French sired winners overpower their fields during the Iron Horse Arabian Claiming Championships
10/2/2007

Iron Butterfly - After spending the season running for a claiming price tag, 8 hard-knocking fillies and mares went postward in the 6 furlong Iron Butterfly Claiming Championship.

The start was good for all. Half of the Bill Waldron entry, Bonnett, went to the lead but was chased by Lulu Gamboo, owned by Mandolynn Hill Farm and Waldron’s other runner AKA Alluring. They were followed by Edee Rose, It Is Written, Cleopatrah, Dreamm Diva and finally, AF Gelda. After a half-mile, Bonnett and Eric Valles had 2 lengths on Lulu Gamboo who was another length in front of AKA Alluring. Bonnett looked like a winner when she started to draw off in the stretch, but William Hollick was rallying Lulu Gamboo on the outside. AKA Alluring did not have enough for the stretch drive, but Lonnie Crowell’s AF Gelda certainly did. She was making up considerable ground through the stretch to get closer to the leaders. Lulu Gamboo was in an all out drive to catch Bonnett, and the wire was just far enough away for her. In the final strides, Lulu Gamboo nailed her rival to win by a nose in a photo finish. Her final time was 1:21.72. It was another 6 ½ lengths back to stretch running AF Gelda. Dreamm Diva, Cleopatrah, AKA Alluring, Edee Rose, and It Is Written completed the field.

This was the first stakes win for the Lynnett Hershbell trainee, although she finished third in the 2006 Texas Futurity. Her record is now 2/11(3-2-3)1-1, $43,768. Bred by Mandolynn Hill Farm, Lulu Gamboo is by Chndaka, who stands at the farm. He may become known as a sire of fillies because his best offspring to date is Polish Triple Crown heroine Orgia Fata, and he is also the sire of classic winner Love Me Dew.

Iron Horse - The Iron Horse Claiming Championship recognizes the true iron horses – those that spend their times in the claiming ranks. These horses often run every 14 days and keep going out there over and over again. Eleven of them went for the Claiming Championship title in the $30,000 Iron Horse S.

When the gates opened, Cre Run’s Mellonite refused at the break and was not a factor in the race. A stewards’ inquiry reviewed the start before the results were declared official. On the front end was B B Zell who was followed closely by Ordained, Just Lyke Me and Doctor D. After the first half mile, Dianne Waldron’s Ordained gained a ½ length advantage over Jose Salud Rodrigues’s Doctor D who had another ½ length on B B Zell. Making a middle move was Cruz Along, owned by Joe and Betty Gillis, who moved from sixth to fourth. Coming into the stretch, Esteban Unsihuay kept Ordained on track and he widened his advantage. Doctor D weakened slightly and couldn’t hold off Cruz Along who closed willingly. Crossing the wire in 1:20.35, it was Ordained who held a 3 ¾ length advantage over Cruz Along who was clearly second best in front of Doctor D. They were followed by Just Lyke Me, Fuego IA, Vol De Vaillance, AF Sirpass, Maxisumus, Sey Ellion Proof, and B B Zell.

Ordained is trained by Randy Nunley. Last year, he finished third in the Bob Magness Derby (G2). He now has 7 wins and 5 placings from 28 starts with earnings of almost $80,000. He is the latest in the French Dormane-Ortie nick that breeder Dianne Waldron has used. This same cross has produced major stakes winner Doran SBFAR and Ammante as well as stakes-placed winners Zeralda Josniere, Esprit SBFAR, and Ordination.