PCQHRA DERBY TRIAL RESULTS

COURTESY OF STALLIONESEARCH.COM & LOS ALAMITOS.COM


Frankie Shoots Tops Los Al's PCQHRA Derby Trials


LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA—SEPTEMBER 21, 2007—Jose Santos' Frankie Shoots looked like a million bucks in his first start after an injury layoff, as he posted the fastest qualifying time to the $191,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby Friday at Los Alamitos.

Three trials featuring a total of 21 horses were contested to the October 5 Breeders Derby, which features a stakes record purse. The previous stakes record purse of $149,000 was set last year.

Trained by Paul Jones, Frankie Shoots had not raced since running second in a trial to the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February. The son of Dashin Bye was scratched out of the Winter Derby final and had not been seen since then.

"Paul told me that it was a minor injury and since we liked the horse so much we decided not to take any risks and give him time off," Santos said. "We decided to take it easy with him and Paul did a great job preparing him for this race. I'm just happy to see him come back".

With Cody Jensen in the irons, Frankie Shoots covered the 400 yards in a time of :19.54. The Blane Schvaneveldt and John Andreini-bred colt enjoyed a nice year in 2006, winning three of five starts, including the Corona Chick Handicap.

"He had a pretty good start in this trial and we know that he can finish strongly," Santos added. "He came home in a final 220-yard time of :09.45 and that's pretty fast. It was tough not to see him run in the Winter Derby final, but our main concern was the horse s well being. It s nice to see him run so well after his little injury."

Ed Allred and Tom Seibly's Ten Oclock Scholar continued his solid racing career with a victory in the first trial at 3-1 odds. The son of Bono Jazz posted the second fastest time of :19.57 while improving his record to six wins in 13 starts. The gray gelding has competed in three previous graded stakes final. He finished third in the Governor s Cup Derby on July 28 and most recently ran sixth to Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap winner Blues Girl Too in the Grade 1 Golden State Derby on September 1.

"People don't realize the amount of trouble he had in the Golden State Derby," said trainer Dan Francisco. "He got bumped around but he was closing fast at the end of that race against some very good horses. He's a sound horse and he reminds me of his older brother (2005 Golden State Derby winner) Diller A Dollar more and more each day. Like his brother, Ten Oclock Scholar doesn't do anything goofy. He's quiet, he works hard, and he doesn't mess around. He's a racehorse.

In the winner's circle, Allred stood alone without his good friend Seibly at his side.

"He called me before the race," Allred said. "He's in Washington right now but he found a place where he can watch the race on TV. I know he's very happy with the way his horse ran tonight. (Ten Oclock Scholar) broke cleanly tonight. He was coming off a race that was much better than it looked on paper.

In the second trial, Joyce, Harold, Anita and Donald Erickson's A Scootin Princess posted a surprising win at 9-1 odds en route to posting the ninth fastest qualifying time of :19.70. Ridden by Sam Thompson, the New Mexico-bred filly by Heza Motor Scooter was enjoying her third win in 12 starts.

"The Princess stood perfect in the gate tonight," said trainer Donna McArthur, who also conditioned 2001 El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Heza Motor Scooter, as well as A Scootin Princess' dam, A Viking Princess. "A Scootin Princess can be flighty in the gate sometimes. She's good in the paddock and good warming up. She doesn't want to flip in the gate but she wants to lift. That's what gets her in trouble. Tonight, she broke clean on all four feet. I never felt that 400 yards would be a good distance for her but she surprised me. That was a nice race against some pretty good competition. Hopefully the true Princess came out tonight".

McArthur remembers saddling A Viking Princess to an impressive maiden victory several years back. "She broke her maiden by winning from the rail," McArthur remembers. "She lost it from there and we could never get her to run in a straight line again. She was high strung. That's where A Scootin Princess gets it from but Heza Motor Scooter really helps her by giving her class and the ability to handle pressure".

"When a horse like A Scootin Princess runs a nice race like she did tonight, it makes you feel good. It makes you feel like the hard work payoffs," McArthur added.


Race: PCQHRA BREEDERS DERBY-G1
Track: LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE
Trials: SEPTEMBER 21, 2007
Final: OCTOBER 5, 2007
Purse: $191,000
Age: 3-YEAR-OLDS BRED IN CALIFORNIA
Distance: 400 YARDS

Horse Sex Sire-Dam, Dam Sire Time Owner Breeder Trainer Jockey

Frankie Shoots c. Dashin Bye—Shake N Shoot, by Tolltac :19.540 Jose G. Santos Blane Schvaneveldt/J. Andreni (CA) Paul C. Jones Cody Jensen

Ten Oclock Scholar g. Bono Jazz—Dollars Chick, by Chicks Beduino :19.570 Edward C. Allred & Tom Selby Spencer L. Childers (CA) Dan C. Francisco Raul Ramirez, Jr.

Corona High g. Corona Cartel—High Fashion Dash, by Dash For Cash :19.625 Christian & Ru Anna Singletary Henry E. Brown (OK) Donna McArthur Gary L. Boag

Look Her Over f. Check Him Out—Oh La Proud, by Shirley's Champion (TB) :19.625 Edward C. Allred Edward C. Allred (CA) Scott Willoughby Raul Ramirez, Jr.

Not A Full Moon g. First Down Dash—Moon Arise, by *Beduino (TB) :19.655 Ron & Denise Vanamburgh Vessels Stallion Farm (CA) Jamie H. Gomez Alejandro Luna

Quiero Separarte c. Separatist—Quiero Todo, by First Down Dash :19.670 Jesus & Carlos Velasco Jesus Velasco (CA) Felix L. Gonzalez Alex Bautista

Jess Sass Me f. Mr Jess Perry—Sassy Smith, by Corona Cartel :19.675 Jamie H. Gomez Mike Abraham (NM) Owner Alejandro Luna

Dimples First Dash f. First Down Dash—Denim N Dimples, by The Desert Jewel :19.685 Muller Racing, LLC Willow Ridge Farms (TX) Dennis Ekins Norberto A. Aceves

A Scootin Princess f. Heza Motor Scooter—A Viking Princess, by First Down Dash :19.700 Joyce, Harold, Anita & Donald Erickson Joyce, Harold, Anita & Donald Erickson (NM) Donna MacArthur Samuel H. Thompson

First Dinastia c. First Down Dash—Dinastia Toll Brz, by Tolltac :19.715 Fakri Family Ltd. Partnership & Benny Rossett Vessels Stallion Farm/Fakri Family Limited Partnership (CA) Paul C. Jones Cesar DeAlba

Trial Notes: Frankie Shoots won the last of three trials by ¾ of a length over Look Her Over to post the fastest qualifying time.