26 seconds. Scathing paid $10.60, $5.40 and $2.80 as the 4-1 fourth choice in the field of seven. Aiming Straight returned $4.20 and $2.80 while finishing a neck in front of 5-2 favorite Papa Mambo. The show price on Papa Mambo was $2.80.

Owned by a partnership that includes Sharon Alesia, Burns Racing LLC and Ciaglia Racing LLC and trained by Peter Eurton, Dark Vader, a 2-year-old Tale of Ekati colt, was up in the final strides to defeat 7-2 second choice Destiny Awaits by a nose.

Out of the Grand Slam mare Dark Obsession, Dark Vader, who was purchased for $150,000 at the OBS March sale, completed the mile in 1:37.17 under jockey Stewart Elliott.

The win pushed the Ohio bred’s earnings to $37,845 in four starts. Prior to Thursday, Dark Vader had finished second in his Los Alamitos debut, beaten a head by eventual Gold Rush Stakes winner City Plan Sept. 7 before he was off the board in a restricted stakes at Belterra Park and seventh of 10 in his turf debut at Del...

Some insights into tonight’s racing program for our IdaBet players, beginning final weekend of season.

1^ST RACE – (5) TOWNSLIGHT HANOVER was a local track record-holder as a frosh many moons ago. One win each of last two seasons and bottom claimer.

4^TH RACE – (1) DECLARATION OF WAR seems to be more a competent sort when he knows he’s for sale. Is so again here, and winning draw won’t hurt.

5^TH RACE – (1) BRALEY HANOVER is officially on notice, disappointing us constantly since hitting town. Once more shot from pole before we pay no mind.

6^TH RACE – (6) JUSTICE MY WAY has worked for this missive more than once. Chased home handy winner in much-improved effort, not exactly consistent.

7^TH RACE – (5) SASSA HANOVER has had misfortune of going up against resurgent ma’am in last couple. Millionairess not lass she was, but can work here.

10^TH RACE – (2) BROWN BRINNY continues to draw well and continues to get gazed. She’s never a surprise with half a trip at this level, wouldn’t be here.

12^TH RACE – (4) LAKEISHA HALL offered some late, 50-1 pace last week in distaff derby. Leaves adults, but this high-condition finale came up quite tough.

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$2 +/- (thru Tue., Dec. 12) – 322 wins [inc. 2 dead-heats] ($2,404.50)

from 1,473 ($2,946) selex (-$541.50, making the parents proud)

highest-priced winner – GYPSY LEATHER ($57.50)

lowest-priced winner – GREAT VINTAGE/FUNKNWAFFLES ($2.20 each)

BY FRANK DRUCKER,

Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

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