MOLLY BROWN: NEW MEXICO SHIPPER CAME WEST GIVES ENRIQUEZ 999
Came West put jockey Isaias Enriquez on the precipice of a milestone, giving him his 999th career victory in the 6-furlong, $40,000 Molly Brown Stakes on Sunday at Arapahoe Park.
Shipping from New Mexico off a victory in the First Lady Handicap on May 27, Came West was given a great ride by Enriquez, who had the 6-year-old mare owned and trained by Karl Pergola close to the pace early and then took her back in mid-division. Enriquez moved the even-money favorite to the outside, and she ran down the entire field for a convincing 1 3/4-length win in a time of 1:10.29.
Paris in April, who had won all three of her races this year in Boise, Idaho, finished second. Sweet Dixie Van performed the best of the hometown Colorado contingent for third, ahead of 2010 Molly Brown winner Scherzi in fourth. Sorta Special, the early leader, faded to fifth.
Enriquez has five mounts on Monday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.
CHERRY CREEK FUTURITY: FASTEST QUALIFIER IM ROWDY JAMES ROMPS
Im Rowdy James, who had posted the fastest qualifying time on June 1, won the finals of the 330-yard, $73,660 Cherry Creek Futurity on Sunday at Arapahoe Park. As the 6-5 favorite in the field of 10 for owner Luis Rogelio Nava, trainer Jose Gonzalez and jockey Flavio Lozano, Im Rowdy James dueled through the stretch with Wanting to Win before pulling away for an impressive one-length victory in a time of 16.62 seconds.
Wanting to Win, one of three in the finals trained by John Hammes, took second with jockey Alejandro Luna aboard for owners Thomas Bradbury and Marvin Wilhite. Won for the Road finished third.
It was a big Father's Day for sire Ivory James, who was represented by four horses in the Cherry Creek Futurity, including the winner, fourth-place finisher Kansas Ivory, fifth-place finisher Avatar 2010 and Shiney Ivory in ninth.
