Category: Allied Racing Stable
LTBA Announces 2022 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions
Who Took the Money storms home in rescheduled LA Champions Day Turf Classic
Who Took the Money Welcomes a Return to Grass
Even though he had won three of his last five starts on dirt, Allied Racing Stable’s Who Took the Money welcomed a return to grass, winning the rescheduled $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf in high-stepping fashion for trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Deshawn Parker.
Touchuponastar, who posted an upset over the 1-2 favorite in the Champions Day Classic on dirt, was scratched from Saturday’s Turf, opening the door for Who Took the Money to make amends. With the rails 34 feet out and longshots Play Mo and Charlie G in chase mode, Maga Man dictated early terms through tough to gauge fractions of :25.09 and :52.90. Meanwhile, 2-5 favorite Who Took the Money bided his time in sixth while in the clear. The race began to fall apart on the turn for home, and Who Took the Money displayed his patented late kick. Eventual second and third place finishers Smarty Alex and Ballinonabudjet also ran on well late, but the favorite prevailed by 2 ½ lengths in 1:50.59 for 1 1/16 miles.
“He has a really big turn of foot on the turf,” Parker said. “He has it on the dirt too, but on the turf it just feels totally different. I let him do his own thing. He tells me what to do. Turning for home he’ll kick it in gear himself. I really don’t have to do anything. I just let him do his thing and stay out of his way.”
Calhoun agreed.
“I think we had overstayed our welcome on the dirt a little bit,” Calhoun said. “He ran well, very consistent, but I think he had enough of it after the last time out (third in the LA Classic). I was happy to get back on the grass. It’s his much preferred surface. We are going to try to keep him on the grass in the Louisiana program for as long as we can. After that, we may have go to the open horses a little bit at some point. He’s kind of his own worst enemy. Like Deshawn (jockey Parker) said, he kind of does things his own way. If he gets a little bit better mentally, he might be a really good older horse.”
Who Took the Money returned $2.80 for the win. His record now stands at 15-10-0-3 with $469,177 in the bank.
Jack Hammer wins Louisiana Futurity (colts and geldings)
Allied Racing’s homebred Jack Hammer pressed outside Z Resurrection and overcame a green stretch run to win the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (boys) by 2 1/4 lengths. Beating a field of seven 2-year-olds, Jack Hammer notched win number 19 for trainer Brett Calhoun who has an impressive eight-win lead in the trainer standings after scoring earlier on the card with Kupuna.
Jack Hammer ran the six furlongs in 1:12.14 across a track listed as good. Rey Gutierrez piloted Jack Hammer, earning his 24th win on the meet and securing his place at the top the jockey standings.
The field broke cleanly and Jack Hammer emerged from the group, but his inside foe Z Resurrection hustled out to take the lead along the rail running the opening fractions in :22.16 and :46.37 as Jack Hammer settled to his immediate outside. With little change in position throughout the race, the two front runners remained engaged as Calicoco and King’s Lute dueled for third behind them. Jack Hammer wandered greenly but summoned a powerful kick to draw clear of Z Resurrection in the final sixteenth. King’s Lute kept the advantage over Calicoco to finish third in front of that foe.
“He’s a little better on dirt and an off track, so I was kind of hoping this (washed off the turf) would happen,” Williamson admitted. “We were tracking the weather forecast and it came out in our favor. This horse is bred for turf and he’s run well on it, but you just never really know. His last couple numbers (speed figures) on the dirt were very good.”
Jack Hammer is a son of Jimmy Creed out of the Flatter mare Lipstick Junky and was bred in Louisiana by owner Allied Racing. The two-time winner returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the 3-5 favorite.
“They’ve got a great breeding program here in Louisiana,” Chester Thomas of Allied Racing said. “We’ve got Mr. Money standing down here at Clear Creek now. Bret (Calhoun) is off to an awfully good start at the meet. We’ve got a couple seconds that we are hopeful can turn to wins. Bret and Reylu (jockey) are on fire, we are just happy to be a part of it.”
Stiff Drink, Ranch Water, and Flash N Class completed the order of finish. Steauxlit was scratched.
