World’s Leading Money Earner
STOLIS WINNER
Returns to the winner circle in the Bank of American
Oklahoma Challenge
Click the photo above to watch the race
V I D E O
The Four Sixes Ranch, trainer Heath Taylor, jockey Kip Didericksen and world champion DM Shicago were inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame on Friday night at Ruidoso Downs.
From left, Carl Draper (trainer of DM Shicago), Dr. Glenn Blodgett and Anne Marion of the Four Sixes Ranch, Kip Didericksen and Heath Taylor standing by the cases commemorating their induction into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame.
Taylor has become one of the most important trainers in Quarter Horse racing. He is the all-time third-ranked trainer of stakes winners behind Paul Jones and Blane Schvaneveldt and the fourth-ranked trainer of all-time money earners behind Jones, Schvaneveldt and Jack Brooks. Each of those trainers ranked ahead of Taylor is a member of the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame.
Taylor saddled Jerry Windham’s Stolis Winner to victories in the All American Futurity (G1) and Rainbow Futurity (G1) on his way to being honored as the 2008 world champion as a 2-year-old. He is now the all-time leading money earning Quarter Horse at $2,235,161.
The videos for each of the 2012 inductees may be seen by going to www.raceruidoso.com/hall-of-fame.php.
For information on all enductees: http://www.aqha.com/Racing/News-Articles/Four-Enshrined-in-Ruidoso-Hall.aspx
VINTON, LA—JULY 7, 2012—Brett Mennen's homebred Ronnie James picked up his third win four starts this season while taking the $327,715 Firecracker Futurity(G2) at Delta Downs.
Under jockey John Hamilton Ronnie James put in a solid rally to defeat Braggin Bout My Zoom by half-a-length. Interesting May surged late to finish a nose back in third.
The Valiant Hero gelding completed the 350 yards in a quick :17.454 seconds, earning a 99 speed index and the picking up the winner's share of $163,858. His only loss this season was a second place effort to Shakem Little Corona in the June 16 trials.
Heath Taylor conditions the sorrel out of the Feature Mr Jess mare Jess A Lil Bit. His total earnings stand at $174,458.
For the remainder of the story and complete order of finish:
Winning owner Brett Mennen, trainer Heath Tayor and jockey John Hamilton accept the Firecracker Futurity winning trophy.
Nicole Walker / Coady Photography
Triple Vodka Scores Again in the Old South Derby
Renee Spiller’s Triple Vodka posted his second 2012 win from three starts when he won the Old South Derby by a neck over 11-10 favorite Jess Fly With Me. Sizzlin Cartel was more than one length back in third.
Triple Vodka, with Raul Ramirez Jr. up, raced the 400 yards in :19.588 after opening up a daylight lead and the holding off a bid by Jess Fly With Me.
A son of Tres Seis, Triple Vodka was undefeated from three starts last year, highlighted by his three-quarter-length score in the $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity in July, his final 2011 start. The colt returned in March to finish third after a troubled trip and was then awarded the win via disqualification in his Old South Derby trial.
Triple Vodka has five wins, including a pair of stakes, from six starts.
First Klas Fred Scores in the Develop A Plan Stakes
Denis and Julie Schoenhofer’s First Klas Fred raced to his first win since September when he won the Develop A Plan Stakes at 350 yards. He won by a nose in a tight finish in which the top five finishers were separated by four noses. Charal Kid was second and Kool Country Man was third.
Veteran John Hamilton was aboard for the win in :17.380.
First Klas Fred took the Classic Chevrolet Stakes for Texas-breds back in September and then was third in the Cherokee Challenge. He was favored in each race.
In his two starts this year, First Klas Fred was sixth in an allowance race and fourth in the Sam Houston Classic.
Zoomin To Win Handles Distaffers in Mother’s Day
Kimberly and Herman Hogue’s Zoomin To Win showed why she was the 22-11 favorite with her convincing victory in the $40,000 Mother’s Day Stakes at Delta Downs on Saturday night.
The four-year-old trained by Heath Taylor, Zoomin To Win raced the 350 yards in a stakes record :17.233, just off the track record of :17.191.
The John Hamilton-ridden Zoomin To Win started within striking distance from the outside post position and then dominated in the last half of the race to score by an expanding three quarters of a length.
Bang Bang Bang was second and Little Eye Opener was another one-half length back for third place.
Zoomin To Win picked up her fourth win and first stakes win from 10 starts. She also kept her very consistent record intact with nine on-the-board finishes during her career.
The daughter of Azoom earned her favoritism in the Mother’s Day Stakes with an impressive three-quarter-length allowance win over 300 yards in her prior start.
Photos:
Nicole Walker/
Coady Photography
Stories: Ty Wyant
Trainer Heath Taylor qualified three horses to the $144,065 Firecracker Derby topped by second-fastest qualifier The Lizzard King for owner/breeder, Brett Mennen. The Valiant Hero gelding has this year won three of four starts, with a close second in the Sam Houston Derby (G3). He won his trial by 1 1/2 lengths in :19.523.
Taylor was also represented by seventh-fastest qualifier Triple Vodka for owner Renee Spiller and ninth-fastest qualifier Gold Rrrush for Mackie Racing.
Taylor Has First and Third Qualifiers to the Lee Berwick Futurity
Vinton, LA – June 23, 2012 - Trainer Heath Taylor, who will be inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame on Friday night, started his memorable week by saddling the first- and third-fastest qualifiers, Fast Talkin Henry and Bigtime Beau, from the trials to the $551,055 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity for Louisiana-breds on Saturday night at Delta Downs.
Eric Johnson’s Fast Talkin Henry drew away in the sixth of 10 trials to in by one-and-one-half lengths with a :17.330 time for 350 yards. John Hamilton was aboard.
A gelding by Heza Fast Dash, Fast Talkin Henry won his maiden in his previous start when he got up to take a Delta Downs maiden race by a nose as the 17-10 favorite.
Bob and Jerry Gaston’s Bigtime Beau scored in the seventh trial by three quarters of a length with the third-fastest time of :17.513. The Bigtime Favorite gelding won his trial to the Laddie Futurity in his debut and then raced to a fourth-place finish in the Laddie in his previous start.
Fast Talkin Henry scores an easy victory in his trial to the Lee Berwick. Nicole Walker / Coady Photography - Story by Ty Wyant. surebetRacingNews.com