In only her second career start, Botticelli Beach not only broke her maiden in her Gordon Mobley Futurity trial but she topped the standings for the top 10 headed to the $150,000 final on July 24 at Indiana Grand.
Starting from post two, Botticelli Beach (photo) took control of her trial early on, soaring to a two and one-quarter-length win at the wire of the 300-yard dash with Jose Beltran aboard. FE Stone Crusher and German Rodriguez finished second over Jesses Beach and Berkley Packer for third.
The time of the dash was 15.432 seconds.
Botticelli Beach is owned and trained by Claudio Barraza. The grey filly is out of Sheri Miller’s mare, Botticelli Shake, who won two races for Miller during her career. She has turned into a good brood mare for Miller Ranch, located in Shipshewana, Ind., where Indiana’s top sire, Escondido Beach, also stands.
“We actually saw this filly as a yearling at Sheri’s farm,” said Barraza. “We started bidding on her online. She’s bred well. She’s a full sister to Shakeitonthebeach, a stakes winner here. She gets really antsy but she’s getting better all the time.”
The second fastest trial was won by High Rolling Seize, ridden by Shanley Jackson. The Seize the Win gelding was able to move into the lead from post nine midway through the trial and kept on running, winning the race by one and one-quarter lengths.
Nachor Favorite and Cristian Aguirre Erives finished second. My Royal Candy and Jose Ruiz were third in the sprint recorded in 15.553.
High Rolling Seize is owned by breeder Glenn Graff of Indiana. He is a product of Seize the Win, the standout multiple stakes winner who also was campaigned by Matt Frazier. He was placed up to first in his last start, giving him two wins this season in three outings.
Other trial winners including Stormi Spirits and Cristian Reyes for trainer Tim Eggleston in a time of 15.948 and Exosphere ridden by Giovani Vasquez-Gomez in a time of 15.717 for Jessi Vazquez, Giovani’s wife.
The full field headed to the Gordon Mobley Futurity, with jockey and time, includes: Botticelli Beach (Jose Beltran, 15.432); High Rolling Seize (Shanley Jackson, 15.553); Nachor Favorite (Cristian Aguirre Erives, 15.715); Exosphere (Giovani Vasquez-Gomez, 15.717); Party Time Beach (L.D. Martinez, 15.724); FE Stone Crusher (German Rodriguez, 15.744); Krystal Stone (Rolando Pina, 15.786); ER Stone Chargin (Natasha Fritz, 15.812); Jesses Beach (Berkley Packer, 15.823); and Clovis Two Sox (Cesar Esqueda, 15.841).
