December 7-8 Stakes Recap

Following is a recap of all official American Quarter Horse stakes for the week of December 7-8. For recaps of graded stakes, Bank of America Racing Challenge stakes and trials, and stakes with purses of $100,000 or more, see the individual recaps in the Racing News section. This page will be updated throughout the week.

Evangeline Downs
Cant Catchacorona was a prompt even-money favorite in Saturday's $30,000 Scoopies Leaving You Stakes (R) for aged Louisiana-bred sprinters.

Trained by Kenny Roberts for owner T M Ranch, Cant Catchacorona covered 220 yards in :11.688 while defeating The Cazador by a half of a length. Everardo Rodriguez rode the 4-year-old gray Coronas Leaving You gelding.

Cant Catchacorona was bred by Jim and Natalie Montgomery, and he was shortening in distance off of his neck victory at odds of 17-1 in the 350-yard, $40,000 Opelousas Stakes (R) at this track on November 9. The gelding has won six of 17 races, including two stakes, and he has banked $123,731.

JJ Chris S Angel, Corona Down Perry, Flamin Hot Fortune, Cajun Cos, High And Caliente, Hot Prize, and Logans Fast Dasher completed the order of finish.

Also on Saturday, Todd Matte's Love The Way You Fly broke sharply and led at every call to win the 400-yard, $40,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational Stakes (R) for state-bred 2-year-olds.

Under jockey John Hamilton, Love The Way You Fly defeated Jess Tolltac by one length in :19.758. Trey Ellis prepped the sorrel Furyofthewind colt, who earned $24,000 from his first stakes victory.

Love The Way You Fly was bred by Copper Spring Ranch LLC, and he purchased by Matte for $50,000 at last year's LQHBA Yearling Sale. The colt is out of Lovethewayyoulie, a 7-year-old daughter of champion Tempting Dash who won the 2014 Heritage Place Futurity (G1) at Remington Park.

All told, Love The Way You Fly has won two of six starts and has earned $40,408. The colt was a finalist in the May 18, 330-yard Louisiana Breeders' Laddie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs.

Swamp Eagle ran third and was followed by Rdd Empire Builder, Jrs Coronas Toast, One Fast Perry, One Bad Boujee, and Taylor Made Cartel.

Los Alamitos
Cody Jensen rode Jest Famous to a wire-to-wire, one-length victory in Saturday's 400-yard, $35,000 First Down Dash Handicap.

Prepped by Chris O'Dell for owner MRB Racing LLC, Jest Famous stopped the timer in :19.581 on a track labeled "good." The 3-year-old son of champion Mr Jess Perry earned $19,250 from his eighth win in 13 starts and fourth win in six outs this season.

Jest Famous made his local debut with a half-length victory in the 400-yard, $25,000 Town Policy Stakes on November 9.

"He's a really good horse," said Jensen, who also rode Jest Famous in the Town Policy. "It was a little slick out there because of the rain, so he drifted out as he was running because of it. He was still going strong and fast."

Jest Famous was bred in Louisiana by Jon and Donna McPherson. Campaigned in three states, the gelding has earned $389,513, and his resume includes a fourth-place finish in the September 1, 440-yard All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Jess Macho Corona finished second and was followed by Corona Jumpim MRL, Bos Time Machine, Twisted Sifter, Jess My Kiss, and Mr Secret Glory.

On Sunday, trainer Paul Jones swept both divisions of the 870-yard, $15,000 Snowbound Superstar Stakes.

JB Gray Dawn, a homebred 3-year-old Heza Fast Dash gelding owned by Dr. James G. Burgess, won the first division by two lengths as the 17-10 favorite. Ridden by Ramon Guce, JB Gray Dawn covered 870 yards in :45.116 while recording his sixth victory in 18 starts and fifth win in 12 outs this season.

JB Gray Dawn has earned $47,664, of which $41,984 has been banked this season.

Run Raging Rhino Run finished second and was followed by Ridgefield Rocket, Sokudo, El Koreano, and Hydrostatic.

Guce rode Ballast Point to win the second division. Owned by Jones and Thompson Racing Inc. and sent to post as the 8-5 choice, the sophomore son of the Favorite Trick (TB) stallion Favorite Cartel defeated 11-1 longshot Loan Sharky by four lengths in :44.687.

Ballast Point was bred by Dr. Steve Burns. The gelding has won three of 12 starts and has earned $33,840, of which $31,920 has been banked from 10 outs this season.

Miss That Kat, Chrisiscookin, and Love Your Life completed the order of finish.

The Snowbound Superstar Stakes honors Snowbound Superstar, a Washington-bred son of Snowbound (TB) and two-time distance champion.

"It's really nice to get the 870 program back at Los Alamitos," Jones said. "Since Snowbound Superstar, it's kind of been down a little, but it's starting to pick back up. It's about trying to get more Quarter Horses going at the 870-yard distance.

"We started these two, and they're both going really well," he added. "They both ran super tonight. I couldn't ask for any better."

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