Jungle Racing’s homebred Straight up WOOD had never stepped foot outside of California, or even faced open company, before the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. Sunland Park. The son of Straight fire Still, there was no problem surfacing such hurdles with a top score in the 1/16-mile sophomore race on Sunday afternoon.
Betting as an even money lover, Straight Up G took the lead and collected early scores of: 23.79 and: 46.88. Equal Classic moment and Bye Bye Bobby Chasing on the long turn, Straight Up G was ready to respond under casual rider Ricardo Gonzalez, extending his advantage at the top of the lane and holding his opponent three-quarters of the way down the line.
Bye Bye Bobby and Classic Moment, who both took their second wind in the run and are winning the final leg, took second and third place.
“I’m really proud of the way he runs,” said Jungle Racing owner Jim Rome. “We wanted to see how he would run outside of California, we wanted to try some open competitions and see how he would judge. And the boy stepped up. He broke out well, he wanted to get ahead and he showed me so many hearts.”
Straight up G stops the clock at 1:42.96 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main road. He increased his earnings to $203,660 and landed his second bet win, also winning the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos . Racecourse in December.
Although the Mine That Bird Derby is worth nothing on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, it is seen as an important race that prepares the local for the $600,000 Sunland Park Derby March 27, worth 50 points for the winner. win.
Coach Richard Baltas said: “He has a lot of natural pace. “I told Ricky (Gonzalez) he didn’t have to take the lead but the horse just got him there. He showed a lot of strength today. We kicked him out of town because we have a lovely 3-year-old and we. wanted to see where we were. It was always a test and he passed his test.”
Raised in California, Straight Up is the third foal of Sky Mesa’s Gidget Girl winning mares, who were also lobbied by Rome. She has a pony yearned by Fast Anna and bred with Collected for the year 2022.
“We own the cubs and we own a sire so (this win) is very poignant and personal to me,” Rome said. “I love this horse. To see him run a race like this is a real highlight.”
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