Jack Hammer netted $60,000 and now boasts career earnings of $90,000 from a record of 2-2-0 in 2 starts.
“This is a nice horse,” Calhoun said. “We’ve liked him from very early on. He’s still very green and inexperienced, but we think he has a very bright future ahead of him.”
Highland Creek Holds Off Ballinonabudjet To Take The Boyd Rewards Stakes at Delta Downs
W. BRET CALHOUN TRAINEE WINS FIRST STAKES RACE OF HIS CAREER
VINTON, LA. – Allied Racing Stables, LLC’s Highland Creek used a perfect trip to hold off favored Ballinonabudjet in Friday night’s featured $70,000 Boyd Rewards Stakes under jockey C. J. McMahon. In the process the W. Bret Calhoun trainee notched the first stakes win of his 17-race career.
Breaking from post position four in a seven-horse field, Highland Creek settled off the pace set by longshot Doctor Leo, who went the opening quarter mile in 23.96 and the half mile in 48.95. As the field entered the second turn of the 7 ½-furlong test for 3-year-old and up Louisiana-breds, McMahon asked his mount to rally from just off the pace and he responded by taking a clear lead entering the upper-stretch.
Inside the final furlong a stout challenge was mounted by race favorite Ballinonabudjet, who took an inside path and ran at the leader with abandon. At the finish line Highland Creek proved a head better than his rival while Venn wound up another two lengths behind the top pair in third. Highland Creek covered the distance over a good track in a time of 1:32.92.
Highland Creek earned $42,000 for his win and now has a career bankroll of $253,081. His overall record includes five wins, five seconds and one third from 17 trips to the starting gate.
Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Neal McFadden, Highland Creek is a 4-year-old bay gelding by Broken Vow, out of the Mizzen Mast mare Mizzenway.
Sent to the gate as the second choice of the wagering public, Highland Creek paid $5.80 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Ballinonabudjet returned $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Venn was worth $3 to show.
Lovin’ Louisiana
Kentuckian Chester Thomas is bullish on Louisiana breeding and
racing, and he’s bringing in a new stallion to the state to prove it
Who Took the Money’s Big Kick Too Much in Scott’s Scoundrel
Proving yet again to have the most deft late-kick in Louisiana, Allied Racing Stable’s Who Took the Money won the $75,000 Scott’s Scoundrel for older state-bred routers on day two of Louisiana Champions Preview Weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
In a field full of dangerous front runners, it was Big Chopper who made the lead over a track labeled sloppy. Pressed by Allied Racing’s Highland Creek through opening fractions of 23.66 and 46.77, Big Chopper capitulated the lead to Highland Creek as Brittlyn Stable’s Behemah Star came forward from third. As the .90-1 favorite, Who Took the Money rounded the second turn and began to unleash. Behemah Star grinded past Highland Creek for a temporary lead but he could not match strides with jockey Deshawn Parker and Who Took the Money late, as he bounded home to score by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:42.09 for 1 mile 70 yards. Behemah Star and Highland Creek dug in to hold second and third, respectively.
“That big kick, I tell you,” Deshawn Parker said. “You never think he is going to fire and then he takes off. I just do what he wants me to do. You can tap him down the backside, and he doesn’t give you nothing. As soon as you turn for home, you tap him, he just takes off.”
With this win, Who Took the Money has a 13-9-0-2 record and $392,677 to prove it. If this 4-year-old holds his form, Who Took the Money will be tough to handle on Louisiana Champions Day (Dec 10).
TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS
2022 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Annual Awards Banquet Honoring the 2021 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions and their Connections
WHO TOOK THE MONEY CHARGES TO VICTORY IN THE $60,000 EVANGELINE DOWNS CLASSIC
ALLIED RACING STABLE RUNNERS COMPLETE WEEKEND STAKES SWEEP
OPELOUSAS, LA –Deshawn Parker capped off a big weekend stakes sweep with a victory aboard Who Took the Money in the $60,000 EVD Classic at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night. The race for 4-year-old and up Louisiana-bred runners was contested at the distance of one mile over a track rated fast.
