Tiki Diablo Stakes 2009 Texas
10/9/2009

BUSH HOG cuts down supreme challengers on the turf

OCTOBER 1, 2009 - RETAMA PARK - The odds board looked flipped upside down at the end of the 2009 Tiki Diablo Stake, with 37-to-1 long shot Bush Hog revelling in his victory and the heavy favorites walking back to the barn without even taking home a check. Fierce competition in this race left many owners of top superstars baffled and wondering... what happened? In a field of 11 highly qualified competitors, anything can happen. In tonight's case, Bush Hog proved he was indeed one of the big boys.

Undoubtedly Bush Hog was discounted because his stakes record was less decorated than the others, and he had recently arrived in Texas running 8th in allowance company two weeks ago. Surprising the crowd, Bush Hog made his presence known tonight, living up to his fantastic Michigan summer record where he won 5 races and stakes placed in the ARC Midwest Maturity Open.

Bush Hog made a clean getaway from the getgo and ran head to head in front with one of the favorites, By Golly Sand. They battled and swapped first and second positions for the lead several times during the course. They were followed closely and at times challenged by side by a tight field that was so closely matched in talent it might have been anyone's race. The excitement reeled out in the stretch when Ala Bout Me made a charge, then Bush Hog took the challenge and got a head on the lead shaking off By Golly Sand. From between horses Buddy Of Mine came on charging, and almost at the same instant far outside came Le Fromage in a sudden burst of speed just strides before the finish. Bush Hog fought off the chargers and held onto first for the victory by just a head.

Le Fromage was second, Buddy Of Mine third, Ala Bout Me fourth, and Moulin Rouge MAF fifth. The Last Danse, the nearly even-odds favorite, ran sixth- he had won this same stake last year setting the track record that stands today. Finishing the field was an elite group of stakes winners and stakes placed horses: By Golly Sand, Golly Bret, Frynge Benefit, Status Symboll and Qjuick Sand PW. Time of the race was 1:38.56.

The second place horse Le Fromage is a solid, durable runner- an 11 year old gelding by FMR Grand Jete out of Pebles by Eldans Tiki Pi. He has run 93 races lifetime over his 8 year career, with 11 stakes wins and 19 stakes placings, and $171,671 in earnings.

Buddy Of Mine who ran third is another fine racehorse with great stamina in his career. He is a 9 year old stallion by Virgule Al Maury out of Alite Shock by Wiking. He has earned $107,203 in his lifetime of 46 starts over 6 years, with 15 wins, 13 seconds, 6 thirds, 4 stakes wins and 8 stakes placings.

The winner Bush Hog is a 6 year old chestnut stallion by Line Dancer, the highest earning and only producing son in USA of leading sire Burning Sand. Bush Hog is out of the Monarch AH daughter Faancy Face. Foaled in Kentucky and bred by Danny and Miriam Garrett, Bush Hog was purchased by Lapco Arabians at the TABA Racehorse Sale in 2008. Bush Hog is trained by Felix Payne and was expertly ridden by Benito Morales. This race makes Bush Hog's first stakes win, he has 9 total wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, and 3 stakes placings, with earnings of $60,511.

PLACING ORDER, TIKI DIABLO STAKE

1. BUSH HOG
LINE DANCER X FAANCY FACE EX. MONARCH AH
BRED BY DANNY OR MIRIAM GARRETT
OWNED BY LAPCO ARABIANS
RIDDEN BY BENITO MORALES

2. LE FROMAGE
FMR GRAND JETE X PEBLES EX. ELDANS TIKI PI
BRED BY JOSEPH E AND ROSEMARIE TRIPI
OWNED BY GAIL MURPHY
RIDDEN BY CARLOS MARQUEZ

3. BUDDY OF MINE
VIRGULE AL MAURY X ALITE SHOCK EX. WIKING
BRED BY GODOLPHIN RACING INC
OWNED BY MICHAEL ECONOMOPOULOS
RIDDEN BY ROIMES CHIRINOS
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