A GREAT WEEKEND IN SAN ANTONIO! - Texas Quarter Horse ...

A GREAT WEEKEND IN SAN ANTONIO!July 31,2013The Texas Legislature continues to turn its back on the horse racing and breeding industry but that didnot seem to matter at the 2013 TQHA Yearling Sale.Large crowds attended both days at the Sale as well as at the races at Retama Park and remindedhorsemen of “the good ole days.”When asked his thoughts on the Sale results, TQHA Sale Committee chairman stated “we could not bemore pleased. Our consignors brought good stock and our buyers responded. Our average was up 8%over 2012. This little sale continues to impress”.Jerry Windham only consigned five yearlings but proved quality is more important than quantity andsold the sale’s top seller. Windham’s SIXES DOWN, who is a full brother to 2011 GI Dash For CashFuturity winner SIXES STREAK brought the top price of $76,000. SIXES DOWN is by the Windhamhomebred stallion STREAKIN SIXES.P & J Racing purchased the second highest selling yearling for $75,000 who is by stallion TEMPTINGDASH and was consigned by Granada Farms, agent.YURMAN, a colt by BIGTIME FAVORITE and consigned by Bobby D. Cox brought $67,000.It was great to see horsemen still hold STREAKIN LA JOLLA in high regard as one of his sons, STREAKINICON, sold for $65,000. He was consigned by Granada Farms, agent for Robert and Karen Nunnally.WON TO WATCH CAPTURES $441,000 TQHA SALE FUTURITYWON TO WATCH overcame a troubled start in her trial to win and qualify for the $441,000 RGII TQHAYearling Sale Futurity. She did everything right in the final and turned a $20,000 investment for ownersAshley Vera and Alberto Vera, Jr. into a $196,597 payday. Trained by Cindy Keeton, who last yearsaddled 2012 Sale Futurity winner CASH FLOW CARTEL, WON TO WATCH won easily and looks like shewill not have any problem going longer distances. BUX FOR BRICKS finished second for owner VictorSilva and trainer J. Nevarez. Those who remembered his trial, where he finished skimming the outsiderail, were rewarded with a nice mutual price. He was bred by A&D Racing and was purchased for $5000at the 2012 TQHA Yearling Sale. THE KAT IN THE HAT completed the trifecta. He is owned by J.R.Espinosa and was bred by Sherrie Morace. Fastest qualifier CARTEL ARRANGEMENT finished seventhafter a troubled start.SUMMER SHOWDOWN PRODUCES GREAT RACING AND MEMORIES

The last Friday and Saturday in July have become one of the most exciting days of racing in Texas andthe U.S. with Friday’s “Summer Showdown” and Saturday’s TQHA Yearling Sale Futurity and RetamaPark Derby.The 2013 edition of the “Summer Showdown” included the original four stakes races for accreditedTexas-breds and added a new feature, the $20,000 Added Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes at 870yards.In the RG III $35,000 added TQHA Classic at 400 yards, LOVES BROWN SUGAR continued her winningways and this time defeated open company in impressive fashion. Owned and bred by Sue Fikes andtrained by Kie Mushinski, LOVES BROWN SUGAR has quickly become one of the top older mares in thecountry.If you blinked you would have missed the TQHA 250 Stakes as SPARROW CONTENDER sizzled 250 yardsto take $30,000 Added prize for owner I. Solis and trainer Erika Huitron.Jim and Marilyn Helzer’s WATCHING THE CASHFLO has proven to be unbeatable at Retama Park thissummer and won the $30,000 added TQHA 550 Stakes.D W RUNAWAY defeated a tough field of claimers in the $15,000 Added Jones Bloodstock InsuranceStarter Stakes. D W RUNAWAY is owned by R. Guzman, trained by M. Vega, Jr. and was bred in Texas byBielau Oaks. The Jones Bloodstock is a great way for owners of claimers to take home a big check.Probably the most emotional event of the evening was the inaugural running of the$20,000 addedBenny Pennington Memorial stakes. Benny passed away almost two years ago to the day of the runningof the race and was a beloved member of the Texas racing community. Benny’s wife Wanda and familyand friends packed the winners circle after TOODLES BULLET enjoyed a rail trip and won for owner B.Lozano and trainer J. Uriegas. I guarantee Benny was looking down smiling that great smile.TQHYA OFFICERS LEND A HANDTexas Quarter Horse Youth Association president Bailey Anderson and Vice-president Avery Ellis helpedout at the Yearling Sale by assisting Horse Identifier Clayton Baker. They could be seen snapping photosof yearlings and filling out corrections for registration certificates. Emily Albitz also helped out and wasseen snapping photos at the finish line at Retama Park and visiting with accomplished photographer andTRACK magazine co-founder/owner Ben Hudson. All three girls attended the races Friday evening atRetama and visited the paddock and winner’s circle where they joined AQHA’s Darrell Hare andpresented a blanket to the winning connections of one of three Adequan Derby Challenge trial winners.

PIT AND SPITS BBQ/SMOKER RAFFLE A HITDuring the 2012 TQHA Yearling Sale, Trey Malechek won the raffle for the Pits and Spits BBQ/ Smoker.This year Trey is TQHA president and graciously re-donated the BBQ/Smoker to be raffled off onceagain. This year Richard Guerra took home the prize.A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO THE AQHA AND THE BANK OF AMERICA CHALLENGE AND ALSO TOTERRY WOOTEN AND COOPER’S BBQ FOR DONATING AND HOSTING THURSDAY AFTERNOON’SCONSIGNOR/BUYER BBQ.AND ALSO TO TYLER GRAHAM AND SOUTHWEST STALLION STATION FOR HOSTING THE COLD BEER!