Courtesy StallionESearch
AURORA, CO—JULY 9, 2016—Air Force Won (Heritage Place Sale Graduate) racked up his second straight derby victory this season after driving to a head win over Abeachindynasty in the $99,150 Rocky Mountain Derby Saturday at Arapahoe Park.
On June 4th the New Mexico-bred 3-year-old won Arapahoe’s West/Southwest Adequan Derby Challenge.
Ridden by jockey Ramiro Garcia, Air Force Won completed the 350 yards in :17.464 seconds, a 99-speed index. The $39,660 winner’s purse boosted the gelding’s earnings total to $70,484.
“This one was scary because everybody jumped ahead of me,” Garcia said. “So I knew not to get desperate and get crazy on the whip on him. I gave him a few, and he did the job well. We just got to wait on him and wait on his gear because if you go too quick, he gives out. You just have to give him time, and he does the job.”
Chris Gandarilla conditions the son of AQHA Racing champion Ketel Won for owner Vences Quarter Horses. Hughes Donaldson Horse Company bred the sorrel gelding from the Major Rime mare Forced To Win.
Rivera Quarter Horse Racing Inc.’s Abeachindynasty earned $19,830 for his second place effort. Also trained by Gandarilla, the daughter of leading sire FDD Dynasty was ridden by Alfredo Triana, Jr. Vessels Stallion Farm, LLC bred the bay filly in California from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Another Habit.
Gandarilla saddled the trifecta when Unforgiven B finished a neck back in the blanket finish to get third. Raul Gutierrez rode the Jumpn gelding out of Mr Perrys Effort, by Mr Jess Perry. Bred in Louisiana by Bielau Oaks, Unforgiven B earned $11, 988.
Multiple stakes winner Three Olives N Smoke finished fourth followed by Silver Citizen, Benefactress, Thatza Fact Jack, Bachichanator, Runnin Along and In The Air Tonight.