July 31-August 4 Stakes Recap
Elvis The Famous won Wednesday's Ontario-Bred Futurity at Ajax Downs. PHOTO: New Image Media
August 1, 2024 | Racing , Racing | Racing , Racing
Following is a recap of all official American Quarter Horse stakes and trials for the week of July 31-August 4. For recaps of most graded stakes, Bank of America Racing Challenge stakes and trials, and most stakes with purses of $100,000 or more, see the individual recaps in the Racing News section.
Ajax Downs
Elvis The Famous, a son of the First Down Dash stallion Cold Hard Dash racing for Carol Robertson and Jaime Robertson, won Wednesday's $43,465(US) Ontario-Bred Futurity (R).
The fourth-fastest qualifier from two trials contested at this track on July 17, Elvis The Famous covered 300 yards in :15.613. Diego Benitez rode the gray gelding for trainer Bryn Robertson.
"He broke really fast, and he just kept coming and coming," said Benitez.
Elvis The Famous was bred by Amelie Aubut of Pont Rouge, Quebec. The gelding is out of DM Classic Rock, an Ontario-bred daughter of the Separatist stallion DM Selexus.
Elvis The Famous broke his maiden in the second Ontario-Bred Futurity trial. The gelding was winning for the second time in four outs, and the $17,387 winner's share of the purse from his first stakes victory increased his earnings to $24,582.
"He's a tough little guy," said Bryn Robertson of Elvis The Famous. "He came out and said no one was beating me today."
Had To Be Fabulous, the fastest qualifier, finished seventh, three lengths behind Elvis The Famous.
Century Mile
Making the second official start of his 5-year-old season, SS Pineapple won Friday's $15,402(US) Century Mile Distance #1 Stakes.
Trained by Carl Perry for owner Sazwan Speed Horses, SS Pineapple covered 870 yards in :46.428 while aided by a reported 15-mph tail wind in the homestretch. Blandford Stewart rode the homebred palomino son of the Dashing Val stallion Cuivre River.
SS Pineapple's margin of victory was a head from 2-5 favorite Rocky League. The gelding was bred in Alberta. Raced exclusively in Alberta, SS Pineapple has won five of 23 outs, and the $8,163 winner's share of the purse from his second career stakes victory increased his earnings to $45,338.
On Saturday at this track, the field was set for the August 17, $60,602(Can) Alberta Stallion Futurity (R) for 2-year-olds sired by participating stallions.
Hold On Boss, a daughter of the PYC Paint Your Wagon stallion JD Wagon Boss racing for Jordan Green and Chanel Trenholm, set the fastest qualifying time with her one-length victory in the first of two trials. Ridden by Amador Hernandez for trainer Buckey Stockwell, the bay filly covered 330 yards in :17.122 while earning her second win in five races.
Hold On Boss was bred in Alberta by Delton D. Gehring. An earner of $15,077 while racing exclusively at this track, the filly is out of Miss Dashing Vana, an unraced Alberta-bred daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Western Dash.
Click here for a complete list of finalists.
North Dakota Horse Park
Fastest qualifier Like Tequila Does earned her second career stakes victory in Saturday's 400-yard, $22,400 North Dakota QHRA Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds.
Trained by Robert Johnson for owner Jason Smith, Like Tequila Does defeated Grit Eye by a head in :20.253. Luis Maldonado rode the sorrel daughter of the One Famous Eagle stallion Famous Painted One, who earned a 96 speed index and the $10,080 winner's share of the purse.
Like Tequila Does was bred by Darrel Smith and Noreen Cavanaugh, and she made her season debut with a 1 1/2-length win in the first of two trials on July 21. The filly is out of Little Speed Wagon, a winning and multiple stakes placed homebred daughter of the PYC Paint Your Wagon stallion Paintyourownwagon.
Raced in two states, including Oklahoma, Like Tequila Does has won four of her five starts -- including four of four at this track -- and she has banked $28,145. Her record includes a two-length victory victory in last year's $26,700 NDQHRA Futurity (R).
The fastest qualifier from three trials run at this track on July 20, Tyrell R. Moody's Im Rip scored a one-length win in Sunday's $26,800 North Dakota QHRA Futurity (R) for state-bred juveniles.
Im Rip went 300 yards in :17.740 under jockey Dakota Wood. Francisco Estrada saddled the homebred son of the Corona Cartel stallion Rip Tide, who earned a 104 speed index from his second lifetime stakes victory.
Im Rip was coming off of a 1 3/4-length win in the second NDQHRA Futurity trial. The brown gelding is out of Cowboywannab, a homebred winning daughter of the Corona Cartel stallion Cowboys Cartel.
Raced in two states, including Montana, Im Rip has won five of six starts -- including the June 23, $16,200 Rusty Wilson Memorial Futurity at Chippewa Downs -- and the $12,060 winner's share of the NDQHRA Futurity purse boosted his bankroll to $27,070. The gelding was also a finalist in the May 19, $58,000 Bucking Horse Sale Futurity at Miles City, Montana.
Prairie Meadows
Making his first start against aged runners, Ruben Mojica's AB Boogie sprinted to a half-length win in Saturday's $40,000 Cy-Hawk Stakes (R) for Iowa-breds.
AB Boogie covered 350 yards in :17.324 while recording a 102 speed index. Alfredo Triana Jr. rode the homebred 3-year-old son of champion Apollitical Blood for trainer Manuel Campos.
AB Boogie was coming off of a half-length victory in the July 7, $64,000 Cyclone Derby (R) for state-bred sophomores at this track. The gelding has won three of eight races -- including three of five at the 350-yard trip -- and the $18,800 winner's share of the purse from his second career stakes victory increased his bankroll to $90,245.
Five Bar Phi, the 11-10 favorite in the eight-horse field, finished second.
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on Twitter, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.