Fastest Qualifiers Sweep Mile High Futurity, Derby; Kali K hangs on in Rocky Mountain Championship
Closing weekend at Arapahoe Park saw 27 quarter horses compete in the prestigious Mile High Futurity, Derby, and Rocky Mountain Championship.
Smyly leads fillies top-four in the Mile High Futurity.
CA-bred two-year-old filly Smyly won by a neck in the Mile High Futurity. Cordarelton Benn was aboard for trainer Chris Gandarilla and owner Celenes’s Racing LLC. Bp Moonlight and Biancas Flare rounded out the trifecta. Fillies made up the top four contenders in a race which only had two geldings in the 10-horse field.
Smyly broke best from post 6 and held off the closers to win in a time of 20.332 for the 400 yards. Smyly broke her maiden with an upset win in the Mile High Futurity trials, where she posted the fastest qualifying time of 20.355 over 400 yards.
Smyly was bred in California by Steve D Burns Dvm. She is sired by Seperate Interest and out of the One Famous Eagle mare One Tempting Chick. Smyly was purchased for $23,000 at the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.
Buymyladyacorona wins first stakes in the Mile High Derby.
Buymyladyacorona’s Arapahoe Park invasion from tougher ranks at Los Alamitos and Ruidoso Downs has proved fruitful.
The Corona Cartel gelding set the fastest qualifying time in the Mile High Futurity trials, covering the 400 yards in 19.975. That performance was backed up with a much-the-best 1 1/4 length victory in the Mile High Derby. Breaking as the heavy favorite, Buymyladyacorona completed the 400 yards in 19.485 seconds. Pyc Fancy Cartel and 2023 Rocky Mountain Derby winner Fearless Fortitude completed the trifecta. Jockey Martin Lazalde was up for trainer Jose Manuel Barron and owner Barron Racing LLC and Empire Racing.
Buymyladyacorona was bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch LLC. He is sired by Corona Cartel and out of the One Famous Eagle mare Lady Eagle 123. Lady Eagle 123 is a half sister to MG1W, millionaire Cold Cash 123. Buymyladyacorona was purchased by Hugo Barron Sierra for $150,000 at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Kali K proves best in Rocky Mountain Championship.
Four-year-old CO-bred Kali K was a force at two and three, but 2023 got off to a rocky start.
A victory in the Pen Pal Stakes over 350 yards on August 28 put her back in the winners’ circle for the first time since August of last year. That win made her a very heavy favorite in the last open company quarter horse stake of the season, the Rocky Mountain Championship. Kali K broke well and closed best in a calvary charge of runners. Kali K held on by short neck where the top six were only separated by a length and a quarter. Jockey Martin Osuna was aboard for trainer Alexander Orozco and owner Luis Marquez.
Kali K was bred in Colorado by Darling Farms. She is sired by One Fabulous Eagle and out of the No Secrets Here mare A Secret Episode. A Secret Episode is a half sister to 2002 Champion Two-Year-Old Eye Opening Episode.
