Bally’s Arapahoe Park: Week 2

Quicktrip Van wins Arapahoe County Commissioner’s

Quicktrip Van earned his first open-company stakes win in the Arapahoe County Commissioner’s Stakes. Quicktrip Van broke well and sat outside fellow Colorado-bred Wheeler Dealer as they set a snappy 22.31 first quarter pace. The two pacesetters opened up on the field heading into the stretch, with Quicktrip Van getting his head in front at the wire. The final time was 1:10.24.

Heavily favored Collusionist trailed throughout before passing a tiring Tulsa Time to finish fifth of six. It was his first defeat in a sprint at Arapahoe Park since the 2020 Front Range Stakes when he finished second. It was the second time he finished fifth at Arapahoe Park, the first being the 2019 Butch Gleason Classic. 

Quicktrip Van is the winner of the 2021 CTBA Laddie Stakes and 2022 CTBA Colorado Derby. The Arapahoe County Commissioner’s Stakes is his third career stakes win. Quicktrip Van was ridden by Cerapio Figueroa for trainer Russell Vicchrilli and owner/breeder Bill Vanlandingham. Quicktrip Van is by Zip Quik out of Blissful Trip (Trippi). He is Zip Quik’s highest earner. Second-place Wheeler Dealer (Zip Quik) is the winner of the 2022 CTBA Laddie Stakes and 2023 CTBA Derby. He is Zip Quik’s second highest-earner.

Tennessee Moon dominate in Molly Brown 

Tennessee Moon showed she has what it takes to be a leader in the Arapahoe Park Distaff division after drawing away to win the 6f Molly Brown by 10 and ¼  lengths on Sunday. 

The 4-year-old Ransom the Moon filly broke first and never looked back, extending her lead at each point of call under jockey David Cardoso. It was her ninth win in 2024 and third stakes win after victories earlier this year in the Al Swihart Memorial at Fonner Park and the Jack Greer Memorial Stakes at Energy Downs.

Tennessee Moon races for owner/trainer Mark Hibdon. She was bred at Calumet Farm in Kentucky and is a half sister to GSP Dack Janiels. 

Desperate Man invades and conquers the Inaugural

Kentucky-bred Desperate Man invaded Arapahoe Park from Prairie Meadows and ran home with the Inaugural Stakes as his war spoils. Desperate Man broke well and led throughout. He lugged out on the home turn which invited My Buddy Mel into the race from the rail but he could never go by. The final time of 1:09.95 was the fastest 6f stake at Arapahoe Park on opening weekend. The Inaugural Stakes was the first stakes victory for Desperate Man. He has twice been black-type stakes placed in the Prairie Mile Stakes and Golden Circle Stakes. The Inaugural was Desperate Man’s fourth career win.

Mr Dash Fire Best in Dolls Prodigy

Mr Dash Fire recorded his first career stakes win in the Dolls Prodigy for Colorado-breds. According to chart comments, he was bumped at the start and drifted out before pulling away to win by a length. The final time for the 350 yards was 17.620. In his prior start, Mr Dash Fire was fourth in the G2 Mr Jet Moore Stakes behind MG1W Flash Bak. 

Mr Dash Fire is a homebred for Feliple Pena and is trained by Hipolito Michel-Valverde. Mr Dash Fire was ridden by Martin Lazalde. 

Preview: Rocky Mountain Futurity and Derby Trials

The trials for the Rocky Mountain Futurity and Derby will be held this weekend. Saturday will host 5 futurity trials with 26 total entrants. Sunday will see 5 derby trials with 26 total entrants. 

Among the futurity entrants are half siblings to Rocky Mountain Derby winner Jess Un Seis Mas (trial 2: Glitter Factory, trial 5: Supernova Flare) and G1P Fast Dashin Diamond (trial 1: Moonin Aces R Foreva). Interesting Walk, a full sibling to 2023 Rocky Mountain Futurity winner Just Run By, competes in the first trial.

The Rocky Mountain Derby trials sees familiar faces like last year’s Mile High Futurity winner Smyly and Rocky Mountain Futurity winner Just Run By. 

Friendly Spirit Impressive in Victory

Colorado-bred Friendly Spirit broke her maiden in her fifth career start on Sunday at Arapahoe Park. The Ghostzapper filly had previously made 4 starts at Prairie Meadows that resulted in two seconds and two thirds. Competing in her home state for the first time in her young career, Friendly Spirit was part of the pace and was briefly battled with Golden Beauty in the home stretch before drawing off to win by 3 and ¼ lengths under Daniel Vergara. 

Friendly Spirit is out of the Grade 3 winning mare Smart Sting (Smart Strike) who is a daughter of 2000 Eclipse Champion Turf Female Perfect Sting. Friendly Spirit is a homebred for F.A. Heckendorf Jr. and is trained by Riley Parsons.

Photo: 1) Quicktrip Van (outside) wins the Arapahoe County Commissioner’s; 2) Tennessee Moon wins the Molly Brown Stakes; 3) Mr Dash Fire in the 2022 Mile High Derby post parade, 4) Smyly wins the 2023 Mile High Futurity, 5) Friendly Spirit breaks her maiden