News
Quarter Horse Finals for Futurity and Derby Set
Quarter Horse racing got underway opening weekend at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino to establish the final field for both the QHRAI Derby and QHRAI Futurity finals. Both finals will be contested Saturday, Sept. 13 at the end of the program that begins at 12:45 p.m.
Heading the list of qualifiers for the QHRAI Stallion Auction Futurity Trials is First Down Beaus, with Harold Collins aboard. The freshman filly completed the 350-yard dash in a time of :18.076 to lead the field into the final. Owned by Cynthia Allen and trained by Ron Raper, First Down Beaus is now five for seven in 2008, earning in excess of $38,000 in her brief career.
DNA Chrystalandstone and Fernando Camacho turned in the second fastest time in the five trials, earning the win in the 11th race in a time of :18.371. The Noel Alexander owned gelding is trained by Duane Swingley and earned his first career win with the effort.
Other trial winners and qualifiers included Bug Me For Kisses (Collins) in a time of :18.457, Fish This and Juan Delgado in a time of :18.521, and Slippery Dot Dash, with Oscar Delgado in a time of :18.504. They will be joined by Kellers Quick, Light My Cigar, Copy Mister Frankie, Billy Ray Cole, and Sheza Classy Leader.
Quarter Horse action continued Sunday, Aug. 31 with three trials for the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby. Scraw Barie Shake and Carter Riley led the pack with a time of :20.559 in their heat followed by Royal Shake Dash and Cody Garrison, who finished second in the 400-yard dash. Other trial winners included Roughshod Dash and Chics Love Stones, both ridden by Collins in times of :21.190 and :20.762, respectively.
Additional qualifiers for the Derby include Panther Pearl, GC Smoky Joe, Special Flyin Darlin, The Money is Gone, Forevers Reflection, and Quickflyin Elin. The final for the Derby is estimated at $25,000 while the Grade III Futurity will dash for an estimated $60,000 in purse money.
Raper and Collins teamed up for two wins in the Futurity with First Down Beaus and Bug Me For Kisses. They returned in the Derby for trial winners with Roughshod Dash and Chics Love Stones. Raper is a multiple winner in the Quarter Horse trainer standings and returns as the 2007 champ in that category.
