Bally’s Arapahoe Park: Week 3

Glittr Factory fastest in Rocky Mountain Futurity trials

2-year-old filly Glittr Factory qualified to the Rocky Mountain Futurity by winning her trial in a final time of 16.989. It was the first victory for the Flare for Ivory filly. When last seen she was sixth in a Four Corners Futurity trial which was the best finish of any debuting horse in the race. Glittr Factory is a half sister to multiple stakes winning Colorado-bred Jess Un Sies Mas.

In the second trial which Glittr Factory won, the second-fourth finishers also qualified with second place finisher Unbridled Favor (Secret Circle (TB)) setting the second fastest time.

Barron Racing LLC, who owns and bred Glittr Factory, qualified 3 horses to the final: trial winner Glittr Factory, trial winner Access Granted, and Lethal D. Celenes’s Racing also qualified 3: Unbridled Favor, trial winner Aj Favorite Ok, and Interesting Walk (a full sibling to 2023 Rocky Mountain Futurity winner Just Run By). 

Full list of qualifiers beginning with the fastest: Glittr Factory, Unbridled Favor, Aj Favorite Ok, Don Pepe C, Access Granted, Lethal D, Interesting Walk, Shaunda Got It, Dreamming Dash, Fanze Boy. The finals will be run Sunday, Sept. 29.

Injeanius leads Rocky Mountain Derby qualifiers

Texas-bred gelding Injeanius (Favorite Cartel) set the fastest time in the Rocky Mountain Derby trials by covering the 350 yards in 17.724. Trainer Jose Chavez also qualified Oklahoma-bred Brujo Spirit (Apolitical Spirit), while jockey Valente Vorrath additionally qualified Secretsthatshekeeps (Hez Our Secret). 

Mile High Futurity winner Smyly was the second fastest qualifier with a time of 17.812 while Rocky Mountain Futurity winner Just Run By was third fastest with 17.885. Both are trained by Chris Gandarilla for owner Celenes’s Racing and were guided to victory in their respective trials by Cordarelton Benn.

Full list of qualifiers beginning with the fastest: Injeanius, Smyly, Just Run By, Sticky Lou Who, Fiddle Faddle Foose, Tds Quarter Moon, Secretsthatshekeeps, Presidio Pete, Brujo Spirit, Emberly. The finals will be run Sunday, Sept. 29.

6 entrants in first CTBA LarriLou Stakes

6 Colorado-bred fillies and mares will compete in the inaugural CTBA LarriLou Stakes over 6 furlongs. The race is named after the late Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association executive director and secretary LarriLou Kallsen who served 23 years. She passed away in late 2021. 

3-year-old filly Long May She Run (Klimt) drew the rail. She broke her maiden winning a $34,000 allowance restricted to CTBA Lassie eligible fillies which was named after Kallsen in August at Bally’s Arapahoe Park last season. Long May She Run is morning-line 8-1 for owner breeder Francis A. Heckendorf Jr. and trainer Riley Parsons. She receives a 4lb weight allowance from the older mares. 

The morning-line favorite at 5-2 is Rockin Marie (Rocky Bar). Last year’s CTBA Spicy winner she is winless since a February claiming race at Sunland Park and was last seen finishing fifth to Celee’s Last Te (Tulsa Te) in the Hank Mills Handicap at Wyoming Downs. Celee’s Last Te was last seen finishing fourth in the Molly Brown Stakes on Sept. 8.

CTBA Aspen Stakes returns after 3-year absence

The CTBA Aspen Stakes returns for the first time since 2020. It will be run Saturday, September 21 over 6 furlongs for 3-year-old and older Colorado-bred colts and geldings.

The winner of the Aspen in 2020 was Collusionist, who drew the rail for the 2024 edition. The defending champion comes into the race after a performance too bad to be true in the Arapahoe County Comissioner’s Stakes. In the race, Collusionist dropped out to trail the field and only passed a very tired Tulsa Time in the stretch. It was his worst performance at Arapahoe Park in years. Collusionist is the 5-2 morning line favorite and has a rider change with the current leading rider David Cardoso in the saddle. 

Arapahoe County Commissioner’s Stakes winner Quicktrip Van is the 7/2 second choice on the morning line. Quicktrip Van drew post two and figures to set the pace once again.

Mucho Macho Man gelding Hoya Paranoya enters the race off a 6-month layoff. He was last seen among the stakes and allowance ranks in New Mexico.

Upcoming Stakes:

Here is the most recent upcoming stakes schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 21: Aspen Stakes, LarriLou Stakes

Friday, Sept. 27: Rocky Mountain Derby Consolation allowance, Rocky Mountain Futurity Consolation allowance

Saturday, Sept. 28: Leo Beau Dash Stakes

Sunday, Sept. 29: Rocky Mountain Futurity, Rocky Mountain Derby

Saturday, Oct. 12: Front Range Stakes

Sunday, Oct. 13: CTBA Oaks, CTBA Derby

Saturday, Oct. 26: CTBA Lassie, CTBA Laddie

Sunday, Oct. 27: CTBA Mt. Elbert

Sunday, Nov. 3: CTBA Spicy