Father Goose and Maga Man both broke sharply and set off in a spirited duel into the clubhouse turn. Highland Creek and Drewhustle were on the chase, while Who Took the Money was allowed to relax near the back of the field. The opening quarter-mile was covered in a swift 23.36 seconds, and the early battle continued through a half-mile in 46.55 seconds. As the field moved through the far turn, Highland Creek, the other Allied Racing Stables, LLC (Chester Thomas) runner in the field, was in a striking position just behind the leaders, while Relentless Dancer ranged up with a wide bid. Deshawn Parker and Who Took the Money were just starting to begin their run but were still seventh as the field move past six furlongs in 1:12.00 seconds.
As the field moved to the top of the lane, Highland Creek surged to the lead, Venn was moving through some traffic, while Who Took the Money was gaining with a six-wide move. At the furlong marker Highland Creek was 1-1/2 lengths in front, but stablemate Who Took the Money was moving fastest in the center of the racetrack. The two Bret Calhoun trainees were well clear of the field in the final yards, with Who Took the Money rushing past for a ½-length victory. Runner-up Highland Creek was 3-1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher Venn. The final time for the mile was 1:37.90 seconds.
Who Took the Money earned $36,000 for the victory, his seventh from 11 career starts. The winning purse increased his lifetime earnings to $286,677.
The 4-year-old gelding was bred in Louisiana by Allied Racing Stable, LLC. Sired by Street Boss, the chestnut is out of the Speightstown mare Speights’ Colony.
Who Took the Money, sent off as the wagering favorite, rewarded backers with a $4.40 win price, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. Highland Creek paid $3.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Venn, the longest shot on the board at 41-1, paid $7.80 to show.
Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:30pm first post. The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs on a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule until August 27.
WINNING ROMANCE CRUISES TO VICTORY IN THE $60,000 EVANGELINE DOWNS DISTAFF
BRET CALHOUN TRAINED RUNNERS FINISH FIRST AND SECOND
OPELOUSAS, LA –A derby weekend crowd was treated to a skillful ride by jockey Deshawn Parker aboard Winning Romance in the $60,000 EVD Distaff at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night. The race for Louisiana-bred older fillies and mares was contested at the distance of one mile over a track rated fast.
Winning Romance tossed her head slightly just as the gates opened and was away a step slower than her rivals but was able to make it to the lead heading into the clubhouse turn. She’s Gone d’Wild and Offspring were away quickest but settled into tracking positions behind the Bret Calhoun trainee. After making the lead, Winning Romance was able to set very moderate fractions early, with an opening quarter-mile in 25.72 seconds and a half-mile in a pedestrian 50.96 seconds. Offspring was tracking the leader from a half-length back, while She’s Gone d’Wild, Snowball and Net a Bear were closely grouped in the compact field.
The Allied Racing Stable, LLC (Chester Thomas) runner was traveling comfortably moving into the turn as She’s Gone d’Wild turned up the pressure with a bid along the rail. Snowball had maneuvered through some traffic and was angling for a three-wide bid as the leaders passed six furlongs in 1:15.53 seconds. As the field turned for home, Winning Romance maintained a slim advantage, and responded when called upon by Parker nearing the furlong marker. She was able to edge clear in the final yards, with the winning margin 1-3/4 lengths. She’s Gone d’Wild, also trained by Calhoun, was able to hold second 2-1/4 lengths clear of Snowball and Net a Bear, who finished in a dead-heat for third. The final running time for the mile was 1:39.65 seconds.
Winning Romance earned $36,000 for the victory, her fifth from 15 career starts. The winner’s share of the purse increased her lifetime earnings to $253,446.
The 4-year-old filly was bred in Louisiana by Allied Racing Stable, LLC. Sired by First Samurai, the chestnut is out of the Flatter mare Lipstick Junky.
Winning Romance, sent off as the wagering favorite, returned $3.60 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. She’s Gone d’Wild paid $5 to place and $2.40 to show. Snowball and Net a Bear each paid $2.10 to show.
You must be logged in to post a comment.